
Ride For Health Initiative
Free Transportation to Medical, Dental & Human Services Appointments
At FIT, we believe in connected, cohesive communities that encourage healthy, happy lifestyles. Through partnerships, advocacy and education, we believe in creating communities with inclusive transportation infrastructure, better mobility options and environmentally conscious commuters.
Since 2006, the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) has partnered with the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation (PCHF) and the Pottstown Cab Company to manage the Ride for Health Initiative (RFHI. This is a last chance program for those with no car, no friend with a car, no access to paratransit, and the inability to use or great difficulty in using public transit.
The program works with local health and human service agencies to determine client eligibility, issues SEPTA Key cards for bus rides, and schedules taxi rides. Interest in the program is driven not only by the significant need by but also by the added benefit that both the agency and the client receive rides at no cost. A six-month evaluation, done by the Human Organization Science Institute at Villanova University, found the RFHI to be: innovative, well-run, continuously improving through effective processes and structures, cost efficient, highly-utilized, and meeting a basic health need. The Pottstown Cab Company provides rides at a somewhat lower than market rate. TMACC maintains program and fiscal oversight, including reimbursing the cab company. Ongoing funding is provided by the PCHF. A constantly- updated client user manual answers questions related to how the program works. Specifically, it addresses issues related to eligibility, destinations, no-shows, cancellations, family access and partner agencies. RFHI has gone from a pilot project providing only five rides per month to a responsive program annually providing over 1000 rides per year throughout the Phoenixville region. The current agency partner list has grown from 4 to 14 agencies. Interest in the program is driven not only by the significant need by also by the added benefit that both the agency and the client receive rides at no cost.
A six-month evaluation, done by the Human Organization Science Institute at Villanova University found the RFHI to be: innovative, well-run, continuously improving through effective processes and structures, cost efficient, highly-utilized, and meeting a basic health need.
Ride for Health Initiative Partners
Alianzas
610-933-9200
Cancer Center at Phoenixville Hospital
610-983-1812
Creative Health Services
610-933-1223
Delaware Valley Accountable Core Org (DAVCO)
484-580-4704
Family Services of Chester County
610-696-4900
Fellowship Health Resources (FHR)
610-415-9301
Good Samaritan Shelter
610-933-9305
Health Care Access
610-935-3165
Home of the Sparrow
610-647-4940
Jefferson Place
610-917-3486
Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County
610-344-5370
Open Door Ministry
610-948-4818
Open Hearth
610-792-9282
Orion Communities
610-415-1140
Park Springs Apartments
610-948-6203
Phoenixville Community Health Foundation (PCHF)
610-917-9890
Project Outreach
610-948-5111
St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter
610-933-3097
The Clinic
610-935-2163
The Lincoln Center for Youth & Families
484-769-4067
Eligibility
CHARLESTOWN
COLLEGEVILLE
EAST COVENTRY
EAST NANTMEAL
EAST PIKELAND
EAST VINCENT
LIMERICK
LOWER POTTSGROVE
LOWER PROVIDENCE
NORTH COVENTRY
PERKIOMEN
PHOENIXVILLE
ROYERSFORD
SCHUYLKILL
SOUTH COVENTRY
SPRING CITY
TRAPPE
UPPER PROVIDENCE
WEST PIKELAND
WEST VINCENT
RFHI is a last resort program for individuals who are not eligible for any other form of Medical Assistance Transportation through Rover or TransNet or who are on a transportation stipend and live in one of the following municipalities listed. Seniors over the age of 65 are also not eligible for RHFI as they are eligible for free transportation to healthcare through Rover's Senior Shared Ride Program.