Healthy Community Alliance Building Quality of Life in

Healthy Community Alliance “Building Quality of Life in Our Rural Community”

Who Are We? ? ? l l Rural Health Network – 501(c)3 Not-For-Profit Committed to health education and outreach, chronic disease prevention, and building quality of life. Board of Directors – health, education, business, and consumer representation. We bring individuals and groups together to create local answers to rural problems.

Mission Statement To improve quality of life in rural communities through broad-based, inclusive partnerships that support wellness and prevention.

Service Area l Portions of (4) counties along the route 39 corridor in southwestern New York State Chautauqua – Erie – Cattaraugus – Wyoming – l l 113, 000+ residents 57 zip codes

Programs/Activities l l l Academy Place- community resource center Child Health/Family Health Plus Health Insurance enrollment assistance Disease Education and Outreach – – – Diabetes Childhood asthma Ovarian cancer Obesity Prevention Arthritis Women’s health

Programs/Activities (cont. ) l l l Fit & Fun Program© –physical activity and nutrition program Management Services: Grant writing/ Marketing/Public Relations/Managed Care Mental Health Initiatives and Youth Suicide Prevention Personal Wellness Profile - health risk assessments Programs for seniors Van Transportation Service

Goal l To facilitate a transportation service for rural residents based on community need.

Van Transportation l l l The Healthy Community Alliance owns and operates two mini-vans providing door-to-door non-emergency demand transportation for individuals within the service area to necessary appointments. Priority is given to medical appointments, however, transportation to other types of services is possible based on individual need. Scheduled on a first come, first served basis.

NEED l l l Identified through community survey and catalog of transportation services Multi-county service area Lack of public transportation Limiting criteria and exhausted capacity of other transportation modes 19% of service area population is 60+ Spread out, geographically isolated communities

Original Program l l l l One van Grant funded Partnered with Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Volunteer Drivers Free service to the community Transportation of last resort Increase access to needed services Approved Medicaid Transportation Provider

Current Program l l l Two vans operating from two locations Partner with Love, In. C. and TLC Health Network Volunteer drivers Free service to the community Transportation of last resort Funding: – – – Grant Donations by partners, riders, general public Municipal

Partner Roles l Healthy Community Alliance – – Funding the vans (1 purchased, 1 donated) Administrative oversight l l l Insurance Driver trainings Van maintenance PR/marketing Data analysis

Partner Roles l Love In. C. – – – Screen transportation requests Schedule trips Recruit volunteer drivers l – – Use own vehicles for local trips, van for longer distance Fund raise Collect data: van usage statistics l l l Miles Number of trips Destination location

Partner Roles l TLC Health Network – – House and clean one van Advise Alliance of routine maintenance needs, track and submit quarterly maintenance log Provide partial financial support for operational costs of van Provide staff as drivers

Data l l 35 Approved drivers 7 Driver orientations 83% of trips are health visits, 17% a mix of human services, courts and personal Miles and Trips: Year Miles Trips 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 - 6, 613 8, 851 10, 242 10, 042 10, 968 12, 731 16, 826 25, 097 13, 824 16, 426 50 113 111 106 133 172 (second van introduced) 212 278 (purchased/replaced original van) 235 193

Finances l l Budget varies Average annual direct operational costs outside of van purchase: $7, 000 to $8, 000 Training: $135 HCA Staff: . 1 F. T. E. (10%)

Lessons Learned l l l l Training for all involved is ongoing The partnership allows for a manageable program Conduct background check on drivers Have drivers take safe driving course to lower insurance premiums Monitor van use Keep funding opportunities always in sight New needs/opportunities develop

Contact Information Healthy Community Alliance, Inc. 26 Jamestown Street Gowanda, NY 14070 (716) 532 -1010 Phone (716) 532 -1011 Fax Sharon J. Mathe – Executive Director Sharon Noecker, Community Programs Coordinator noeckers@hcanetwork. org www. communityalliance. org