In This Edition 
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Stephanie Eatton-Johnson
Mobility and Transportation Advocate 
Stephanie Eatton-Johnson joined the MMSCNY staff in August as a Mobility and Transportation Advocate.
Stephanie is responsible for assisting individuals with their transportation needs via the GetThere Call Center. She will also provide individuals with case management, referral services, trip planning, travel training and transportation education services as needed.
Stephanie  was born and raised in Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She moved to Vestal, NY in 2005. Prior to joining the Rural Health Network team, Stephanie worked for ACHIEVE for just over ten years providing services to individuals with disabilities.
In her spare time, Stephanie cherishes time with her husband Greg and family. She also enjoys exploring parks, waterfalls and gorges throughout the state of New York.
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Farewell to Kayla Jack
MMSCNY bids farewell to AmeriCorp member Kayla Jack, with thanks. Kayla served two placements at the Call Center as a Mobility & Transportation Advocate, beginning in May of 2016. Kayla is continuing her studies at BU where she is currently a graduate student, class of 2020, studying for a masters in social work and public administration. She additionally works as a Family Life Specialist/Aid at the Children's Home of Wyoming Conference.
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National Rural Heath Day
Celebrate Rural Health and H
onor America's Heart and Soul
The third Thursday of every November - November 16th this year - has been set aside to celebrate National Rural Health Day. It is designed to
honor the selfless, community-minded, "can do" spirit that is so indicative of rural American values; it is intended to inspire communities to address and resolve their most challenging population health issues. It prompts us to consider the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face and highlight the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health and other rural stakeholders to address those challenges.
11 of 16 Broome County towns are considered rural-- having fewer than 200 residents per square mile; approximately one quarter of Broome County's population live in these rural towns. Rural Broome Counts, a 2015 initiative, involved an examination of assets and needs of these 11 rural townships in Broome County. Community participants identified Broome County's top assets as rural schools, community spirit, and natural resources; and its top challenges as poverty, rural health access, and transportation.
These are among the issues of importance to
the Rural Health Network of South Central New York, whose mission is to advance the health and well-being of rural people and communities. We serve not only Broome County, but the neighboring and other nearby counties with similar rural populations and similar challenges. We work with many partner agencies across the area on a range of issues--always through the lens of overall health and wellness for SCNY communities in general.
A poll taken to inform the RHNSCNY's top advocacy priorities for 2017 put transportation on top.
Health is the constant in our work-and for me and the Mobility Management staff, the thread that runs through it all is transportation. Many of our calls -in fact, the majority of cases presented through Getthere--are for individuals seeking medical services. Transportation is also associated with issues surrounding employment and income. We can't advance general health and well-being without a consideration of access; our communities can't experience general health and well-being without transportation.
So with National Rural Health Day on the horizon, I invite you to take a look at Rural Broome Counts and/ or the RHNSCNY's 2016 Impact Report. You might give particular attention to the content on mobility. The challenges and recommendations apply across our region and synopsize what MMSCNY staff focus much of our time and energy on every day. Consider the challenges through the lens of the "can do" spirit that National Rural Health Day was designed to honor, and let us hear your thoughts and recommendations.
William Wagner
Director, MMSCNY
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COUNTY NEWS and NOTES
BC Transit has announced that it will be receiving new buses. BC Transit recently announced the purchase of 8 new buses, which are expected late next year. Upgrades will save more than revamping old buses--new technology will make it possible to operate less expensively. The new buses offer better fuel efficiency and emissions control.
(WBNG 9/21/17)
Broome/Tioga:
Broome-Tioga Workforce has partnered with MMSCNY to provide local employers information on transportation options.
