Copyright WEAU
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - A 24-hour helpline that handles 3,000 calls annually from the Chippewa Valley will close by the end of the year, leaving 13 counties searching for alternative ways to provide crisis support services. The Great Rivers 211 call center in La Crosse currently serves the Chippewa Valley, connecting residents to a range of resources, from housing assistance to mental health support, through the simple 211 dial code. “We know that when people are in crisis, that help and that connection can be really important to them as well,” said Dustin Olson, executive director of United Way. The closure stems from a funding decision by Gundersen Lutheran Hospital System, which was recently acquired by Emplify Health. The hospital system has covered most costs and staffing for the call center but has announced that it will no longer fund the helpline. A representative from Emplify Health told WEAU 13 News that 12 team members will be impacted by the department closure, but the organization is committed to supporting those team members by finding new roles within the organization and providing personalized support throughout the transition. “What we heard was that it was a budget consideration,” Olson said. Olson stated that 211 Wisconsin receives funding from both local philanthropy and state support. He explained that about 65% of their funding is provided by community contributions, while the remaining portion is supplied through state aid. United Way offers similar resources, but it is not available 24 hours a day, unlike the 211 service. “That was the benefit of 211. It is a 24-hour call service,” Olson said. The nonprofit is working to find a permanent solution for the affected counties. “The logical solution is that we would transfer those services and contract through another call center. It’s really just figuring out what call center we partner with and what those costs are and how we can cover those costs moving forward,” Olson said. Despite the impending closure, Olson emphasized that community resources will remain available. “Help is not going away. It may be a little harder to find if 211 is not in existence, but United Way’s not going anywhere. Our program partners, our county services, those types of things are all still here,” he said. The Great Rivers call center is set to close December 31. People can continue to dial 211, and the remaining seven 211 Wisconsin call centers will handle those calls until a permanent solution is found.
