Billy Altom, Executive Director Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living North Little Rock, Arkansas

THE TRAVELER’S CHEQUE PROGRAM National demonstration of a rural employment transportation voucher model: Placing control in our hands

PROJECT GOALS Increase high quality employment outcomes using a transportation voucher program Increase high quality employment outcomes using a transportation voucher program For people with disabilities in rural areas For people with disabilities in rural areas National in scope at ten sites National in scope at ten sites Develop a voucher model for transportation Develop a voucher model for transportation Replicable Replicable Sustainable Sustainable

Alaska Alaska Georgia Georgia Illinois Illinois Kansas Kansas Massachusetts Massachusetts Minnesota Minnesota Montana Montana New Mexico New Mexico Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Utah Utah

PARTICIPANTS AND ROLES Sponsoring organization or site Sponsoring organization or site Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) Bookkeeper Bookkeeper Transportation providers Transportation providers Consumers Consumers

PARTICIPANTS AND ROLES CTC BookkeeperProvider Consumer Sponsoring Organization CTC: Community Transportation Coordinator

ROLE OF SITE Develop eligibility criteria Develop eligibility criteria Develop policies to allocate resources Develop policies to allocate resources Insurance Insurance

ROLE OF CTC Develop transportation interest network Develop transportation interest network Help locate and negotiate rates with providers Help locate and negotiate rates with providers Enroll consumers, develop individual transportation plan with consumer and allocate mileage Enroll consumers, develop individual transportation plan with consumer and allocate mileage Submit periodic project updates Submit periodic project updates

ROLE OF BOOKKEEPER Receive vouchers Receive vouchers Originals from providers Originals from providers Duplicates from consumers Duplicates from consumers Issue payments to providers Issue payments to providers Submit invoices for permitted expenses and voucher reimbursement Submit invoices for permitted expenses and voucher reimbursement Record all trip data and payments in workbook for analysis Record all trip data and payments in workbook for analysis Maintain permanent records Maintain permanent records

ROLE OF PROVIDERS Provide transportation/receive vouchers Provide transportation/receive vouchers Submit vouchers for payment Submit vouchers for payment Volunteers: Fed rate per mile Volunteers: Fed rate per mile Public and private providers Public and private providers Negotiate rates with CTC Negotiate rates with CTC Establish hours/trip guidelines with CTC Establish hours/trip guidelines with CTC

ROLE OF CONSUMERS Complete enrollment forms with CTC Complete enrollment forms with CTC Develop Individual Transportation Plan with CTC Develop Individual Transportation Plan with CTC Receive mileage allocation Receive mileage allocation Locate providers and arrange trips Locate providers and arrange trips Pay with Traveler’s Cheques and maintain balance in register Pay with Traveler’s Cheques and maintain balance in register Submit duplicate cheques Submit duplicate cheques

THE TRAVELER’S CHEQUES Site Name No Site street address City, State ZIP Date _____________ Site phone number Pay to the order of _____________________________________________ miles For (circle one): WORK MEDICAL SOCIAL/RELIGIOUS SCHOOL SHOPPING SUBMIT FOR PAYMENT WITHIN 90 DAYS ___________________________ Signature Duplicate Cheques / Transaction Register / Miles / Simplicity / Oversize Option

Advantages of a Voucher Program Allows riders more choices in where they work and live Allows riders more choices in where they work and live Puts resources into the hands of riders rather than agencies Puts resources into the hands of riders rather than agencies Place emphasis on rider needs rather than agency considerations Place emphasis on rider needs rather than agency considerations Promotes rural tradition of volunteerism Promotes rural tradition of volunteerism Promotes cost-sharing among service agencies, riders and transit providers Promotes cost-sharing among service agencies, riders and transit providers

TOOLKIT

TOOLKIT CONTENTS Introduction Introduction Toolkit contents Toolkit contents Key players Key players Develop partnerships Develop partnerships Set goals Set goals Seek funding Seek funding Develop policies Develop policies Eligibility/purpose Eligibility/purpose Allocations/abuse Allocations/abuse Providers allowed Providers allowed Payment schedule Payment schedule Exceptions Exceptions Publicize Publicize Print checks Print checks Contract with providers Contract with providers Work with riders Work with riders Enrollment & ITP & miles Using the checkbook Program management Program management Special considerations Special considerations Insurance/liability Trip purposes: “Access for All” Miles vs. dollars

APPENDICES Summary report Summary report Eligibility & policy guidelines Eligibility & policy guidelines Enrollment forms Enrollment forms Sample workbook Sample workbook Transportation resources Transportation resources

TOOLKIT CD: CONTENTS Toolkit: in PDF format Toolkit: in PDF format Traveler’s Cheque Workbook: Excel Traveler’s Cheque Workbook: Excel Toolkit: Text in Word Toolkit: Text in Word Toolkit: Text in “Accessible text” format from Adobe Toolkit: Text in “Accessible text” format from Adobe Toolkit: Text in large print format (18 pt) Toolkit: Text in large print format (18 pt)

Billy Altom APRIL 2001 Pershing Circle, Suite 200 North Little Rock, AR