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In the fall of 1977 the Texas Chapter of the Alliances of Information
and Referral Services was officially formed. The purpose for which
the corporation was organized is to:
1. To provide technical assistance in the establishment, expansion
and improvement of sound Information and Referral Services.
2. To foster communications among local I&R services and between
TAIRS members and the national organization.
3. To stimulate professional training and public education on I&R
Issues and to provide speakers for such purposes.
4. To support the goals of the AIRS national organization, with
particular emphasis on the maintenance of high program standards
for I&R providers.
5. To include AIRS members from unorganized neighboring states
in workshops and conferences.
The Information and Referral Service (I&R) responds to callers
requesting information and assistance. The nature of the calls range
from very simple calls such as a caller wishing to donate items,
to more complex needs such as an elderly person needing assistance
with utility or prescription expenses. The role of I&R is to
provide the caller with information and a referral to the most appropriate
resource.
A process to computerize I&R functions began in 1991. I&R
staff use a computer system to access information on area resources
and to maintain information on callers. A wide range of reports
based on resource and client information are available. Some reports
are used to satisfy requirements of the various funders of I&R.
Other reports serve as a means of evaluating the needs of clients,
and can provide specific demographic information on callers. The
computerized system has helped eliminate a great deal of paper work
by electronically capturing the information. The I&R workers
therefore have more time to respond to incoming calls.
Classification of I&R calls by category
Basic Material Needs - 70%
Organizational and Community Services - 8%
Health Care - 5%
Individual and Family Life - 4%
Criminal Justice - 3%
Income Security - 3%
Mental Health Care and Counseling - 3%
Consumer Services - 2%
Education - 1%
Environmental Quality - 1%
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