| Colonias Transportation Program |
Word gets around, so people see the clinic approaching, and they automatically know free medical services are available, and they knock on the door inquiring about what services we provide. Mary Wolf, HERO director 2004
SECO and the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) of the Texas A&M University have joined together to establish and evaluate a transportation service demonstration program for the residents of the colonias in the border counties of El Paso, Webb, Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron. This work was coordinated within the colonias program at Texas A&M University.
Texas A&M contracted with local governments, independent school districts, community colleges and counties to purchase, operate and maintain 15 passenger vehicles which provide transportation to local colonia residents for travel to Community Resource Centers for community educational programs, job training, and health and human services. TTI provides the overall coordination and funding for the program and implements and evaluates the demonstration projects. TTI uses local transportation partnerships to procure the vehicles and provide drivers.
The transportation services complement the variety of social, medical, educational, and other programs being targeted to these neighborhood centers. In several colonias the vehicles provide transportation to mobile medical vans included in the Colonias Telehealth Program.
Community Resource Centers
Community Resource Centers (CRC) in the colonias serve the population in the 1400+ colonias of 500,000 people, of which 300,000 are children. Approximately 210,000 children are of school age. Based on a University of Texas study, 70-80 percent of the residents are U.S. citizens. Through a door-to-door survey, the average family is five people (three born in the U.S., two born in Mexico). Therefore, 60 percent are citizens and the other 10-20 percent have become citizens. More than 40 organizations use the CRCs.
Texas A&M's College of Medicine
In a related effort, TTI is working with Texas A&M's College of Medicine to explore opportunities for bringing the telehealth initiative into consonance with the efforts of the transportation program. A successful joint effort will clearly expedite delivery of medical services to colonia neighborhoods.
Medicine on the Move
A Texas Comptroller Fiscal Notes article, January 2004.
HERO Van Program
The Texas A&M University HERO van provides a mobile doctors or dentists office which can be transported to colonias that have minimal access to medical or dental care. Through a televideo connection, health care providers can refer difficult cases to physicians or dentists at hospitals in Corpus Christi or Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas. These activities will continue to be expanded.
Locations
CAMERON COUNTY
Colonia Area:Cameron Park
Community Resource Center:
Centro Cultural de Educacion
y Asistencia de Cameron Park
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Cameron County
Zipcode:78520
Colonia Area:Loano and Arroyo Colorado Estates
Community Resource Center:
Rio Hondo Community Resource Service Center
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Rio Hondo ISD0
Zipcode:78520
EL PASO COUNTY
Colonia Area:Fabens
Community Resource Center:
None - Supported by the Fabens
Independent School District (ISD)
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Fabens ISD
Zipcode:79927
Colonia Area:Montana Vista
Community Resource Center:
Centro Comunidad Unida
Vehicles:two 15-passenger vans
Operator:El Paso Community College
Zipcode:79938
Colonia Area:Socorro
Community Resource Center:Rio Vista Farms
Vehicles:two 15-passenger vans
Operator:City of Socorro
Zipcode:79927
Colonia Area:Sparks
Community Resource Center:
Centro Comunitario de Sparks
Vehicles:two 15-passenger vans
Operator:El Paso Community College
Zipcode:79927
HILDAGO COUNTY
Colonia Area:La Joya
Community Resource Center:
La Joya Community Resource Service Center
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Hidalgo County and La Joya ISD
Zipcode:78596
Colonia Area:Monte Alto
Community Resource Center:
Monte Alto Community Resource Service Center
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Monte Alto ISD
Zipcode:78596
Colonia Area:Progresso
Community Resource Center:
Family Community Center
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Progresso ISD
Zipcode:78596
Colonia Area:San Carlos
Community Resource Center:
San Carlos Community Resource Service Center
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Hidalgo County
Zipcode:78596
WEBB COUNTY
Colonia Area:El Cenizo
Community Resource Center:Centro Comunitario de El Cenizo
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Webb County
Zipcode:78043
Colonia Area:Highway 359
Community Resource Center:Centro Comunitario Para la Familia
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van;
one 25-passenger bus
Operator:Webb County
Zipcode:78043
Colonia Area:Highway 59
Community Resource Center:None - Supported from the Centro
Comunitario Para la Familia
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Webb County
Zipcode:78043
Colonia Area:Mirando City, Oilton, Bruni, and Augilares
Community Resource Center:Quad-City Community Center
Vehicles:two 15-passenger vans; one ADA equipped
Operator:Webb County
Zipcode:78369
Colonia Area:Penitas/Mines Road
Community Resource Center:None - Supported from the Centro Comunitario Para la Familia
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Webb County
Zipcode:78043
Colonia Area:Rio Bravo
Community Resource Center:Rio Bravo Community Center
Vehicles:two 15-passenger vans
Operator:Webb County
Zipcode:78044
WILLACY COUNTY
Colonia Area: Lasara
Community Resource Center:Lasara Community Resource Service Center
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Lasara ISD
Zipcode:78569
Colonia Area: Sebastian/Lyford
Community Resource Center:Martin Cavazos Center for Education
and Community Advancement
Vehicles:one 15-passenger van
Operator:Lyford ISD
Zipcode:78569
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