Share ThisThe Together for Health series spotlights community-based and social service organizations that are creating environments to support whole health — physically, mentally and socially.
Each year, Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh provides more than 3.5 million trips for access to life-sustaining services and employment.
“You could have the best social service programs around but if you don’t have transportation access to those services, it’s pointless,” explains Robert Lindner, executive director for Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh.
This Allegheny County nonprofit, part of an innovative high-performing social care network led by Highmark Health, focuses on bridging the wide transportation gap that prevents individuals from accessing crucial services and employment. With a combined 60+ years of experience, Lindner and senior program manager, Ryan Capra, craft and deliver a host of services to serve seniors, veterans, parents, children and other in-need populations.
Through Travelers Aid, clients seeking mental health or drug and alcohol treatment services can secure needed transportation.
Catherine Clements: Tell me more about the mission of Travelers Aid.
Robert Lindner: The primary mission of Travelers Aid has always been to provide transportation assistance for financially struggling individuals and families in western Pennsylvania. That transportation can be for a range of needs like medical services, behavioral mental health support, drug and alcohol treatment, educational opportunities, obtaining/retaining employment and more. We contract with many public entities, including the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, the state Department of Human Services, PA’s Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and many nonprofit organizations.
We primarily use Pittsburgh Regional Transit, provide gas debit cards and leverage ride sharing services like Uber or Lyft. We’re a unique organization because we help connect clients to life-sustaining programs and services. We’re the only one of our kind in the state of Pennsylvania.
Catherine Clements: It sounds like Travelers Aid serves a broad range of transport needs in the Pittsburgh region.
Robert Lindner: Yes, we’re one of the largest organizations in terms of people served, but most people aren’t familiar with us because we don’t provide direct services. In an average year, we provide about 3.5 million one-way trips in Allegheny County and serve about 7,500 people a month. Many of these referrals come through our network of 130 partner agencies throughout the county.
We’re never at a loss or shortage of people who need transportation. With the pandemic, economic downturn and gasoline prices going through the roof, people are finding it more difficult than ever to get from point A to point B.
Catherine Clements: How does the coordination of transport services work on the back end?
Robert Lindner: A client can be referred or sign up for services directly. We maintain a comprehensive data base and coordinate all transportation in one spot, so there’s no duplication of services. We have a lot of economy of scale that way to ensure waste is avoided and clients are using our services to access needed resources.
Catherine Clements: What does it mean to you to be a part of Highmark Health’s high- performing social care network?
Ryan Capra: In Pittsburgh, we’re lucky to have many agencies that do incredible work to meet the needs of our neighbors. But, in the past 10 years or so, we’ve seen a lot of silos — making the communication and meeting needs not as efficient. But now, with the Community Support platform, this resource connects these agencies. I’m really excited to be part of Highmark Health’s pilot program because I think there’s a real opportunity to make progress here addressing the menu of client needs as opposed to just either their medical situation, employment or housing. This wraparound approach is incredible and I’m excited to see where we can take this initiative.
Robert Lindner: What’s impressed me the most about your health system and all its programs is how patient oriented it is, taking into account the whole social environment a patient lives in and addressing factors that impact health that may not have been addressed in the past.
I’m really impressed that Highmark Health is putting the energy and resources in to treating the whole person. I’ve even experienced this firsthand at my last annual physical — about halfway through I realized my clinician was giving me a social determinants of health assessment.
Travelers Aid's first local program, Mobile Moms, was designed to assist pregnant women with transportation to prenatal appointments and other related appointments.
Catherine Clements: Out of Travelers Aid’s diverse transport programs, which one has been the most impactful to you personally?
Ryan Capra: Something that I’m really proud to be part of here is our Senior Transportation Assistance Program. By carving out partnerships with rideshare services, we’ve been able to expand the offerings to this population.
Robert Lindner: For me, the most impactful program we’ve established is our Mobile Moms Program, a prenatal transportation service. In our existing work with prenatal clinics and the Allegheny County Health Department, at one point we found out that the average prenatal appointment attendance rate was about 64%. That meant about a third of moms weren’t making it to the appointments — most likely due to financial concerns. With foundation support, we started this program giving tickets to transportation at these clinics. We wanted it to be easy for women and families to get the support they needed. We went from about 50 women a year to now an average of 1,000 women per year. The prenatal attendance rate increased from 64% to now 91%. The success of this model has been the model for many of our subsequent programs.
Another meaningful program is our ICU Baby Program, where we provide transportation assistance for families that have babies in the NICU who may not live in Allegheny County and don’t have access to transit. With babies in the NICU for up to two months, we really want to support families during this trying time and help promote bonding and breastfeeding.
Catherine Clements: What’s on the horizon for Travelers Aid?
Robert Lindner: We’re currently in the process of revising a job search program for people who are unemployed and need transportation to job interviews. This program is unique because it will also provide bridge transportation for clients who have found a job but it may be a month or so before their first paycheck. We’re really excited about helping to close this loop.
We’ve also been collaborating with the local foodbanks on expanding transportation access. Food insecurity is an area we are very interested in. If you’re a mother with several children riding the bus to try to pick up food, a pantry is not really a feasible option for you. We’re also working to expand our senior program.
Catherine Clements: Where can providers or social workers refer patients to learn more about what programs they may be eligible for?
Ryan Capra: Our website is a great resource to learn about program offerings. There, clients can see what programs they may be eligible for and sign up.
Bob Lindner grew up in the Brookline section of Pittsburgh and attended South Catholic High School. He went on to the University of Dayton and obtained a degree in Psychology. After serving three years in the U.S. Army, Bob then obtained an associate degree in business administration and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. Bob currently serves as the executive director of Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh.
Bob has been employed by Travelers Aid since 1976 and has experienced the growth of the operation. What began as a single-employee agency providing limited assistance for stranded travelers now assists nearly 7,500 individuals per month. Each year, Travelers Aid provides more than 3.5 million trips for those in need of access to medical care, job searches and senior support activities.
A lifelong Pittsburgher, Ryan Capra has worked in various capacities for Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh for nearly 20 years. Throughout his time at the agency, he has established relationships with many medical providers, social service agencies and government departments throughout the city. In his current role as senior program manager, he leads the Medical Assistance Transportation Program, Mobile Moms, Trips for Tots, Food Security Transportation and the Senior Transportation Program. He attended Upper St. Clair High School and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Green Tree.
Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people live, work, learn, and play that can impact up to 80% of an individual’s health outcomes before the health care system can intervene. Our organization is working to minimize barriers to improve the health and well-being of all our communities and the customers served. By shifting the emphasis from healthcare to health, organizations can treat beyond illness and understand root causes that impact an individual’s physical, mental and social health. But no one organization cannot do it alone. Through public and private partnerships, funding, and community support, our organization is moving the needle to improve health for all.
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