WHEREAS,  2-1-1 Maine is a comprehensive statewide directory of over 8,000 health and human services available in the State; and

WHEREAS,  in order to promote the 2-1-1 Maine health and human services and emergency preparedness hotline, which helps Maine citizens get access to needed resources, we recognize February 2015 as 2-1-1 Maine Month; and

WHEREAS,  2-1-1 Maine helps to identify existing gaps in health and human services; and

WHEREAS,  throughout the State, 2-1-1 Maine provides around-the-clock service through efficient and effective responses to questions arising from the growing complexities and needs in health, socioeconomic and human services; and

WHEREAS,   2-1-1 Maine provides emergency operations during times of natural and other disasters, including providing accurate and timely information for preparations and longer-term referrals for follow-up services, and valuable information for community planning and for future matching of resources and unmet needs; and

WHEREAS,  during this past year, 2-1-1 Maine has directed over 13,000 Mainers to heating and utility assistance services that may have prevented people from contacting the wrong agency for a federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program benefit, prevented utility shutoffs and saved people from spending winter nights without fuel assistance; and

WHEREAS,  since 2006, 2-1-1 Maine call specialists have assisted with more than 570,000 requests to locate health and human services information; and

WHEREAS,  2-1-1 Maine handles a number of specialized services, including assisting the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention with H1N1 influenza calls and the gambling helpline, and is also a resource to find information about such needs as heating assistance and tax preparation; now, therefore, be it