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An important reminder that the Hurricane Season doesn't officially conclude until November 30. Are you one of the roughly 1.25 million residents who live in Coastal Virginia, the region of the state most vulnerable to hurricanes and other tropical storms? Know Your Zone can tell you if you are in an evacuation zone and which zone letter (A-D).
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Fall is here, and Fuel Assistance applications will be accepted from October 11 until November 11, 2022. Fuel Assistance helps eligible households with the cost of heating their homes this winter. To be eligible, certain citizenship and income criteria must be met. Additionally, applicants must be responsible for paying the heating bill. Applicants should expect notification of their eligibility in late December. Apply online through CommonHelp. For more information, visit Energy Assistance (EA) - Virginia Department of Social Services.
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Upcoming Informational Session
Próximas Sesiones de Información
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El 411 en 211 Virginia es una oportunidad para aprender más sobre el servicio gratuito de información y referencias de Virginia las 24 horas con una de la base de datos más sólida de servicios humanos en el Estado de Virginia.
Los temas incluyen:
- Misión General de 211 Virginia
- Recursos Adicionales
- Beneficios de 211 Virginia
- Conectándose con 211 Virginia
25 de octubre de 2022
2:00 PM
Zoom
Tenga en cuenta que esta presentación será en español.
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The 411 on 211 Virginia is an opportunity to learn more about Virginia's free 24-hour information and referral service with the most robust database of human services in the Commonwealth.
Topics include:
- Overview of 211 Virginia
- Additional Resources
- Benefits of 211 Virginia
- Connecting with 211 Virginia
October 25, 2022
2:00 PM
Zoom
Please note this presentation will be in Spanish.
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211 Virginia University is a one-stop resource for nonprofits, government agencies, faith-based programs, and more in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 211 University provides access to information on events and training opportunities, reports, one-page Quick Guides, downloadable marketing materials, how to connect with the 211 Virginia Community Engagement Team, and more.
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What We're Observing This Month | |
211 Virginia is Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! | | |
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Hispanic Heritage Month is observed September 15 - October 15 every year in America to celebrate the culture, contributions, and history of those who trace their ancestry to Spain, Mexico, Central, and South America, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations.
According to the Census Bureau, as of 2020, the Hispanic population comprises 10.6% (908,749) of the Commonwealth of Virginia's total population, and 24 jurisdictions have more than 5,000 Latinx residents.
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211 Virginia has made significant progress connecting Hispanic and Latinx populations to resources and information since 2019. As a result of COVID-19, we experienced a nearly 15% increase in calls from Spanish-speaking individuals in 2020-2021, prompting several actions to improve our accessibility that we continue to build on today.
- In 2020-2021, we grew from one full-time bilingual specialist to five full-time bilingual specialists, and as a result, the number of Spanish calls handled by a bilingual specialist increased by 281%.
- In 2021 - 2022, we handled over 3,800 Spanish calls and chats, and bilingual specialists handled 78% of those calls and chats.
- With CARES Act funding, the 211 Virginia database was upgraded to include the ability to collect race and ethnicity data independently.
- In 2022, we added two native speakers of Spanish to our Community Engagement team and one with Spanish proficiency.
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National Preparedness Month Recap
We observed National Preparedness Month this September by offering an informational session in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Over twenty agency partners and staff learned about general preparedness and how 211 Virginia supports local, regional, and statewide emergencies and disasters. Missed the session? Check out these online resources.
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month
As we approach October, we are preparing for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We've partnered with Samaritan House Inc., a nonprofit serving the Hampton Roads region, to present "The Intersections of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking" webinar. The session is scheduled for November 10, 2022, at 1:15 PM EST via Zoom. Click here to register.
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Do you know of an agency that might be a good fit for the 211 Virginia database? If you need additional support, please connect with our Community Engagement Team. | |
Welcoming Mary Monaco, Northwest Region | |
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We're pleased to announce that our Community Engagement Team is growing!
In September, we added our first-ever dedicated community engagement position for the Northwest region. Join us in welcoming Mary Monaco to the team, and be sure to connect with her if you're part of the Northwest region.
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Connect with our Community Engagement Team | |
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Robert F. Morrow, Statewide Director, robertm@councilofcommunityservices.org
Brittney Boyd, Southeastern Region, brittneyb@councilofcommunityservices.org
Nelson Diaz*, Richmond/Southside Region, nelsond@councilofcommunityservices.org
Amanda Holcomb, Southwest Region, amandah@councilofcommunityservices.org
Jakelin Lake*, Northern Region, jakelinl@councilofcommunityservices.org
Mary Monaco, Northwest Region, marym@councilofcommunityservices.org
Joan Phelps, Central Region, joan.phelps@unitedwaycv.org
*¡Hablo español!
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211 Virginia is a free and confidential service that connects people with information on available local resources throughout the Commonwealth. 211 Virginia is a public/private partnership between the Virginia Department of Social Services and the Council of Community Services. | |
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Help us spread the word about 211 Virginia.
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