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Linkage Lycoming
Information & Referral

Linkage Lycoming acts as the focal point in linking people in need with the appropriate service through comprehensive information coordination and dissemination, thereby broadly addressing all community needs in order to help families attain or maintain self-sufficiency.  Community outreach to individuals and groups ensures their knowledge of and access to Linkage Lycoming is maximized.  The Information & Referral (I&R) component links all inquires (phone, email, and walk-ins) 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 referrals are made.  The location, telephone number, and other commonly available information about service provider(s) is then 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.

The Clearinghouse Services component ensures that low-income families or individuals in crisis receive appropriate and sufficient assistance for such items as rent, heating, energy, food and personal items.  Linkage Lycoming coordinates a partnership of 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 member agencies in order to maximize needed assistance and eliminate unnecessary duplication of services.  Through the collaboration of several social service agencies, Linkage Lycoming coordinates data collection in order to assess and report on the extent of homelessness in Lycoming County.

 The Telephone Reassurance component is designed to be a daily or weekly telephone call to the elderly, homebound and any other individuals who are lonely, isolated, or need additional human contact.  Trained volunteers telephone individuals at pre-determined times on a regular basis.  Volunteers conduct a friendly “chat” to help alleviate the loneliness or isolation the individual may be experiencing and check to see if there are any unmet service needs.

For more information:

www.lchic.org/linkagelycoming_new.asp