TCOG’s 2-1-1 Texoma Awarded National Accreditation

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Annual Dashboard 2012
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TCOG’s 2-1-1 Texoma Awarded National Accreditation

News Release
For Immediate Release

Sherman, January 7, 2013- Dr. Susan Thomas, Executive Director of Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG) announced today the National Accreditation of the 2-1-1 Texoma Program administered by TCOG.

Thomas stated, “Our 2-1-1 Texoma Information and Referral (I&R) Program is among a select group of organizations to receive National Accreditation from the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS). We are very proud of this recognition as it highlights the exemplary level of service we provide to the people in our region.”

TCOG’s 2-1-1 program provides an extensive list of resources to connect callers to services such as: domestic violence programs, elder care services, legal help, housing assistance, family counseling services, temporary energy assistance, and basic needs offered in communities such as food, shelter and clothing.

Our 2-1-1 Texoma Information and Referral (I&R) Program is among a select group of organizations to receive National Accreditation from the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS).

Susan B. Thomas, PhD, Executive Director

According to Thomas the completion of the accreditation process is an important achievement for 2-1-1 Texoma. “This achievement is meaningful not just for our program, but for the region as a whole. Our call-takers have completed comprehensive training and evaluation which exceed state requirements. This means better, more accurate, more reliable information for folks in the region that use this service.”

AIRS is an international nonprofit professional association with a membership of more than 1,200 public and private organizations. The Accreditation Program is an extensive review process that assesses more than 200 distinct components of an I&R Program and includes an expert assessment of an agency’s resource database, a secret shopper service evaluation, monitoring of service delivery and a detailed onsite review.

The Texoma Council of Governments is a voluntary association of the local governments in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson Counties. Established in 1968, the Texoma Council of Governments promotes economy and efficiency in the coordinated planning and development of the tri-county region through its community and economic development activities. Either directly, or through contractors, the Council provides housing, utility assistance, and weatherization services for low-income citizens in the region and assists the elderly through a variety of Area Agency on Aging programs. The Council also facilitates the delivery of grant funding for homeland security and criminal justice.