Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) is the winner of the $1 million Transportation Innovation Grant focused on improving transportation for families in Oklahoma County who have children in the foster care system. CTAA, in partnership with EMBARK and the Oklahoma Transit Association, will develop a pilot program that increases parent-child reunifications in Oklahoma County through innovative transportation delivery.

As the lead agency, CTAA will leverage its transportation and social service experience in human-centered design to implement the winning approach which included mobility management services, technology integration, on-demand rides, driver training and incentives. One-on-one coaching for the biological parents will be provided by a mobility manager. Participants will receive an individualized transportation plan that will accommodate child visitation, scheduled classes and therapy sessions, and court hearings. Planned, as well as unanticipated trips that fulfill the parents’ DHS-required services, will be scheduled through a custom mobile application. Approved rides will be available by a variety of vetted and trained providers. EMBARK, CTAA’s on-the-ground transit partner, will provide free trips on its fixed-route system to reward participants who meet monthly progress benchmarks.