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Recent News
February 11th (2/11) is National 2-1-1 Day!
Last year, 2-1-1 answered more than 14.3 million requests for help, on the phone, via text and web chat. #211day
2018 Partners in Advocacy Reception
Washington 211 and United Ways of the Pacific Northwest hosted the first ever Partners in Advocacy Reception at the Governor’s Mansion on Thursday, February 1st from 5:15 pm to 7:00 pm. Our guest was the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance who is advocating to expand affordable housing and ending homelessness. Read […]
Washington Information Network 2-1-1 (WIN211) is now Washington 211!
The WIN211 Board has approved of using Washington 211 as our new official Doing Business As name. Washington Information Network 211 is now simply Washington 211.
February is Heart Month
Keep your blood pressure in the green zone
It’s a tradition to wear red on the first Friday in February to remind all of us to take care of our hearts, and raise awareness of heart disease. The whole month of February is heart month.
A great place to start tuning into your heart is by knowing your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure, and then follow up with your healthcare provider for advice on next steps if it’s above normal.
To learn more and for free materials about blood pressure read […]
Support your Valentine, and 2-1-1
Support us when you shop for your Valentine. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/02-0554604 and Amazon donates to Washington 2-1-1.
Your eligible purchases on Amazon.com automatically donate 0.5% of the price to Washington 2-1-1. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support 211 every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop through this link, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price.
Thank you for your support and Happy Valentines Day!
January 26th is Earned Income Tax Awareness Day
Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed Jan. 26, 2018 as “Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day” in the state of Washington as part of a nationwide effort to spread the word about this under-used tax credit and provide information and resources to claim it.
“Together, the Earned Income Tax Credit and low-income Child Tax Credit (CTC) are among the strongest tools to promote work and help workers with children move out of poverty,” Inslee said. “It is important for Washingtonians to be aware of this opportunity because one in five eligible taxpayers do not claim or receive this benefit.”
Workers earning up to $53,930 may be eligible to receive the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). A tax return must be filed to get the credit, even if no tax is owed or filing a tax return is not required.
Did you know:
- The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) reduced or eliminates taxes that low-income working people pay and, if the credit exceeds the amount of taxes owed, a lump sum credit is paid to those who qualify.
- 426,000 Washington residents received $926 million in EITC refunds in 2017.
- EITC refunds help lift an average of 164,000 Washingtonians, including 81,000 children above the poverty level each year.
- The IRS […]
Washington State Department of Health
Washington 211 has partnered with the Washington State Department of Health to help promote health and wellness on a range of topics including emergency preparedness and response information, flu prevention and immunizations, and other health concerns.
Chronic Disease Self Management Programs
Washington 211 has partnered with the Washington State Department of Health to promote the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.
Imagine how it would feel to take control of your health!
- Use medications effectively
- Solve problems and meet personal goals
- Talk to your doctor about your health
- Make choices about your treatment
- Be a healthy caregiver
Rediscover your zest for living a healthy life in six weeks!
Are you unsure about how to best manage an ongoing health condition? Are you tired, anxious, frustrated, in pain? Try something new! Join a safe, supportive six-week self-management workshop and discover new, practical ways to live better and healthier.
The Living Well self-management workshop was developed at Stanford University and has become the proven leader in self-management for people with chronic health conditions. Sign up for a workshop in your area and rediscover the life you’ve been missing. New workshops are scheduled regularly by request.
Preparedness and Health Topics:
National Council on Aging
Chronic Disease
About 91% of older adults have a least one chronic condition, and 73% have at least two. Chronic conditions – such as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and lung disease – seriously compromise the quality of life of older adults, often forcing them to give up their independence too soon. Chronic conditions also place a significant financial burden on individuals as well as health care systems. In 2011, this cost totaled nearly $3 trillion. The traditional medical model – which focuses more on the illness than the patient – is costly and often ineffective. Get more facts on the impact of chronic disease at the NCOA Center for Healthy Aging – Chronic Disease.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
Through a partnership with the U.S. Administration on Aging, NCOA promotes the implementation of Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) in communities throughout the United States. Offered not only in this country but also worldwide, this program has been has been proven to help older adults better manage their chronic conditions, improve their quality of life, and lower their health care costs.
CDSMP workshops meet once a week for two and one-half hours, over six consecutive weeks. Workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non-health professionals with chronic diseases themselves. Workshops are highly interactive.
Topics include the following:
- How to deal with frustration, fatigue, pain, and isolation.
- Ways to maintain and improve strength, flexibility, and endurance.
- Managing medications.
- How to communicate more effectively with family, friends, and health professionals.
- Healthy eating.
See more at: NCOA Center on Healthy Aging – Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
Free Tax Preparation and EITC
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Washington 211 has partnered with the Washington State Department of Commerce to help Washington residents get ready for tax day.
Times are tough. A little extra money in your pocket makes a big difference. If you earned between $1-$53,930 in 2017, you may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit which could add as much as $6,318 to your federal income tax refund. Couldn’t you use a little extra money to make life easier? Workers who qualify for the EITC – Earned Income Tax Credit must file a federal income tax return even if they do not have a requirement to file. Learn more about this valuable tax credit by calling your local 2-1-1 Information and Referral Specialist beginning January 30th, 2018 to find a free tax preparer near you.
The IRS will begin accepting and filing tax forms January 29th, 2018. Tax returns are due Tuesday April 17th 2018.
Search online for a free local tax preparation sites with the IRS Free Tax Preparation Locator and AARP Tax-Aide Locator.
| Beginning in 2017, if you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) on your tax return, the IRS must hold your refund until at least February 15 — even the portion not associated with EITC or ACTC. See “Take Steps Now for Tax Filing Season” for more information on refunds. |
Washington Connection
Washington Connection
All you need to do is answer a few questions and find out what services are available to you from a broad range of federal, state and local resources. Through a secure personal account on the site, you can even apply online for some benefits such as cash, food, child care; long-term care; and Medicare savings programs.
To apply for services online visit https://www.washingtonconnection.org