Michigan Alliance of Information & Referral Systems
MI-AIRS Training Conference & Annual Meeting
Join us October 10-11th for our 2023 Statewide Training Conference at the Ziibiwiing Center in Mount Pleasant!
This year's theme is Connection, Compassion, Curiosity and is full of networking, learning and cultural experiences. Certification exams will also be available (register directly with Inform USA). Overnight accommodations are available at Soaring Eagle Water Park.
See the attached brochure for details. Registration is limited to 80, so register early! Click here for detailed agenda and registration form is available here!
MI-AIRS Member Spotlight - UPCAP Services/UP 2-1-1 Call Center!
UPCAP Services/UP 2-1-1 Call Center, is Inform USA Accredited and provides Comprehensive 2-1-1 service to all 15 counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 71% of staff are Nationally Certified.
Over the last 12 months, UP 2-1-1 Call Center has received 25,741 requests for help through phone calls, text, chat, email and walk-in supports. Most common requests for help include COVID-19 Vaccine information, Medicare Information and Counseling, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, Community Shelters and Financial Assistance.
UP 2-1-1 Call Center partners with Area Agency on Aging, Center for Independent Living and United Way, among others to strengthen relationships and services available for U.P. residents. They are most proud of the impact their I&R program has made over the last year. Their staff have come together as a team to help their local communities in such time of need. Many of callers were frustrated, tired and had nowhere to turn, yet their team was there to listen, give referrals and offer empathy. They stepped up and handled so many difficult calls day in and day out. This past year has proven to so many across the state that 2-1-1 is needed and so beneficial to those who reach out to them.
MI-AIRS is taking time to recognize and highlight Member Organizations. Check back frequently to learn more about I&R Providers across Michigan!
To recognize your organization, take a few minutes to tell us about yourself here.
Who are we?
MI-AIRS is an affiliate of Inform USA (formerly Alliance of Information and Referral Systems/AIRS). We are committed to providing quality information and referral services to all of Michigan. Our purpose is to:
Increase general community awareness of Information and Referral (I&R) services.
Improve the quality of I&R as a specific service through development and education.
Foster better communications and relationships among I&R providers.
Assist members to meet and maintain national I&R standards as set by Inform USA
MI-AIRS Membership in Top 10 for National Certification Holders!
Inform USA's Certification Program is for individuals working within the Information & Referral (I&R) sector of human services. Certification is based on established standards for the field of information and referral. Exams include knowledge, skills, attitudes and work-related behaviors related to competencies and performance needed by I&R practitioners.
As of October 2022, MI-AIRS Members hold 119 Certifications, ranking in the top 10 in the US and Canada! There are 3 Certifications available and an individual can hold more than one certification if they are actively engaged in each separate job function. Certification for Community Resource Specialist (CRS); Certification for Community Resource Specialist in Aging/Disabilities (CIRS-A/D) and Certification for Community Resource Specialist in Database Curation (CRS-DC). Among MI-AIRS Members, there are 44 CRS, 55 CRS-A/D and 20 CRS-DC holders. That's pretty incredible!
Certification builds confidence among staff - they believe more in their skills if they have been validated by an external body, and it's also an ingredient in an organization's overall quality assurance process. Certification also helps funders and other stakeholders understand and appreciate the professionalism involved in I&R. For more information about benefits of the Certification Program for individuals, organizations or to take an exam, click here.