|
|
| |
|
|
What is information and referral? What is Valley Wide Help? How do I contact Valley Wide Help? What can I expect when I contact Valley Wide Help by telephone? What kinds of services can I access through Valley Wide Help? How does Valley Wide Help know where to refer the customer? Why does every community need an information and referral program? Is there any charge for calling Valley Wide Help? Who is responsible for managing Valley Wide Help? What products are published and/or made available through Valley Wide Help? What is information and referral? Information and referral is the process of linking people who need information or services with the agencies or organizations that can be of assistance. It is the doorway and the entry point to human services for a community. [Back to top] What is Valley Wide Help? Valley Wide Help is a 24-hour Information and Referral Service provided by the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley. It is the only service of its kind in the Greater Lehigh Valley offering direct provision of information regarding social and other human services located throughout Lehigh and Northampton counties and beyond. [Back to top] How do I contact Valley Wide Help? Accessibility of information and referral services throughout the Lehigh Valley is ensured through the availability of six telephone numbers, along with bilingual services to Spanish-speaking callers and a text telephone system for the hearing impaired. at any of the following telephone numbers:
[Back to top] What can I expect when I contact Valley Wide Help by telephone? Your call will be answered by a certified or trained information specialist. In the case where Valley Wide Help information specialists are taking other calls, you may leave a message. We will return your call that day. If you are calling after hours, your call will be returned the next working day. Simply tell the information specialist what you need and how we may assist you. We will then consult Valley Wide Help's comprehensive, computerized database to identify specific organizations that may be able to assist you. Later you may be contacted by Valley Wide Help to be sure your needs were met and your experience was satisfactory. This evaluation is an ongoing process that enables our program to make changes and improvements. [Back to top] What kinds of services can I access through Valley Wide Help? Valley Wide Help is a comprehensive information and referral program organized to meet the full spectrum of a community's request for assistance and information. No need is too small or great. Simply tell us what you require, and we will attempt to lead you in the appropriate direction and to the relevant source. Please feel free to contact us and give us the opportunity to listen and offer help. [Back to top] How does Valley Wide Help know where to refer the customer? Valley Wide Help has developed a comprehensive, computerized database of over 2,000 referral sources which is organized to allow quick and precise responses to customer requests. Information contained within the database is updated on a continual basis. The staff of Valley Wide Help attend community meetings, read newspapers and agency newsletters assisting in the development of an informational database that will fit the exact needs of the customer. We are committed to maintaining accurate, up-to-date information about the services available to residents of Lehigh and Northampton counties. [Back to top] Why does every community need an information and referral program? Programmatically and economically, full utilization of human resources is essential for the well-being of the community. Information and referral programs, by steering potential users of services to the right "door" or by providing accurate information about available programs, reduce frustration and improve access to services. The information and referral program can help workers in community agencies become aware of resources unfamiliar to them contributing to more effective client service plans. Community decision-makers use the statistics provided by an information and referral program as an alert to shifts in community needs as new problems emerge along with tracking the duplication of services. [Back to top] Is there any charge for calling Valley Wide Help? No! The use of Valley Wide Help is free of charge. Additionally, Valley Wide Help provides people in our community with convenient, immediate and confidential services. [Back to top] Who is responsible for managing Valley Wide Help? The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley proudly administers the program. [Back to top] What products are published and/or made available through Valley Wide Help? Valley Wide Help publishes a number of specialized directories and offers mailing labels for purchase along with The Valley Wide Help Directory, a complete guide to human service agencies in the Lehigh Valley. Note: Due to demand, our supply of directories is currently depleted. If you would like to be notified when reprints will be available, please call or e-mail Carol Lewis, manager of Valley Wide Help, at 610-865-4400, ext. 221, or lewisca@usa.redcross.org. Valley Wide Help's database is available on the Internet at www.irissoft.com/vwhp. [Back to top]
Home | About Us | Health & Safety | Disaster Services | Armed Forces Service | International Services | Blood Services | Volunteer
Nursing | Valley Wide Help | Lifeline | Donate | Special Events | Job Opportunities | Site Map
|
