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HomeMy WebLinkAbout78-06 - Res. Establishing Support for Five-County 211 Service AreaMASON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1" District LYNDA RING ERICKSON 2"d District TIM SHELDON RESOLUTION NO. 78-06 MASON COUNTY WASHINGTON 2-1-1 RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MASON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ESTABLISHING SUPPORT FOR COUNTY PARTICIPATION IN A FIVE COUNTY 2-1-1 SERVICE AREA. (Area includes Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pacific and Thurston.) WHEREAS, thousands of residents in the five county area have a need to access a variety of human and social service needs each day, ranging from appropriate child care to affordable housing, support for a homebound parent to food or crisis counseling for teen parents; and WHEREAS, thousands of different local, regional, and statewide organizations in Washington State, both public and private, provide services that respond to these needs; and WHEREAS, it is often extremely difficult and time consuming for residents to identify and access available services; and WHEREAS, the process of connecting those living and working in the five county area with needed services can be simplified by the establishment of a 2-1-1 telephone dialing option; and WHEREAS, the local and regional providers of human and social services would benefit from the more accurate and timely information about needs and resources around the state that is connected by 2-1-1 services; and strict JAYNI L. ICAMIN Mason County Building 1 411 North Fifth Street Shelton, WA 98584-3400 (360) 427-9670 ext. 419 (360) 275-4467 ext. 419 (360) 482-5269 ext. 419 Fax (360) 427-8425 WHEREAS, 2-1-1 services have proven themselves to be an effective support in responding to natural and man-made disasters such as the attacks of September 11, 2001, the 2004 hurricanes in Florida and Hurricane Katrina; and WHEREAS, one hundred and thirty-seven million Americans (46% of the United States population) have access to 2-1-1 service in 32 states nationwide; and WHEREAS, Washington Information Network 2-1-1 seeks to create a statewide 2-1-1 system using existing information and referral providers; and WHEREAS, in 2003 the Washington State Legislature overwhelmingly supported and passed an act supporting 2-1-1 development and implementation for the residents of our state; and WHEREAS, in 2004 the Washington State Legislature unanimously supported and passed a memorial calling on Congress to pass federal funding for national 2-1-1 development and implementation for the residents of our state; and WHEREAS, in 2005 the Washington State Legislature passed capital funding for 2-1-1 capital development in Washington State; and WHEREAS, in 2006 the Washington State Legislature appropriated funding for 2-1-1 development in Washington State; and WHEREAS, 2-1-1 service is available in 12 counties in Western and Central Washington, providing 2-1-1 access to 3,000,000 people in Washington State; and WHEREAS, 3,000,000 residents in rural and economically depressed areas of Washington State will not have access to 2-11 service until such time that sustainable public funding is secured; and WHEREAS, philanthropic contributions already support the majority of costs associated with 2- 1-1 development for Washington State; and WHEREAS, Congress recognizes the value and broad public benefits of 2-1-1 through the inclusion of 2-1- 1 service in the Public Health Security and Bio-terrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002; and WFI HREAS, every member of the Washington State delegation has committed to support a federal "earmark" appropriation for Washington's 2-1-1 network and WHEREAS, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, Representative Norm Dicks, Representative ay Inslee, Representative Rick Larsen, Representative Jim McDermott, Representative Adam Smith, Representative Cathy McMorris, and Representative Dave Reichert from our fair state of Washington are cosponsors of Senate Bill 211 and House Resolution 896, also known as the Calling for 2-11 Act; NOW, HEREFORE, the Mason County Board of Commissioners HEREBY RESOLVES TO: Include Mason County as a participant in the five county 2-1-1 network; known as the W1TN 2-1 Cana Center of the Western Counties and Supports the Washington State Legislature and the Governor in their continuing efforts to bring the 2-1-1 network to the People of Washington State; and FURTHERMORE, the Mason County Board of Commissioners joins with the Washington State Legislature in calling upon Congress to immediately pass the Calling for 211 Act, HR 896 and SB 211, and for the President to sign this legislation into law. Dated this 25t1i day of July, 2006. aim ATTEST: at) (pa ce.e Rebecca S. Rogers, Clerk of the Board BOARD -OF -COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MASON COUNCY, WASHINGTON tA da Ring Erickson, Cha L 4 Tim Sheldon, Commissioner Ja ' L Kamin, Coi" 'ssioner 2