Rural Economic Assistance League, Inc. (REAL Inc.)
- Program Representative Interviewed: Martín Ornelas, Director
- Location: Alice, Texas
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Program Overview: Rural Economic Assistance League, Inc.
(REAL Inc.) is a health and human services nonprofit serving the area between San Antonio, Texas and the
U.S.-Mexico border. REAL Inc. aims to support the communities it serves by providing adult day care; home
healthcare; subsidized housing; and public transportation to the elderly, persons with disabilities, and
families residing in its service area. REAL operates 8 housing facilities and 5 adult day activity care
centers.
REAL 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 program addressed the critical need for transportation access in the region for rural residents with severe mental illness. It aimed to improve health outcomes and well-being for this population and reduce no-show medical appointment rates. The TRIP program provided transportation to health and wellness appointments, programming focused on improving health literacy, and social support to participants.