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| Our History |
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Central Referral Service, Inc. (CRS) was developed in response to a serious and continuing unmet need in Erie County for information and referral. This need was discovered in a household study conducted by the SUNY at Buffalo School of Management and coordinated by the Junior League of Buffalo. The study found that despite the fact that services do exist, 80% of those surveyed were not aware of them and did not know where to turn for help. The simple fact is that health and human service providers do not have the money to adequately publicize their services.
As a result of the need identified in the survey, 14 major health and human service providers were brought together by the Junior League, and charged with the task of developing a response. It was decided a well publicized, computer driven system with an up-to-date database was the best method of linking people in need to providers that served the community. Thus, Central Referral Service, Inc. was created in 1985 and became operational in 1986.
The resulting database has grown significantly over the last 20 years. What started out as a comprehensive database of services offered by the public and non-profit organizations in Erie County now includes Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Wyoming Counties. In addition, CRS was commissioned to develop and maintain a specialized database containing programs specifically designed to serve the needs of people with developmental disabilities, DD Info Link. CRS has over 3,000 organizations offering over 15,000 services listed collectively in the databases.
CRS utilizes professionally trained paid and non-paid staff to assist telephone callers in identifying their needs. Using the IRis system, CRS staff identifies those providers in the database who most appropriately fit the caller's needs. CRS makes 30,000-40,000 free and confidential referrals annually.
Central Referral Service is an information source for specialized seasonal services such as the WNY Holiday Partnership Program, News Neediest Program, and Free Tax Preparation Sites. During man-made and natural disasters, CRS serves as an information hub connecting individuals with the agencies that can provide for their immediate basic needs; allowing 9-1-1 to concentrate on life-threatening and emergency issues.
In 2003, the 2-1-1 NY Collaborative granted the 2-1-1 WNY designation to CRS. This was the first
2-1-1 call center designation in New York State. Central Referral Service, Inc. received funding from Oishei Foundation and New York State and launched this service in December 2007, reopening as CRS/2-1-1 WNY. 2-1-1 WNY is a health and human service hotline providing over the phone services connecting people in need with appropriate resources. As CRS/2-1-1 WNY, the database will cover a seven county area, including Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Wyoming Counties. In recognition of the essential nature of this service, CRS/2-1-1 WNY is now located within the Erie County Public Safety Campus.
Through a grant from New York State obtained by the Western New York State Delegation, we have recently launched the WNY Military Family Project. This service will ensure that members of the National Guard, Reserves, and their families are linked to all necessary local services both at times of deployment and upon returning home.
CRS receives funding from the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, Erie County, Western N.Y. Development Disability Service Office and various local foundations.
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