Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) Program fy 2009 Service Profiles Region X alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington October 2010 fta-08-0162 Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) fy 2009 Service Profiles: Region X

Mt Hood Community College (501)

Steps to Success Shuttle (439)

Location: Multnomah County (OR)
Type: Trip-Based Services/Flexible routing
Goal: Improved access/connections
Service description: Funds from the JARC grant are used to pay the salary and fringe benefits of one FTE to operate a 15-passenger van and to pay the fuel costs for the transportation of clients to and from work training sites. Only TANF clients are eligible to utilize the van and are not charged a fare or any fees. The transportation services made possible through the TriMet van provide a tangible and meaningful difference in the quality of lives of our students. The program has met with resounding success for the past nine years. Students continually express gratitude for the TriMet van, describing how the increased mobility helps them make the best use of their time to grow professionally and educationally and acquire employment training that directly focuses on job acquisition. Without the van, valuable training and job search time would be lost due to multi-stage travel time.
Evaluation:
- Service improvement to the low-income population students continually express gratitude for the van, describing how the increased mobility helps them to make the best use of their time to grow professionally and educationally and acquire employment training directly focused on job acquisition. Without the van, valuable training and job search time can be lost due to multi-stage travel time. Student feedback is collected via surveys and letters that are combined into testimonials.
- Project fills a clearly identified transportation gap The Department of Human Services mandates that clients agree to a performance development plan that may include multiple activities within a single day. Without the van, valuable training and job search time can be lost due to multi-stage travel time. Many DHS/STS clients/students have children and must use regular TriMet transportation services to take their children to daycare. The van then picks clients up at various locations and minimizes travel time to multiple employment training sites.
- Monthly reporting- the driver maintains a daily log from which he creates a monthly report that is submitted to Mt. Hood Community College and to TriMet. Quarterly and annual reports are created to track performance and measure success.
- Project coordination with other community resources, transportation providers and leverage of JARC funds The Steps to Success program in Multnomah County interacts with several employer partners in helping DHS clients travel to and from onsite internships.
Accomplishments: Since the beginning of the STS van operation in May 2000 through November 2009, we have transported 38,819 clients to job training, job fairs, interviews, employer worksite visits, and internship locations. The STS van continues to make a meaningful difference in the quality of clients’ lives. Clients’ participation in job training activities is increased because they travel together to the activity, providing emotional support and collaboration for each other. They continually express gratitude for the van, describing how the increased mobility helps them to make the best use of their time to grow educationally and acquire employment training directly focused on job acquisition.
Lessons learned: Know your customers….businesses as well as the intended passengers. Establish a strong relationship with TriMet. Make sure to do detailed, thorough reporting on a consistent basis.