MILWAUKEE – There are looming state mandated changes in human services coordination, including transportation. The State of Wisconsin is looking to reduce costs related to special transportation systems like those serving the disabled or people residing in assisted living facilities.
Many transportation professionals have a number of questions on how this human service coordination and brokerage (for example MEDICAID brokerage), can work smoothly among counties, regions, and/or metropolitan areas.
An important conference for transportation agencies, systems, companies and employees, The Initiatives for Transportation Brokerage and Coordination Conference is being held May 23-24, 2006 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The conference, arranged by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education, Center of Transportation Education and Development.
According to CTED Director Dixon Nuber: “One of the goals of this conference is to explain in detail what transportation management through brokerage really means and how a proper plan can maximize transportation budgets, and service to clients.” He says a number of speakers will present and discuss various components of transportation coordination and brokerage.
Rachel Carabell, section chief of the Bureau of Fee- for- Service Health Care Benefits from the Wisconsin Department of Family Health Services will explain the benefits of having a transportation management/brokerage system for MEDICAID and address of the benefits and challenges that are associated with transportation management.
Bryna Helfer (invited) FTA Monitor of the United We Ride program will explain how to develop a program that incorporates the needs of users as well as the concerns of transit authorities. Helfer will discuss why it is important to coordinate transportation efforts on a larger regional scale and how regional planning commissions can make the entire transportation system run better.
Also included in the conference is discussion about more effective transportation via technological advances. Speakers will explain how technological advances can aid in coordination implementation, as well as outline and highlight key points from very successful systems nationwide that have used those advancements.
Bobbie Beson-Crone, Human Services Transportation Coordination Program Manager of the Public Transit Section from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, will discuss the current public transit human service coordination plan and how to implement a new streamlined and coordinated strategy. Concerns about the needs for each entity within a state to coordinate their transportation, and still meet the statutory requirements will be addressed.
To cap off the conference, various speakers will highlight the success of transportation coordination in their respective areas. John Kowalczyk, from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Chuck Kamp from Valley Transit and other Wisconsin representatives will discuss how a coordination plan was developed, implemented and managed in their areas.
There is a $50 registration fee. The Initiatives for Transportation Brokerage and Coordination Conference will be held on May 23-24, 2006 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. To learn more about registering for the conference, please go on-line to: www.sce-transitcted.uwm.edu or by phone: 414-227-3200, 800-222-3623
