Volunteer TransportationVolunteer TransportationThe Senior Transportation Option

That Will Work for Everyone

ASA ConferenceSan FranciscoApril 28, 2011

The ModelThe TRIP model was designed as a low-cost, low-maintenance,

customer driven approach for providing transportation for older adults….. SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE PROGAM INCLUDE:

• Low-cost start-up • Simple to administer

• Can be organized in any location• Low-cost to operate

• 24/7 travel allowed• No dispatch expense

• No paid drivers• No volunteer recruitment headaches

• Designed to limit liability

• Volunteer drivers vetted by passengers

• Travel to any destination can be available

• Passenger friendly service

History and Performance• TRIP was designed and began operations in 1993

in Riverside County California

• TRIP was small in the beginning - During the first 8 months 96 passengers received 2,791 rides

with total program expenses of $26,524 for the period.

• Almost 2 decades later the program has an impressive record of PROVEN PERFORMANCE - 14.5 million miles of assisted travel,

1.2 million free, escorted trips for more than 5,000 homebound and underserved people with disabilities, and still counting…

• Last month 469 passengers received 8,500 1-way trips at no charge to passengers

And at a cost of $5.40 to the program.

• Now, TRIP is assisting communities across the U.S.start and operate low-cost, efficient and effective TRIP services.

Demographic/Satisfaction ReportThe following data is from the 2010 TRIP Riverside annual survey:

• Passengers are 80% female / 20% male• 69% are age 65 or more / 19% are 55 to 64 / 11% are 54 and younger

Top 5 Mobility Difficulties Reported:• 85% tire easily

• 76% cannot stand and wait• 61% need help leaving their home

• 60% need help getting into and out of a vehicle• 59% need someone to day with them during appointments

Top 2 Reasons for Travel:• 96% use the service for medical purposes (and for other things)

• 78% use the service for grocery shopping (and other things)

Self-Reported Effectiveness of Assistance:• 97% told us they were not able to travel as much as needed before TRIP• 96% told us they are NOW ABLE TO TRAVEL AS MUCH AS NEEDED.

Courtesy of Helen Kerschner, The Beverly Foundation

Unusual Characteristics

TRIP does not recruit drivers, does not schedule rides and sends mileage reimbursement payments to the passengers so they can pay their drivers:

TRIP does not own vehicles, further limiting expense and liability:• According to risk professionals and insurers, it is the combination of the arm’s length relationship that is maintained between the program and the volunteers, vehicles not being owned by the program, and the fact that no fees are charged that creates the potential for limiting liability for the sponsoring organization

• Passengers recruit their friends and neighbors to be their volunteer drivers and schedule rides as mutually convenient for both

• Because volunteers have an “arm’s length” relationship with the program sponsor, liability and risk are limited

How the Model is InnovativeThe TRIP Model is an outgrowth of five innovative assumptions:

(1) If seniors recruit their own drivers, they will be empowered

(2) If they have something to offer friends and neighbors in exchange for rides, they will feel more comfortable asking for rides

(3) If volunteers can be reimbursed for their travel, they will be more likely to provide rides over an extended period

(4) If friends and neighbors can use their own automobiles, the need to purchase and maintain vehicles by the program is eliminated

(5) If passengers and drivers can schedule their own rides, requirements for staffing and infrastructure are significantly reduced

How TRIP Model Minimizes CostsProgram Feature Yes No

Staff Recruits Drivers   x

Staff Schedules Rides   x

Program Owns Vehicles   x

Program Has Paid Drivers   x

Riders Pay Fees   x

Eliminating these costly features,that are included in many other paid and volunteer driver programs,

makes TRIP the most economical service to operate.

