VIDEO: Brevard 211 On Station With Brevard Emergency Management Operations To Assist Brevard Residents
By Space Coast Daily // September 9, 2017
Alan Zlotorzynski talks with Libby Donoghue
SPACE COAST DAILY TV HURRICANE IRMA COVERAGE: Alan Zlotorzynski is at the Brevard County Emergency Management Operations Center in Rockledge where he spoke with Libby Donoghue, the Executive Director of Brevard 211, about Hurricane Irma and her organizations’ important role in assisting the citizens of Brevard County.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – One call can make the difference between life and death. Among the more than 42,000 phone calls that 2-1-1 Brevard fielded in 2015, only about one percent were classified as suicide prevention or intervention, yet that one percent translates into as many as 586 lives saved by this round-the-clock helpline that has been a go-to resource since its inception in 1963.
In addition to saving lives, 2-1-1 Brevard enhances the quality of life for thousands of Brevard residents by helping them address their need for food, shelter and mental health services.
As the needs of the community evolve, so, too, has 2-1-1 Brevard.
“We’ve moved from thinking about our mission as “answer the call” to thinking about how we go “beyond the call” to magnify our impact,” said executive director Libby Donoghue.
Strong connections with other nonprofits for the community’s benefit are an integral part of the organization.
“New initiatives address veterans, homelessness and child development,” added Donoghue.
2-1-1 Brevard has partnered with Parrish Medical Center to help callers from North Brevard better access health care by helping them with transportation to doctors’ appointments and with medical equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs.
The Community Health Navigator, a Parrish social worker, divides her time between Titusville and the 2-1-1 Brevard office in Cocoa to address complex problems from callers.
Working with the Community Foundation for Brevard, the Cape Canaveral Chapter of the Military Officers’ Association of America, CareerSource Brevard, the City of Palm Bay and Eastern Florida State College, 2-1-1 Brevard offers on-going support to veterans, active military and their families through the Brevard Veterans’ Support Network.
2-1-1 Brevard is also the lead agency in Help Me Grow, a state-funded effort designed to promote healthy child development. Care coordinators at 2-1-1 guide families to services from Help Me Grow partners such as Healthy Start, Healthy Families and the Early Learning Coalition.
The organization is also responsible for maintaining and reporting data related to homelessness to the Brevard Homeless Coalition.
A state grant also funds a 2-1-1 staff member to serve as a homeless system specialist for helping callers who are homeless or who are at risk of becoming homeless find permanent housing.
SPACE COAST DAILY TV: One call can make the difference between life and death. Among the more than 42,000 phone calls that 2-1-1 Brevard fielded in 2015, only about one percent were classified as suicide prevention or intervention, yet that one percent translates into as many as 586 lives saved by this round-the-clock helpline that has been a go-to resource since its inception in 1963.
In this capacity, 2-1-1 Brevard works closely with Housing for Homeless, Volunteers of America and Crosswinds Youth Services.
A caller with small children may call for basic needs, but the individual is also often referred to services through Help Me Grow.
An unemployed vet seeking assistance with the utility bill may be connected to a job training program. An elderly woman with an eviction notice can immediately gain access to the network tasked with preventing homelessness.
“In many cases, that first phone call to 2-1-1 is only the first step down the path of working together to change the life of the caller,” said Donoghue.
