south dakota transit conference
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South Dakota Transit Conference. Volunteer Driver Programs Presented by Helen Kerschner (April, 2011). The Beverly Foundation Located in Albuquerque 30 Years of Experience Research and Demonstration Senior Mobility & Transportation Mission - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Volunteer DriverVolunteer DriverProgramsPrograms
Presented byPresented byHelen KerschnerHelen Kerschner
(April, 2011)(April, 2011)
The Beverly FoundationLocated in Albuquerque
30 Years of Experience
Research and Demonstration
Senior Mobility & Transportation
MissionAt the Beverly Foundation new ideas and options are fostered to enhance
mobility and transportation for seniors
South Dakota Transit ConferenceSouth Dakota Transit Conference
Time To Give Up The Keys?Time To Give Up The Keys?Time To Give Up The Keys?Time To Give Up The Keys?
Transportation OptionsTransportation Options
Which Of TheseOptions Is
Available… and Will Work For Me?
Which Of TheseOptions Is
Available… and Will Work For Me?
Reports From The FieldReports From The Field
• Increasing Costs
• Increasing Demand
• Need to Provide Assistance
• Need for More…
Declining Resources
Solvency Concerns
The SolutionThe Solution
Volunteer Driver ProgramsVolunteer Driver Programs
From…
“Little Women Doing Little Things”
To…
“The Hope of The Future”
From…
“Little Women Doing Little Things”
To…
“The Hope of The Future”
Profile of Volunteer Driver ProgramsProfile of Volunteer Driver Programs
Average # Years in Operation 17
Represented States 49 + DC & DR
Rural Service Area 69%
Service Scope
Menu of Service 90%
Income
No Fees 85%
Grants 62%
Accept Donations 62%
Top 3 Destinations
Medical, Shopping, Social Services
Drivers
Total # 27,217
Volunteer Only 71%
Volunteer & Paid 29%
% Age 65+ 54%
Relationships Human Services = 6
Transit Services = 1
Service Availability
Daytime/Weekdays 98%
Evening 48% Night 18%
Saturday 51% Sunday 44%
543 Cases – 49 States + 2
Beverly Foundation STAR Search Data 2000 - 2007
Why Are They Gaining in Popularity?Why Are They Gaining in Popularity?Because They…… include volunteer drivers
And Because They CAN….… include volunteer vehicles … provide passenger assistance… go to and through the door… offer trip-chaining… provide transportation at no charge… travel to distant destinations… stay with passengers at the destination… offer socialization to passengers… eliminate the need for trip scheduling
They Can Meet Needs of Many Passengers
Let’s Talk About The Bottom LineLet’s Talk About The Bottom LineConsider the cost of…
…organizational infrastructure
…paying drivers!
…owning a vehicle!
…making dead-head rides!
…taking one passenger in a multi-passenger vehicle!
…offering a trip-chaining option
…scheduling rides
Volunteer driver programs CAN save $$$$$!
Consider the cost of…
…organizational infrastructure
…paying drivers!
…owning a vehicle!
…making dead-head rides!
…taking one passenger in a multi-passenger vehicle!
…offering a trip-chaining option
…scheduling rides
Volunteer driver programs CAN save $$$$$!
Three Cost Factors
OrganizationMenu of ServiceFree Standing
VehiclesOwned/Leased & Volunteer Vehicles
Volunteer Vehicles OnlyDrivers
Paid & Volunteer DriversVolunteer Drivers Only
Not All Volunteer Programs Are Alike
Not All Volunteer Programs Are Alike
Organizing ExamplesOrganizing ExamplesMenu of Services
with Volunteer Driver ProgramsTraditional Public Transit… Ride ConnectionTraditional Community Transit… Prairie Hills TransitHospital-Based paid driver programs… St. Rose’s Senior Service paid driver programs… Senior
Resource
Free-Standing Serviceswith A Volunteer Driver Program
Franchise… ITN Community Group… Neighbor RideFaith in Action Sponsorships… FIA AustinNot-For Profit Groups (RSVP)… RSVP of Dane County
Drivers/Vehicles/Assistance*Drivers/Vehicles/Assistance*Program Data Drivers
Paid Paid & Vol. Vol. Only
CasesAv. Years OperationSenior Passengers
4826
80,000
10723
150,000
113 15
62,000
$0 - $99,000Budget $100,000 - $1M
$1M+
42%46%12%
45%49%6%
78%20%2%
Vehicle Owned/LeasedData Volunteer Owned
98%6%
91%64%
21%93%
Curb-to CurbAssistance Door-to-DoorSupport Door-thru-Door
Stay At Destin.Escort
60%81%35%27%25%
71%93%74%68%64%
58%86%82%81%73%
*Beverly Foundation 2011 STAR Search Survey Data
Driver/Vehicle ExamplesDriver/Vehicle Examples
Paid & Volunteer Drivers
(Delmarva Community Services, Inc. – MD)
Owned &/Or Leased & Volunteer Vehicles
(St. John’s Council on Aging – FL)
Volunteer Drivers Only
(Senior Helpline Service – CA)
Volunteer Vehicles Only
(Na Hoaloah – HA)
Other Cost Saving MethodsOther Cost Saving Methods
Reduce Paid Staff Costs
drivers schedule their own rides (Rides & Smiles – CA)
Reduce Vehicle Costs
purchase Prius vehicles (Sr. Resource Center - CO)Reduce Assistance Costs
train volunteers to provide concierge services (JFS – CA)
Reduce Fuel Costs
reimburse drivers with gas cards (Catholic Chair. – NM)
Reduce Other Costs
low cost software to replace paper scheduling (FIA - TX)
Other Positive FactorsOther Positive FactorsExpand Service Area
(YCCAC – Sanford, ME)
Provide Transportation to People with Dementia
(Catholic Charities – San Jose, CA)
Tap Into Destinations for Support
(JFS – Albuquerque, NM)
Empower Riders to Recruit their Own Drivers
(TRIP – Riverside, CA)
Provide Medical Advocacy
(AAA of Merrimack Valley – Lawrence, MA)
Go to Different Types of Destinations
(Jewish Family Service – San Diego, CA)
What About Customer Friendliness?