"
Broome-Tioga Workforce is delighted to partner with MMSCNY to provide local employers with knowledge of the full range of transportation options available to their employees. As transportation has been recognized as the single most detrimental barrier to securing and maintaining employment faced by job seekers in Broome and Tioga Counties, the services of MMSCNY have never been more needed in our communities. As employers like Dicks Sporting Goods, Best Buy, and Tioga Downs expand hiring to fill positions, transportation for rural and urban job seekers will become an even greater challenge. We look forward to connecting even more local employers with MMSCNY in the future."
(Sara Liu, Executive Director, Broome-Tioga Workforce New York)
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Chenango County:
Stephen Johnston is now General Manager of Transit f or Chenango County, and Colgate University. He started early in 2017, having previously been the General Manager of paratransit operations in Columbus County, North Carolina and then Pensacola, Florida. Stephen is no stranger to NY. He grew up in Poughkeepsie and family in the area brought him back to NY and closer to 'home.'
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Delaware County:
Volunteers Add Value
Delaware County Office for the Aging recently hosted a celebration of value added by volunteers in support of the County's senior population. Collectively over the past year volunteers have given over 7,326 hours of service valued at approximately $110,000. Their ongoing efforts enrich the agency and its programs.
Volunteer opportunities available with OFA include such things as non-emergency medical transportation, assisting at dining centers or delivering meals, installing emergency response units, clerical jobs, fund-raising, caregiver support, tax aides, Driver Safety instructors, and Senior Council. The Senior Council works closely with OFA to advocate for policies, funding and legislation that would benefit the county's elder population. The Council is also instrumental in raising enrichment funding to enhance agency services.
To learn how you can get involved, contact them at 607-832-5742, or e-mail
[email protected].
(Bonnie Radley, Coordinator of Aging Services)
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Otsego County:
Otsego County is hiring a transportation consultant, Delta Engineers, to look at transportation in the County and identify areas of improvement, opportunities for partnerships and coordination, and to generate a set of recommendations for the new year. The contract will be executed soon and a report is expected to becompleted before the end of the year.
(Tammie Harris, Planner, Otsego County Planning & Solid Waste)
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William Wagner and Andrew Fagan, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Tioga County, recently presented to a small group of business professionals, area service agencies and some residents of Tioga County. Topics discussed were Getthere Call Center programs, NY511 Rideshare, Medicaid transportation, volunteer providers, and other transportation resources available to Tioga County residents. Andrew Fagan asked the group for input on other transportation needs and other ideas. Several individuals met with Wagner after the meeting to follow up in more depth on some questions and ideas regarding next steps for Tioga County transportation/mobility initiatives.
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Getthere Call Center Hours Extended
The Getthere Call Center has new hours. As of Septemebr 1st, the call center is staffed Monday-Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Getthere
provides transportation education, trip planning and referral services, and travel training.
The 2017 Call Center experience:
*
50
% increase in hours/week from last year
*
over 100% increase in cases
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October Medical Mission at Home Event
Lourdes will be hosting a one-day Medical Mission at Home event at
Our Lady of Good Council Church, 701 W. Main Street in Endicott.
Date: Saturday, October 14
Time: 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
The
following FREE services will be offered on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis:
- Mammography
- General Medical Screening
- Foot Care
- Hope Dispensary Pharmacy
- Financial Counseling
- Wound Care
- Flu Shots
- Refresh yourself...free showers.
NO insurance is needed.
Shuttle service will be running from St .Ambrose Church on Washington Ave. in Endicott to the event. If handicapped transportation is needed from your home, call 321-8520. (When calling, reference Medical Mission.)
Dedicated to the health of individuals and communities
"Medical Mission at Home
delivers healthcare and social and support services to those who might not otherwise have access to these services and in locations where individuals are physically located like places of worship, schools, community centers, homeless shelters, and food pantries."
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Did You Know?
What is RTAP?
RTAP is the Rural Transportation Assistance Program (5311).
