What is 2-1-1?

Conclusions 6

• CL1
  The Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline is a program that provides a valuable service to the residents of the county.
• CL2
  The Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline Program database of community resources is out-of- date and in critical need of updating.
• CL3
  There is insufficient funding to continue operating the Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline Program.
• CL4
  The cities of Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Goleta, Carpinteria, and Guadalupe do not contribute financially to the Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline Program.
• CL5
  The County of Santa Barbara is only temporarily administering the Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Program.
• CL6
  Maintaining the 2-1-1 Helpline Program will preserve a valuable resource for all residents of Santa Barbara County. The beneficiaries of the services from the 2-1-1 Helpline Program are the residents of every city and every area of the county. The 2013-14 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury urges the six cities in the county that do not contribute to join with the county, and the Cities of Santa Barbara and Lompoc in contributing financially to make the 2-1-1 program work. Furthermore, the Grand Jury encourages the Board of Supervisors to fund the database update so that the citizens of Santa Barbara County will not be deprived of this vital resource. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Finding 1 The Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline is a program that provides a valuable service to the residents of the county. Finding 2 The Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline Program database of community resources is out-of- date and in critical need of updating. Finding 3 There is insufficient funding to continue operating the Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline Program. Finding 4 The cities of Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Goleta, Carpinteria, and Guadalupe do not contribute financially to the Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline Program. Finding 5 The County of Santa Barbara is only temporarily administering the Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Program. Recommendation 1 That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors allocate the requested funds to update the Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline Program resource database. Recommendation 2 That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors identifies a local agency or organization qualified to assume the administrative and managerial responsibilities of the Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline Program. 2013-14 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury 3 WHAT IS 2-1-1? Recommendation 3 That the county, the cities, and other entities benefitting from the services provided by the Santa Barbara County 2-1-1 Helpline Program contribute funding in proportionate amounts as proposed by county staff in its December 2013 recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. Recommendation 4 That the County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors annually review the performance of the 2-1-1 Helpline Program to justify its continued funding. REQUEST FOR RESPONSE Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 933 and 933.05, the Jury requests each entity or individual named below to respond to the enumerated findings and recommendations within the specified statutory time limit: Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors – 90 Days Findings 1, 2, 3, and 5 Recommendations 1, 2, 3, and 4 City of Santa Maria – 90 Days Findings 1, 3, and 4 Recommendation 3 City of Solvang – 90 Days Findings 1, 3, and 4 Recommendation 3 City of Buellton – 90 Days Findings 1, 3, and 4 Recommendation 3 City of Goleta – 90 Days Findings 1, 3, and 4 Recommendation 3 City of Carpinteria - 90 Days Findings 1, 3, and 4 Recommendation 3 City of Santa Barbara – 90 Days Findings 1, 3, and 4 Recommendation 3 2013-14 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury 4 WHAT IS 2-1-1? City of Lompoc – 90 Days Findings 1, 3, and 4 Recommendation 3 City of Guadalupe – 90 Days Findings 1, 3, and 4 Recommendation 3 2013-14 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury 5

Observations 1

• OB1
  The 2-1-1 Helpline Program serves the residents of Santa Barbara County by providing referrals to necessary human services and resources. The majority of calls to 2-1-1 from July 2012 to February 2013 were from the cities of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Goleta. Services requested were primarily for food, shelter, and mental health. Additional calls concerned income support, family life, health care, and criminal justice needs. The 2-1-1 program must have a local organization to assume administration and management in order to be effective. The program needs not only a local lead agency, but also a full-time program director to manage the database, promote program awareness through public outreach, and conduct fund raising. The total budget for operating the service is $189,714 for the current fiscal year.3 Funds for the 2-1-1 Helpline Program are provided by Santa Barbara County Human Services, City of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County Alcohol and Drug Program, Info Line of San Diego County, United Way of Santa Barbara, First 5 of Santa Barbara County, a CalFresh grant, and the City of Lompoc. One of the most significant problems facing the Santa Barbara County program is the out-of-date database. On March 4, 2014, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider one-time additional funding of $30,000 for the database upgrade in order to maintain the viability of this critical program. The 2-1-1 Helpline Program also works with the Santa Barbara County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during emergencies and disasters. The EOC coordinates with 2-1-1 to provide 3 Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors agenda item 13-00883 December 3, 2013 https://santabarbara.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=2898807&GUID=82C4BC09-BAEF-4730-BB65- 34DD3FED3016 (last visited February 6, 2014) 2013-14 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury 2 WHAT IS 2-1-1? information to the public regarding exit routes, shelter areas, and other useful information. For example, the EOC and 2-1-1 worked together during the Tea Fire and the Jesusita Fire to assist in providing information to the public.

Agency Responses 7

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

No Responses Found 2

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.