About

Background

United Ways of California (UWCA) is launching a text-based campaign to combat the impacts of toxic stress in the lives of individuals and families in California and across the nation. Toxic stress is a serious and growing problem, especially during the COVID-19 health and economic crisis, but too few people are aware that resources are available to lessen the effects of stress and improve their resiliency. The campaign will target diverse communities with an emphasis on low-income individuals and families and connecting them to appropriate, no-cost resources.

The promotional text campaign will be in English and Spanish, and encourage people experiencing stress to text a keyword to 211-211, a texting platform owned and operated by UWCA.

Overview

Upon texting into 211-211, users will enter a text flow dedicated to educating them about the effects of stress and providing tips about what they can do immediately to combat stress (i.e. breathing, mindfulness, and exercise). Individuals will be prompted to identify if there is an issue of main concern causing their stress and if clients identify general or financial resources needed (like housing or food assistance) they will be directed to 211ca.org, or another state’s respective 211 resource page where available. UWCA has also developed a chatbot, in partnership with X2AI, to provide clinically proven mental health support and on-demand guided support for those experiencing stress (UWCA worked previously with X2AI to develop a chatbot, named Gloria, to provide resources focused on combating financial stress available at www.myfreetaxes.org).

Key Stressors Supported by Text Campaign

The text flow will be able to provide resources and tips on the following stressors:

  1. General stress busting tips related to healthy relationships, exercise, nutrition, sleep, mental and behavioral health support, and mindfulness and meditation.
  2. General and financial resource, which will refer to 211ca.org and other respective general statewide resources where available.
  3. Emotional and mental well-being resources and tips for dealing with issues such as bereavement, relationships, or mental health issues.
  4. Parenting and caregiving tips and resources to mitigate caregiving stressors.

Resources are curated from various sources and experts, such as the CA Surgeon General’s Playbook, 2-1-1 resource data specialists, and evidence-based mental health coaching/support from X2AI.

UWCA will track the most commonly identified stressors and adapt the tool in a data-driven manner based on observed needs from families and individuals who use the system. All users information will remain completely private and anonymous and the data collected will be protected and only used to improve the performance of the text service.

For more information about this project, please contact Nalleli Sandoval nsandoval@unitedwaysca.org.