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

Human Services Council (646)

Sustain and expand transportation for work related activities in Clark County (1077)

Location: All of Clark County (WA)
Type: Trip-Based Services/Demand response
Goal: Improved system capacity
Service description: The Human Services Council provided brokered transportation services, primarily transit passes, to low-income individuals at 150% of the federal poverty line or less, who reside in Clark County, WA. The purpose of all trips was to help individuals to access work or work-related activities. While door-to-door services were limited, they were effectively used to link individuals to transit centers or stops where their bus pass could then be used to help them continue on to their work-related destination.
Evaluation: HSA regularly monitored and reported to our board of directors the number of trips provided under this program. Additionally, we worked extensively with community partners in Clark County, including employers, agencies and organizations involved in employment assistance. With their help, individuals who could truly benefit from this program were identified and referred for services. Our partners provided the initial screening, income verification and oversight of job search logs for program participants.
For door-to-door service for program participants to connect to transit opportunities or who worked outside of the local transit’s hours of operation, we tracked a total of 726 miles and 1071 minutes of door-to-door transportation service. We provided both bus passes and door-to-door transportation services for total of 1, 718 unique clients 
Accomplishments: In response to increasing costs and demand for services, we worked closely with our community partners and with the program participants to identify best use of limited resources. Our community partners considered the services of this program essential in helping their client’s access work and work-related activities. Consequently, they increased their participation in the program and provided in-kind assistance by authorizing additional staff time to help us with referrals, filling out forms and spending additional time to fill out and submit bus pass order forms for their clients. The ability to provide the greatest level of service with limited resources was a collaborative effort that we are especially proud of.
Lessons learned: It was imperative for our agency to work very closely with community partners and program participants. Focusing resources where they will provide the greatest benefit for those needing access to work or work-related activities as well as monitoring available funds on a month-to-month basis. Stay in tune with fluctuating and rising costs such as the price of fuel and bus passes.