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The Useful Practices application is the central information repository and dissemination resource on transportation coordination.

The following describes the information being collected, how to complete each field, and how some information may be used:

Lead Agency Information - A lead agency may be a transit agency, human service organization, health provider organization or other entity in the community addressing human service transportation coordination for specific target populations through human services, veterans services, health-care services, or other services. Although the Agency Name, Address, Phone, Fax, and URL will be publicly available, the contact person's phone and email address will be available only for internal use by CCAM users with special access.

Web Address - This information is not required, but is exceptionally useful to CCAM. If a website URL is available for your agency, please provide it.

Project Title - The identifying title of the project or program described here as a case study for useful practice.

Area Population Size - The standard FTA funding categories are used here as area population categories to help browsers better compare how various strategies may be used in different sized communities. In other words, a strategy that works well in a small urban or rural area may not work as well in a large urban area and vice versa.

Partnerships - One primary feature of useful practice is that they bring agencies, policy makers, providers, and consumers together to provide a better continuum of transportation services for individuals with disabilities, older adults, individuals with lower incomes and others that otherwise qualify/need access to targeted locations.

Target Population - The population that the lead agency primarily serves based on their mission. Categories include: older adults, children and youth, people with disabilities, tribal nation, and people with low income. The service provider is also able to identify their target population as "other" and specifically describe it.

Target Outcome - These programs, in general, are designed to improve services along three major principles: simplified access, cost efficiency, and reduced duplication. The target outcome is the principle the program was primarily designed to improve.

How is outcome known? - Interested individuals browsing the site will be most interested in case study programs that have been able to measure their outcomes to show that the practice has been successful. Agencies that upload their project/program into this database may or may not have formal means of measuring success, however. Essentially, where possible, agencies should include information such as ridership, budget, or other pertinent data that systematically show improvement, but the CCAM recognizes that some agencies, particularly small non-profits, may not have a formal way to measure success. Anecdotal evidence can be sufficient to show that the practice has been successful in helping the agency achieve their target outcome.

Administrative Level - These levels help CCAM and practitioners narrow down the practices that will best suit their needs.

  • Federal level practices are those initiated by FTA, CCAM, HHS, DOL, FHWA, FCC, HUD, AOA, USDA and other Federal Agencies including the ability to issue federal guidelines or implement federal programs that make it easier for providers to implement the practice.
  • State level practices are those that state agencies initiate, fund, coordinate, and facilitate.
  • Local level practices are those that have been administered strictly through local initiative, based on partnerships at the local level.
  • Tribal level practices are those initiated by Tribal Nation governments to improve transportation elements of social service provision.
  • Practice Type - Six broad categories of practices have been identified as "Useful Practices" which agencies may undertake to improve transportation services for other social service goals. These strategies include: 1. Customer Service, 2. Operations, 3. Partnership and Leadership, 4. Planning, 5. Policy, Program and Funding, and 6. Technology.

    Element of Criteria - Case studies are considered useful practices if they meet one or more elements of criteria established by the CCAM working group.

    Description - Please provide a summary (100 to 300 words) that explains the salient features of the project. You can type this in, but it will be more effective to use a word processor to draft and spell check your submission. Copy and paste this text into the Description field.

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