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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
2-1-1 METRO CHICAGO INITIATIVE LED BY THE UNITED WAY OF METRO CHICAGO
WHEREAS, the social services network in Cook County includes a complex system of service providers and puts the burden for navigating this system on residents; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic brought this problem into greater focus, highlighting the need for a comprehensive, centralized information and referral system for human services; and
WHEREAS, Cook County, the City of Chicago, the United Way of Metro Chicago, and the Heartland Alliance desired to implement a 2-1-1 system, an information and referral system for health and social services that has been implemented successfully across the country; and
WHEREAS, the above stakeholders convened an Advisory Committee with participation by the Bureau of Economic Development (BED) in early 2021 to determine how to establish and implement a 2-1-1 system in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, that Advisory Committee, after a systematic review of the top 2-1-1 systems in the United States and research on operating and governance options, determined that the United Way of Metro Chicago was the recommended entity to operate the 2-1-1 system in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Cook County and the City of Chicago each agreed to provide funding through the 2024 calendar year to operate the 2-1-1 system with the intent to assess the system's performance and provide further funding of the system on an ongoing basis, subject to annual appropriation by the Board; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 22-5753 authorized BED to enter into a multiyear Grant Agreement with United Way of Metro Chicago on behalf of Cook County, subject to annual appropriation by the Board of Commissioners, in an aggregate amount of up to $2,300,000 to implement and operate 2-1-1 Metro Chicago, which includes a comprehensive information and referral helpline for health and human services in Cook County that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year; and
WHEREAS, ...
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