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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. A Volunteer Driver Program for Claremont, La Verne, Pomona, and San Dimas. Once upon a time. In 1975 a bright energetic woman named Mary Sandoe was very frustrated with her inability to get transportation for her older, disabled

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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

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  1. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS A Volunteer Driver Program for Claremont, La Verne, Pomona, and San Dimas

  2. Once upon a time . . . In 1975 a bright energetic woman named Mary Sandoe was very frustrated with her inability to get transportation for her older, disabled friend who, despite severe disabilities was very active in the community doing much needed volunteer work. Mary spear headed a community needs assessment which included the four retirement homes, Claremont Manor, Hillcrest , Pilgrim Place, San Antonio Gardens and the Claremont Graduate University. These organizations worked together to Identify those services that were most needed by seniors living Independently in the area. As a result, transportation was identified as the most needed and least available service. In 1976,under the leadership of Mary, Baldy View Community Services for the Aged responded to the transportation dilemma by starting Get About using two borrowed vans from Claremont Red Cross and seventeen volunteer drivers.

  3. Programs aim to keep elderly from being isolated after their driving days end - USA Today April 18, 2011 "We know that people who (remain mobile) have the ability to be independent longer," says Deborah Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, which last fall became the first federal safety agency to analyze the issue of mature drivers. "We know that's a real challenge in certain parts of this country both rural and urban.“ According to NTSB, more than 30 million drivers in the USA are 65 or older; in 15 years, drivers in that age group will make up more than 20% of all drivers. About 7 million older Americans suffer from depression, according to a report from the National Institutes of Health. The social isolation caused by loss of mobility is often a factor, say experts such as Helen Kerschner, Beverly Foundation. Among the efforts to help: •Volunteer programs in which people offer their driving services and often their vehicles to get seniors to appointments and quality-of-life outings. Such programs "can provide the automobiles that older adults need, and they are provided at a very low cost," she says. Many programs reimburse drivers for gas. •Senior transportation programs such as the Independent Transportation Network, ITNAmerica, that allow volunteer drivers to bank transportation "credits." They can then use the credits to pay for their own rides once they stop driving or for rides for a family member. Members also can donate their vehicles and receive credits for future rides. Begun in Maine, ITNAmerica now has affiliates in 14 metro areas. •Private companies such as Phoenix-based RidePlus, which offers sedan service with drivers trained in senior care, CPR and first aid. At fees competitive with taxis, drivers also provide assistance with bags and companionship on outings. •Auto club AAA is looking into how it can continue to serve its members once they give up their keys. "Instead of four free tows, maybe it's four free rides," says AAA's Jacob Nelson.

  4. Community Senior Services Connecting people, information, resources and communities to enrich the lives of older adults . . .celebrating 35 years Programs and Services • Get About Transportation • Senior Help Line (909) 625-4600 • Family Caregiver Support Program • The Enrichment Center Adult Day Program • Senior Companion Program (SCP) • Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) • Community Connections Volunteer Driver Program • Senior Services Alliance • Senior Resource Directory • Valley News for Seniors • Partnership with Change a Life Foundation • ReAL Connections – Village Concept in Development

  5. Aging Trends StimulatingService Innovation • 47% of Californians have a disability • More than 40% of seniors 75+ do not have a drivers license • 54% California seniors who stop driving can’t use public transit (CCA2003) • 26% 65+ Californians live alone

  6. Community Connections Timeline • June 2008 - Internet research of Volunteer Driver programs led to first meeting with Helen Kerschner, Beverly Foundation • September 2008 – Helen Kerschner introduced Rich Smith of TRIP - Transportation Reimbursement Information Program • November 2008 – BORPSAT (Bunch of the Right People Sitting At the Table sponsored by Pomona Valley Transportation Authority to gather community support and research sources of funding • 2008 – 2009 - Quarterly Volunteer Driver Program meetings • November 2009 - Call for projects for New Freedoms • January 2010 - New Freedoms grant application submitted with TRIP model • December 2010 - New Freedoms three year Grant awarded Community Connections office opens, one full time staff and one part time staff hired - January 2011 TRIP agreement signed, manual and software

  7. Community Connections Role Model Based on the TRIP model Over the last 18 years, The TRIP program in Riverside County has supported over 1.1 million free, escorted trips for more than 5,000 homebound and underserved seniors and other individuals with disabilities. Last month 437 passengers received 8,500 1-way trips at no charge to the passengers and the low program cost per 1-way trip of $5.48. (Paratransit costs per trip = $18 - $55)