Its objectives are:
- to promote the safe and effective delivery of public transportation in rural areas and to make more efficient use of public and private resources;
- to foster the development of state and local capacity for addressing the training and technical assistance needs of the rural transportation community;
- to improve the quality of information and technical assistance available through the development of training, technology, and technical assistance resource materials;
- to facilitate peer-to-peer self-help through the development of local networks of transit professionals;
- to support the coordination of public, private, specialized, and human service transportation services; and,
- to build a national database on the rural segment of the public transportation industry.
The Rural Transportation Assistance Program has two components, a national program and a state program. The national program is managed by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and is dedicated to creating rural and tribal transit solutions through technical assistance, partner collaboration, and free trainings. Since its creation thirty years ago, National RTAP has developed training materials, conducted research, published reports, and offered peer assistance with the goal of improved mobility for the millions of Americans living in communities with populations under 50,000.
The state program is managed by the New York State Department of Transportation with federal funds apportioned by FTA. It is part of the Mid-Atlantic RTAP group, which also includes Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and New Jersey. NYSDOT's RTAP program delivers training and technical assistance to operators by holding statewide or regional training events and offering scholarships for operators to use to meet individual training needs.
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MMSCNY's Metrics Quick View
by point of caller location
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Of Potential Interest
1) The RHNSCNY's 2016 Impact Report includes mobility management content that might be of interest to you
2) Strategies to Reduce the Drive Alone Mode Share
This is the last offering from
Green Action Centre (Winnipeg). We have been sharing suggestions they received and circulated of short videos relevant to the topic, e.g. employer success stories, entertaining takes on workplace commuting, importance of a commuting options program for recruiting and retaining employees, etc.
a)
A few years ago Michigan DOT developed a series of videos to encourage people to carpool/rideshare, take transit, or walk/bike in lieu of a single occupancy vehicle trip.
b) ATP (Arlington Transportation Partners) promotes transportation for employers, commercial/residential communities and schools and made a video to be shown at Green Action Centr's 2016 banquet recognizing top performers.
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Ways You Can Help
Join in promoting our cause!
You can help spread the word and gather feedback. Share this communication with others who may be interested or let us know who to add to the distribution list. Share your ideas and those you hear from others with us. Share mobility related news, events, and images representative of your area.
Funding is critical to MMSCNY's ability to continue to respond to increasing demand for services. If you'd like to make a donation to MMSCNY, visit the RHNSCNY
donation page
.
If you'd prefer to send a check, direct it to us c/o the RHNSCNY, PO Box 416, Whitney Point, NY 13862.
You can earmark your gift to CTC and/or GetThere by noting your designation(s) in the memo section.
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Upcoming
Events, Conferences, Workshops, Save-the-Date
Medical Mission at Home - Saturday, October 14, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, Our Lady of Good Council Church, 701 W. Main Street, Endicott
Tioga's County Transportation Group's monthly meeting - Monday, October 16,
11 am, CCE Tioga, 56 Main Street, Owego
NYPTA Conference, Oct. 16th - 18th, Albany
PHIP Transportation Pilot -
Thursday, October 26th, Broome County United Way, Jensen Rd., (board room), 11 am. NOTE date and location change.
MMSCNY Advisory Committee quarterly meeting - 12:00 noon
BMTS Coordinated Transportation Committee -
1:30 pm
Tioga's County Transportation Group's monthly meeting - Monday, November 13th, 11 am at CCE Tioga
Tioga's County Transportation Group's quarterly meeting - Friday, December 1,
1 pm, Tioga DSS
MMSCNY Advisory Committee meetings for the 2017 calendar year, including monthly and quarterly meetings, can be found at
meeting schedule. Quarterly meetings are held immediately prior to BMTS' Coordinated Transportation Committee meetings.
Those interested in attending or learning more about MMSCNY Advisory Committee meetings should email Bill Wagner.
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GetThere Call Center Hours
now 7:00 am to 7:00 pm weekdays
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Important--please note that the option below to unsubscribe will remove your name from ALL of the RHNSCNY agency's mailing lists.
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