The San Diego County Volunteer Driver Coalition (SDCVDC) was started in February, 2007. Representatives from private agencies and/or municipalities came together under the leadership of Full Access and Coordinated Transportation (FACT), the Consolidated Transportation Services Agency (CTSA) for San Diego County, and Aging and Independence Services (AIS). The representatives developed policies and procedures, establishing standards and best practices for driver qualifications, training, and program monitoring.

Founding SDCVDC members:

• Jewish Family Service, Rides & Smiles Program

• City of Vista, Out and About Program

• Peninsula Shepherd Center

• City of La Mesa, Rides 4 Neighbors Program

• ElderHelp of San Diego, Seniors A Go Go

• City of Oceanside, Solutions for Seniors on the Go

• Del Mar Community Connections

• FACT

• AIS

The Coalition meets bi-monthly to share information, discuss common experiences, and work together to promote the need for volunteer driving programs and senior transportation options.  The Coalition meetings are open to interested parties that may wish to start similar programs, as well as funding agencies that provide information and updates.  Past guests have included:  Arun Prem, FACT; Danielle Kochman, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG); Floyd Willis, AIS; also Gilbert Garza and Erick Haack from LA Access Services, who utilized the Coalition’s best practice collaboration methodology to create the Los Angeles County Volunteer Driver Coalition.  In addition, the Coalition hosts an annual Volunteer Driver Appreciation luncheon and training event to celebrate the volunteer drivers from all participating agencies.

In the first quarter that data was collected (July-September 2007), the Coalition provided over 1,100 trips to seniors living in the San Diego area. The chart below shows the total number of trips provided by the Coalition organizations per year.