Transportation Models
Transportation is a social determinant of health (SDOH) affecting people who live in rural communities in multiple ways — including access to healthcare services, social services, employment, and educational opportunities. The Rural Transportation Toolkit offers information, resources, and best practices for rural communities seeking to implement transportation programs that can help improve access to services and opportunities.
Examples of Rural Transportation Programs Addressing SDOH
- Rural Economic Assistance League, Inc. (R.E.A.L. Inc.) used an integrated behavioral health model to implement a program called the Transportation for Rural Integrated Health Partnership (TRIP). This program was funded through the Methodist Healthcare Ministries' "Sí Texas: Social Innovation for a Healthy South Texas" project. The TRIP program provided transportation to health and wellness appointments, programming focused on improving health literacy, and social support to address the critical need for transportation access in the region for rural residents with severe mental illness.