What About Customer Friendliness?
Volunteer Driver Programs
Can provide a different kind of availability.
Can meet several adaptability requirements.
Can offer personal types of accessibility.
Can accommodate acceptability standards.
Can oblige affordability needs.
What Passengers Really Want!!!
The 5 A’s of Senior Friendly Transportation!
Senior Friendliness Is CriticalSenior Friendliness Is Critical
availability
acceptability
accessibility
affordabilit
y
adaptability
The Five A’s of Senior
Friendliness
Personal FavoritePersonal Favorite
Medical Motors – Rochester, NYMobility Management Community Collaborative
Started: 2008
TRAC(Transportation Access Coordination)
Lead AgencyMedical Motors
Participating AgenciesCounty Office on Aging
Eldersource2 Volunteer Driver Programs
Catholic Family Center & LifeSpan
Ten Things You Need To Know…Ten Things You Need To Know……about Volunteer Driver Programs
… have paid &volunteer or volunteer only drivers… have owned vehicles and/or volunteer vehicles… charge fees or operate solely on donations … are free standings or located within a menu of service… have a defined or flexible service area… purchase an expanded ins. policy or a new policy… use high-end or inexpensive software… provide limited or extensive passenger assistance… stay at the destination (short time or long time)… travel short distances or long distances… go to life-sustaining and/or life-enriching destinations
Ten Things You Need To Know…Ten Things You Need To Know……about Volunteer Drivers
Volunteer drivers are dependable “employees”.Volunteer drivers can easily work side by side with paid
staff.Volunteer drivers are not 9-5 employees.Volunteer drivers generally are willing to “go the extra
mile”.Volunteer drivers are not “free”.Volunteer drivers are good drivers.Volunteer drivers need not worry about liability.Volunteer drivers are the best recruiters of volunteer
drivers.Volunteer drivers drive because they want to give back…not .. to get mileage reimbursement. .. to generate service credits for when they get old. .. to go to a recognition banquet once a year.Volunteer drivers are the hardest volunteers to recruit…
but once you’ve got them….…you’ve got them.!
A Review Of Key ElementsA Review Of Key Elements… drivers (paid and/or volunteer) … vehicles (owned and/or volunteer)… financial resources (fees and/or donation only)
... organization (menu of service or free standing) … insurance (expanded policy or new policy)
… data management (high end or inexpensive software)… service area (defined or flexible)
… passenger assistance (door-to-door or more)… stay at the destination (short time or long time)… escorts (family member or volunteer drivers) … socialization (neighbor or volunteer drivers)… destinations (life-sustaining and/or life-enriching)
Low-Cost Options Are Out ThereLow-Cost Options Are Out ThereLow-Cost Options Are Out ThereLow-Cost Options Are Out There
Special Thanks!Special Thanks!
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
American Public Transportation Association
CTAA
National Center on Senior Transportation
American Society on Aging
California Association for Coordinated Transportation
U Mass Boston
APTA
NCST
Organizational ExamplesOrganizational ExamplesOrganization/Vehicles/Vehicles
Public Transit - Ride Connection (OR) Free/Owned&Vol/Pd&VolCommunity Transit - YCCAC (ME) Menu/Owned&Vol/Pd&VolCommunity Transit - Prairie Hills Tr. (SD) Menu/Pd&Vol/Owned&VolGeneral Transit – St. John’s County Council (FL) Menu/Pd& Vol.Aging Services – Merrimack Valley AAA (MA) Menu/Vol/VolJewish Family Services (CA) Menu/Vol/VolSt. Rose Dominican Hospital Transit (NV) Menu/Owned/Pd&Vol
ITN (ME) Free/Owned & Vol/Pd&VolFIAC Austin (TX) Free/Vol/VolTRIP (CA) Free/Vol/VolNeighbor Ride (MD) Free/Vol/Vol
Their Drivers & VehiclesTheir Drivers & Vehicles(1)Paid Drivers
(2)Volunteer Drivers(3)Owned/Leased Vehicles
(4)Volunteer Vehicles
Community Transit… (1, 2, 3 & 4) Hospital-Based paid driver programs (1 & 2, 3 & 4)
Human Service paid driver programs… (1, 2 & 3)Senior service paid driver programs… (1, 2 & 3)Faith in Action Sponsorships (2 & 4)Not-For Profit Groups (2 & 4)