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Liz
Passes Forward the Gifts AVANCE - San Antonio Gave Her
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Hello!
A single mother of three, Liz's motivation has always been her children. That's why she readily agreed to take free parenting classes when AVANCE–San Antonio came to her door. Though she graduated from the Parent-Child Education Program a decade ago, she still has her folder.
Providing support and education services to low-income families,
AVANCE works to strengthen the families, enhance parenting skills,
promote educational success and foster the personal and economic
success of parents.
After graduating from the Parent-Child Education Program, Liz completed AVANCE's career readiness and computer classes and enrolled in San Antonio College.
Making it through college was not easy. Liz needed a place for her children to stay while she was in class, and AVANCE didn't let her down when they provided free child care. Without a car, she stayed motivated to catch the bus to class.
Just before graduation, her children's father left her. With impending finals and a child on the way, Liz was devastated. However, the support AVANCE provided kept her in school. In 2003, Liz graduated with her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education.
 "I'm grateful I didn't give up," says Liz, looking back on the rough times. After graduation, she joined the AVANCE team – her chance to pass forward what she had learned. She worked at the center for two years and is currently teaching moms in their homes through the Early Head Start program.
Liz recently went back to school for her bachelor's degree. As she continues her education, she also continues to spread the word about AVANCE, with her sister and a cousin now enrolled.
Through AVANCE's care and support, Liz truly has realized her dreams!
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2-1-1 Texas / United Way Help Line
and Introducing the 2-1-1 Texas Military Family Access Project
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2-1-1 is the abbreviated
dialing code for FREE information and referrals to health
and human services. Like 9-1-1, 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember
and universally recognizable number. Instead of emergency
services, 2-1-1 connects individuals and families with
critical health and human services provided by nonprofit
organizations and government agencies in San Antonio and
the surrounding communities. |
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Every day, someone
in Bexar County needs essential services from finding an
after-school program to securing adequate care for a child
or an aging parent. People often don't know where to turn.
2-1-1 helps people find and give help. In 2007, 2-1-1 Texas/United
Way Help Line received more than 190,000 calls from Bexar
County and the surrounding 11 counties (Alamo Region). |
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2-1-1 calls are answered by United Way's trained staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at its downtown call center. Information is available in English and Spanish on a broad range of services, including rent assistance, food banks, affordable housing, health resources, child care, after-school programs, elder care, financial literacy, and job training programs and many other services. |
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A local 2-1-1 United
Way Help Line Call Specialist provides free and confidential referrals
to those seeking help in San Antonio, Bexar County and
the eleven surrounding counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Comal,
Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina
and Wilson. A searchable community resource database also
is available on the United Way website. |
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In December 2007, State Senator (District 19) Carlos Uresti's Blue Ribbon Task Force launched a local billboard campaign to encourage parents and caregivers who need support to call 2-11. "I founded the Blue Ribbon Task Force to bring awareness to the tragedies of child abuse, and with the assistance of Clear Channel Outdoor, we can now send a message to people that help is out there," said Uresti. He is joined by Mary Damsgaard with United Way 2-1-1 and Clear Channel Outdoor President Blake Custer. |
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The primary prevention
message aims to help parents deal with root cause issues
that can lead to child abuse and neglect. The signs
will be seen more than 11 million times over the course
of the three-month campaign. |
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Choosing a child
care provider is one of the most important decisions a
parent will ever make. 2-1-1 provides referrals
for: center- and home-based child care providers, immunizations,
parenting resources, family support, and much more. |
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The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest and most effective federal aid program for the working poor. In the San Antonio region, 2-1-1 callers can receive information about: eligibility criteria, location and hours of tax assistance sites and the documents needed. Referrals to other services, such as Food Stamps, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid and credit counseling are also provided. |
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| On September 2, 2005,
a Southwest airliner in New Orleans boards Hurricane Katrina
evacuees for transport to a shelter in San Antonio. 2-1-1
fielded thousands of calls from evacuees seeking assistance
with a multitude of needs, including shelter, transportation,
medical, food and water, construction materials, mental health,
and questions about the availability of and application process
for federal, state, and nonprofit assistance. 9-1-1 referred
non-emergency calls to 2-1-1, freeing up 9-1-1 operators
for life-and-death situations. |
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2-1-1 connects local
elderly citizens with free box fans to help alleviate the
health risks posed by severe summer heat. In its 11th year,
the program has distributed over 40,000 fans to senior
citizens. 2-1-1 also helps local residents apply for free
smoke detectors installed by the San Antonio Fire Department. |
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In December 2007,
United Way received a two-year grant for the Texas
Military Family Access Project. 2-1-1 Military Call Specialists
provide information and referrals for: financial assistance,
marital problems, anger management, depression and anxiety,
child care, legal services, medical care, drug and alcohol
treatment, employment and many other special needs. Funding
for the new program was provided by the Texas Resources
for Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment (TRIAD) Fund of the San
Antonio Area Foundation.
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United Way 2-1-1
Military Call Specialists serve Bexar County and the surrounding
11 counties, helping military members and their families
navigate the complicated maze of the human care system
and assisting them toward achieving stable and productive
lives before, during and after deployment.
The 2-1-1 Texas / United Way Help Line is a public / private
partnership between Texas Health and Human Services Commission
and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. For more
information, please visit www.unitedwaysatx.org |
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