Linkage Lycoming

Purpose
Linkage Lycoming strengthens families by being the focal point in linking people in need with the appropriate service and by ensuring that low-income families or individuals in crisis receive appropriate and sufficient assistance for such items as rent, utilities, food, and personal items.

Vision
Individuals and families expeditiously access the community service that best addresses their needs. Unnecessary duplication in receiving emergency material assistance is eliminated, thereby stretching such aid to more families and individuals.

Program Overview
Linkage Lycoming’s Information & Referral (I&R) component links all inquirers (whether by phone, email or walk-in) with the most appropriate sources of human service assistance based on the inquirer’s expressed need. The inquirer’s needs are assessed and identified by trained staff and appropriate referrals are made. The location, telephone number, and other commonly available information about service provider(s) are given to the inquirer so that they may be linked to the requested service. With the growing number and complexity of health and social service issues affecting the community, accurate and timely I&R services for the general public are critical. Information and referral services are continually updated and enhanced through partnerships and collaboration with local agencies. This service component of Linkage Lycoming also maintains and updates the “Blue Page Listings” information contained in area phone books. Community outreach to individuals and groups increases their knowledge of and access to all of Linkage Lycoming services is maximized.

The Clearinghouse Services component coordinates a partnership of 45 human service provider organizations that directly provide emergency material assistance. For example, material aid provided by the American Rescue Workers, Salvation Army, Son Light House and other community groups, is tracked through a web-enabled database maintained by Linkage Lycoming. This information is available to all member agencies in order to maximize needed assistance and eliminate unnecessary duplication of services. In addition, through the collaboration of several social service agencies, the Clearinghouse coordinates data collection in order to assess and report on the extent of homelessness in Lycoming County. Homeless data continues to assist agencies in the pursuit of eliminating local homelessness.

Benchmarks of Success

• Individuals/families are assisted with reaching their potential by being linked to appropriate community services designed to address their needs.
• Unnecessary duplication of service to families/individuals is identified and stopped.

LINKS:

Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition – www.lchic.org

PAIR – Pennsylvania Alliance of Information & Referral – www.pairinfo.org

AIRS – Alliance of Information & Referral Systems – www.airs.org