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CMS Energy's United Way Support Provides $300,000 to Expand Michigan 2-1-1

Posted on: Tuesday, 28 April 2009, 12:30 CDT

Grant will be used for completion of statewide 2-1-1 coverage

LANSING, Mich., April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Michigan 2-1-1, housed within the Michigan Association of United Ways, has received a $300,000 grant for statewide expansion of the 2-1-1 health and human service help line from CMS Energy's ongoing support of the United Way.

The 2-1-1 help line is the health and human service equivalent to 9-1-1 and connects residents with the information and resources they need to build healthy and safe communities. Currently, 72 percent of Michigan's population has access to the 2-1-1 service, with 11 additional counties receiving access beginning this summer.

Longstanding CMS Energy support of the United Way provided the $300,000 grant that will be used to expand the 2-1-1 service statewide, providing assistance to residents in the 48 counties who are currently unable to access 2-1-1. The goal of the Michigan 2-1-1 Board is to be fully operational in all 83 Michigan counties in 2011.

"The support that CMS Energy provides through the United Way will have a great impact on people in need in our state. With this support, we will be able to make statewide 2-1-1 access a reality, ensuring that all Michigan residents have access to the resources they need," said Sherry Miller, director of Michigan 2-1-1. "Thus far, 2-1-1 has helped connect hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents with health and human services anonymously and in just one phone call."

The financial support comes from a donor-advised charitable fund set up by CMS Energy, which is based in Jackson, Mich.

2-1-1 Call Centers are nationally accredited with extensively trained and nationally certified staff available to take calls 24 hours a day /365 days a year. Calls are free to the user and are fielded by professional Information and Referral specialists who confidentially direct callers to organizations that can help an individual with their needs. 2-1-1 helps with day-to-day problems and concerns and is also prepared to assist callers in times of community crisis. Michigan 2-1-1's databases maintain information on over 5,000 agencies with more than 20,000 public, non-profit and faith based health and human service programs.

Michigan 2-1-1 is a nonprofit organization established in 2005. Nationally, statewide and locally, there is a continuing close connection between United Way, nationally a source of ongoing funds for most call centers, and 2-1-1 Call Centers in Michigan. This commitment to 2-1-1 aligns with United Way's focus on making systems change in community conditions to address social issues. For more information on 2-1-1 visit http://uwmich.org/2-1-1.

CMS Energy has an electric and natural gas utility, Consumers Energy, as its primary business and also owns and operates independent power generation businesses.

SOURCE CMS Energy

Source: PR Newswire

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