Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
December 23, 2003, Vol. 03-121

United We Ride
Building the Fully Coordinated Human Service Transportation System

For most people, getting to work, getting to the doctor, or getting to church means getting in our car. But for many people, it's not that easy, there are often many challenges that individuals face when trying to "get a ride".

It's not that governments, community organizations, etc.,haven't tried to help. Nearly every human service program recognizes that transportation is important. In fact, there are 62 federal programs that fund transportation services. And through taxes and charitable contributions, Americans are spending a significant amount of money in order to help.

The key to using these services more efficiently is coordination. The Department of Transportation, with its partners at the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Education, are launching United We Ride -- a new five-part initiative-- to break down the barriers between programs and set the stage for local partnerships that generate common sense solutions and deliver A-plus performance for everyone who needs transportation.

The United We Ride initiative will include -

• A Framework for Action. Created by a panel of experts from around the country that convened in August 2003, this publication is a self-assessment tool that States and communities can use to identify areas of success and highlight the actions still needed to improve the coordination of human service transportation. To download the complete Framework for Action and facilitator's guide, please visit the CCAM website at http://www.fta.dot.gov/CCAM/framework.html.
  
  
• State Leadership Awards. These awards will recognize a select number of States that have accomplished significant progress in human service transportation coordination. Award applications should be submitted no later than January 9, 2004. For a complete application package..
  
  
• National Leadership Forum on Human Service Transportation Coordination. This conference, planned for late February 2004, will bring together Governor appointed senior leadership teams seeking to raise the visibility of the issue among State leaders and secure commitments to action. The forum will be used to provide technical assistance, as well as to recognize those States that have already taken significant steps to improve human service transportation services.
  
  
• State Coordination Grants. States participating in the United We Ride National Leadership Forum will be eligible to submit an application for State Coordination Grants, to address gaps and needs related to human service transportation in their geographic regions.
  
  
• Help Along the Way. This technical assistance program will build on the work of the Community Transportation Assistance Program (CTAP), the Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP), Easter Seals Project ACTION and other stakeholders to provide hands-on assistance to States and communities in the development and delivery of coordinated human service transportation programs.

For more information, please visit the website at http://www.fta.dot.gov/CCAM/www/index.html For additional questions, send an email to unitedweride@fta.dot.gov

*************************************************

The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.