Raising Awareness for Issues We Care About

As I walked into the CICF offices at the English Foundation Building today, I was greeted by four colorful banners with smiling faces on them. After looking more closely, I realized the banners featured people who lost their lives to domestic violence. Disheartening as this was, I found assurance from this effort to raise awareness about an issue Women's Fund cares deeply about, and to point to a resource many do not know about: 2-1-1.

Today is 2-1-1 Day. For those not familiar with 2-1-1, think of it as 9-1-1 for social service needs. It is a national dialing code, accessible in many areas nationwide (click here to access Indiana's 2-1-1 site). 2-1-1 Connect2Help locally fields calls for individuals in central Indiana needing direct assistance in areas of health and human service, helping provide information and assistance around food, utilities, shelter, counseling, and finding safety from violent situations. The call center has bilingual personnel and is open 24 hours a day.

I have not needed to utilize Connect2Help's services. However, women we strive to help through Women's Fund grants have. I’m glad women who need help have a place to call when they need it. Connect2Help refers callers to many Women's Fund grantees in our funding focus areas of caregiving, domestic violence, and insufficient income.

Domestic violence is one area that is more prevalent than we’d like. Domestic violence calls fielded by 2-1-1 in 2007-08 increased 33% from the prior year. 2-1-1 is able to direct women in violent situations to organizations like Women's Fund grantee The Julian Center (serving Marion County).

It’s important to raise awareness about the needs – and the available resources in our community – by celebrating events such as 2-1-1 Day and through other attention-getters, such as the banners at the English Foundation Building. I am excited about Women's Fund's role as an expert resource for issues impacting women and girls in central Indiana, and our efforts to raise awareness. How are you raising awareness for issues you care about?