  8. Community Connections A unique and innovative volunteer driver program that provides door-through-door transportation service to seniors and disabled that cannot easily use other traditional transportation programs

  9. Community Connections Target Audience • Disabled and senior residents of Claremont, La Verne, Pomona & San Dimas • Trips crossing city and county lines • Frail riders requiring escorts • Passengers that are not well-served by other public transportation services

  10. Passenger Facts • Reasons for Travel (top 2) Medical purposes Grocery shopping • Mobility Difficulties (top 5) Tire easily Cannot stand and wait Need help leaving their home Need help getting into vehicle Need someone to stay with them

  11. Community Connections features Rider responsibility = Empowerment • Passengers recruit their own volunteer drivers from their natural support network. • Passengers are empowered by reimbursing mileage to their volunteer escort-driver (.38 per mile reimbursement up to 300 miles)

  12. More Features • No advance reservation is required • Volunteer drivers provide companionship and escorted rides to frail riders • Rides are provided in the personal vehicle of the driver or passenger

  13. How Community Connections works • Community Connections staff conduct comprehensive telephone interviews with applicants. • The application reviewed by the Eligibility Determination Committee. Decisions based on each individual applicants unique set of circumstances and their doctor’s health assessment • When the senior or disabled applicant is determined an “eligible rider”, they recruit a driver • The rider turns in a monthly report and Community Connections issues a reimbursement check that the rider disburses to their drivers

  14. Community Connections structure Community Senior Services Board of Directors Community Connections Steering Committee Pomona Valley Transportation Authority Eligibility Determination Committee Community Connections Staff & Volunteers

  15. Steering Committee • Composed of 7 to 10 members • Meet quarterly • Provide policy input • Identify issues and emerging needs • Conduct an annual evaluation • Tell the Community Connections story

  16. Eligibility Determination Committee • Composed of 20 - 30 members • Representatives of Community Connection & PVTA, as well as community groups and stakeholders • Meet twice monthly • Review staff recommendations for rider eligibility and monthly stipend level and makes final determination • Tell the Community Connections story

  17. Volunteer Drivers’ Contributions Volunteer drivers make it possible for older adults and disabled to travel to a variety of life-sustaining and life-enriching destinations, and quite often such destination travel is only possible because of the assistance and support provided by volunteer drivers.

  18. Volunteer Drivers’ Contributions • They offer service at a variety of times of day and week • They provide rides to many locations • They assist passengers who have physical and mental limitations • They offer important socialization • They not only contribute time…they also save money

  19. Funding Partners

  20. Initial Grant Performance Measures Total rides provided: • Year One 6,000 rides • Year Two 9,000 rides • Year Three 13,500 rides GOAL: Applications accepted March, 2011  Rides begin on April 1, 2011 

  21. Essential Partnershipsin Community to insure success • Legislators • City, County, State • and Federal • Donors/foundations • Federal Grants • Local Press • Volunteers - vital to success • Strategic health partners • Hospital/system • Home care agency • Healthcare providers • City/community • Services—library, etc. • Aging and community services • Transportation • Colleges & universities Intern opportunities

  22. Future Expansion • Service for residents of neighboring cities • Becoming a transportation clearing house and mobility management center for senior and disabled residents in the Community Senior Services service area

  23. More than a ride… it’s dignity, independence, mobility and Coming soon: www.communityconnections-css.org DeVry University student project

  24. New Freedom Program The New Freedom Program grew out of the New Freedom Initiative introduced by the Administration under “Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities,” on June 18, 2001.  The Order states:  “The United States is committed to community-based alternatives for individuals with disabilities and recognizes that such services advance the best interests of the United States.” Individuals who are transportation-disadvantaged face different challenges in accessing services depending on whether they live in urban, rural, or suburban areas.  The geographic dispersion of transportation-disadvantaged populations also creates challenges for human service programs hoping to deliver transportation for their passengers. Over the years, in response to these challenges, Federal, State and local governments, and community-based organizations created specialized programs to meet particular transportation needs.  At the Federal level alone, there are at least 62 separate programs, administered by eight Federal departments, and even more agencies, that provide special transportation services to individuals with disabilities, older adults, and people with low incomes.  Most of these are human service programs that fund limited transportation services to provide eligible participants with access to particular services, such as job training, health care, senior centers, or rehabilitation programs.

  25. Wrap up: Questions & Comments

  26. Contact Information Sandee Hayden, Director Email: csshayden@linkline.com Community Connections A Program of Community Senior Services 141 Spring Street Claremont, CA 91711 (909) 621-9900

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