September 27, 2010

Care Wisconsin Receives Transportation Funds for
Dane County Elderly and Disabled Individuals

Care Wisconsin received the largest of 26 state grants recently approved by Governor Jim Doyle, with a contribution of $488,726 over the next two years toward the purchase of 12 new specialized buses. The buses accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and oxygen tanks, and are used by the organization’s drivers to provide destination to destination through-door service for Dane County residents needing access to health and medical services. Care Wisconsin has received grant funding for the past ten years, supporting an active fleet of 29 vehicles that were used to provide 80,677 one-way trips to 1,023 passengers last year.

According to Chris Halverson, Care Wisconsin’s Support Services Manager-Transportation, the demand for rides has mirrored growth within the county, with increased transportation to Cottage Grove, Fitchburg, Oregon and Sun Prairie and new service to outlying communities such as Blue Mounds, Burke and Edgerton. While the bulk of Care Wisconsin’s rides go to members of the publicly funded Family Care Partnership program, the organization also provided 258 rides for private-pay individuals.

Care Wisconsin’s grant was the largest awarded when Governor Doyle recently approved $3.79 million in state and federal funding to be distributed through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Elderly and Disabled Transportation Capital Assistance program. The funding helps local governments and nonprofit organizations to meet the daily transportation needs of state residents who are disabled or elderly. Grant recipients provide the 20 percent local match.

Care Wisconsin is a nonprofit regional care management organization for the state’s two public health and long-term care programs, Family Care and Family Care Partnership. Since 1976, Care Wisconsin has been providing innovative solutions for frail seniors and adults with disabilities to maintain quality of life and independence.

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