Where The Model Can Be Adapted

TRIP can be implemented in rural as well as urban and suburban communities – Whatever the organizing approach, TRIP is designed as a dynamic and flexible

model that can be adapted within any community

The TRIP Model

New Service Add-On WithinHuman Service Agency

Add-On Within Transportation Service

Stand-Alone Service

Interfaith Group

Volunteer Organization

Hospital

Area Agency on Aging Public Transit Agency

Paratransit Agency

Taxi Voucher Service

Existing Vol. Program

STP

Sample 1st Year Budgets1 full-time staff position 25,000 Volunteer In-Kind

1 computer 1,500 1,500 In-Kind

TRIP program package 600 600 600

Supplies 500 500 In-Kind

Postage 300 300 In-Kind

Office space 2,000 2,000 In-Kind

Utilities 600 600 In-Kind

Telephone 600 600 In-Kind

Accounting services 600 Volunteer In-Kind

Banking service costs 200 200 In-Kind

Mileage reimbursements 11,025 11,025 11,025

Total   42,925 (1) 17,325 (2) 11,625 (3)

(1) The low-cost, first year budget is based on the following travel assumptions: 35 passengers and volunteers they recruit themselves; 75 miles per passenger per month for 12 months; $.35 mileage rate: total mileage reimbursement cost is $11,025. (2) With volunteer staff and volunteered professional accounting service. (3) With everything other than the start-up and operation package and mileage reimbursements provided by an existing agency or organization. Even mileage reimbursement amounts can be adapted as necessary.

Simple OperationOutreach and in-services are conducted

• Referrals are received from community partners (social and health services, others)

• Applications and necessary verifications are completed

• Eligibility of individual applicants is determined

• Approved applicants are notified of service to be provided

• Approved passengers arrange travel with volunteer drivers (that they have recruited themselves)

• Passengers travel with volunteers as mutually arranged

• Requests for reimbursement are submitted at month’s end

• Requests are reviewed and compared with approved allowances

• Deviation from eligibility or questionable requests

are discussed with passengers

• Detailed data is entered for each reimbursement request in TripTrak

• Mileage reimbursement checks are issued and mailed

• Performance reports are generated and reviewed

Essential TRIP Model Features• Passengers (recognition and commitment to meet unserved needs)• Empowerment Philosophy (belief that passengers can be self-reliant)• Board & Staff Leadership (passionate focus on making the model work)• Case-by-Case Eligibility Review (establishes service credibility) • Volunteer Recruitment by Passengers (promotes self-reliance attitudes)• Volunteer Friends and Neighbors (builds and strengthens social networks)• Use of Personal Vehicles (hugely reduces service costs)• Mileage Reimbursement (creates accountability and cements relationships)• Independent Ride Scheduling (maximizes service convenience for riders)• Software (TRIPTrak for ease of data management and reporting)• Participation in Collaborative Services Network (community glue)• Commercial Liability and Non-Owned Auto Insurance (absolutely necessary)• Tell the Service Story! (THE way to gain community respect and support)

How To Start A ServiceILP provides a step-by-step “How To Start a Service in Your Community”

manual to help guide new program start-ups. This manual may be acquired at the TRIPtrans.org website.

The manual helps guide decision-making on every aspect of program start-up:

• Who will be served• Who can be a volunteer driver

• What area will be served• Managing capacity (and operational expenses)

• Arranging for needed insurance• Staffing the service

• Establishing the budget• Information and data management

• Establishing the application and enrollment process• Outreach / Making it happen

On-going program support and technical assistance is available.

Where to Get More InformationTRIP is working to make it easy for organizations all across the country

to start and operate a TRIP model program in their own communities…

You will find more information and answers to many questions about starting and operating a program at the support website www.TRIPtrans.org

A step-by-step "How To Start a TRIP Service in Your Community Manual“ is available at www.TRIPtrans.org

An inexpensive software application, with a life-time license, has been specifically designed to facilitate complete TRIP Model Administration, Management, Control and Reporting and is available for Single-Station or Network Environments –demonstration videoof the software can be viewed at www.TRIPtrans.org

A full support and information library with instructional videos will be built on the www.TRIPacrossAmerica.org website within the next few months…..

Members of the TRIPacrossAmericaSM Network are able to share information and work together to maximize the success of their local services.

Contact Information

Richard SmithGeneral Manager, TRIP Volunteer Transportation

Director, Independent Living Partnership6235 River Crest Drive, Suite C

Riverside CA 92507-0758

richardsmith@ilpcorp.org951.653.0740 x24

TRIP Volunteer Transportationwww.TRIPtrans.org

Volunteer TransportationVolunteer Transportation

The Senior Transportation OptionThat Will Work for Everyone