Transportation Staff Training
ABRAZAR provides continued in-house training organized by the Transportation Coordinator and schedules off-site training for the drivers. Updates on laws, road conditions, and senior matters are discussed by appropriate trainers and entities. Driver trainings are ongoing and include:
- First Aid and CPR – Training by Shoreline Ambulance on the fourth Thursday of each month
- Transporting Elderly & Disabled Passengers—Training by NonProfits United. Training will cover safe handling of manual wheelchairs (standard folding), motorized wheelchair and three-wheeled scooter; Boarding Ambulatory Passengers; Boarding the Vehicle Using Steps; Boarding Ambulatory Passengers on a Lift, Safety Belt Restraint Policy and Deboarding Ambulatory Passengers Using the Steps and On a Lift.
- Americans With Disabilities Act –Basic ADA Regulations presented by Pat Piras of Piras Consulting
- Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance –Presented by CalACT-Caltrans
- Safe & Secure Training—Presented by Sure-Lok
In addition to these trainings, the result of our annual satisfaction surveys are shared and discussed with the drivers. Modifications are implemented if warranted. This training is performed in house (Transportation Coordinator and Senior Services Manager) and through contracted services.
Sensitivity training
ABRAZAR’s Executive Director, Transportation Coordinator and the Senior Services Manager (over 25 years with ABRAZAR) provide sensitivity training to all our drivers. The training includes proper assistance of older adults while walking, addressing the language and cultural needs of our older adults. The Transportation Coordinator and the drivers are in constant communication to ensure that family members are aware of the senior’s physical and/or mental changes/needs. Additionally, the results of our satisfaction surveys for the transportation programs are shared and discussed with the drivers. Modifications to the program or driver performance are implemented if warranted. ABRAZAR’s collaborative partners that have extensive experience working with older adults and persons with disabilities also provide on-going training to our drivers and employees. These trainings are performed in house (Executive Director, Transportation Coordinator and Senior Services Manager) and through our collaborating partners.
First Aid/CPR and Emergency Preparedness:
Currently all of our drivers have gone through the First Aid/CPR training and are certified. Shoreline Ambulance service provides an on-going monthly training for new drivers and is scheduled on the 4th Thursday of each month. This ensures the annual certification required for our drivers and the majority of ABRAZAR’s employees. ABRAZAR has an emergency and safety plan that all employees are trained in. These trainings are performed at no cost through services provided through our collaboration with Shoreline Ambulance and the local fire and police department.
SparkPoint OC in Schools
SparkPoint in schools is a financial empowerment program serving families at specific elementary schools in Orange County. The program is currently offered to parents with children attending who meet certain criteria:
- Elementary schools in the Magnolia School District (Anaheim)
- Horace Mann, Westmont, Loara and Patrick Henry Elementary Schools (Anaheim)
- Paul Revere Elementary School (Anaheim)
- Washington Elementary School (Santa Ana)
Parents who enroll in the program work on a one-on-one basis with a financial coach who helps create a step-by-step plan to set and achieve personal financial goals. The program brings together the most effective nonprofit, financial and government partners to help clients build assets grow income and manage debt. Because change does not happen overnight, SparkPoint commits to working with parents for 12 months to achieve their financial goals. SparkPoint in Schools services focus on four areas: improving credit, increasing income, building assets and increasing financial literacy knowledge.
If you are struggling to make ends meet, you might not have time to get help at multiple locations or know what programs are available to you. That’s why United Way created SparkPoint in Schools: one-stop Orange County financial empowerment program where hard working low-income residents can access a full range of free services. Families are teamed with a one-on-one financial coach who assist them with creating a step-by-step plan in these areas:
- Increasing and managing income- from accessing public assistance to free tax prep, to job training and placement; financial literacy education on budgeting and savings/spending plans
- Managing credit- including learning consumer rights regarding credit reporting, including improving credit score, managing debt
- Building assets- including education on various savings methods, education about emergency savings, coaching on managing income to reduce debt and increase savings, and referrals to first-time home buyer education programs
- Financial Literacy Classes (available in English and Spanish).
- *Financial Assistance may also be available to families who make progress on their goals and actively participate in the program*
SparkPoint in Schools families can also be connected to services to help them achieve their financial goals such as:
- Business Development
- Job Placement/Training
- Benefit Screenings
- Career Development
- Higher Education
- Home Ownership
- Entrepreneurship Training
- Free Tax Preparation (For those who qualify)
For more information or to get connected to point of contact for the individual school site, please call or email Leticia Chavolla, Sparkpoint Program Director at 714-627-9121 or l.chavolla@abrazarinc.com.
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Nonprofit Partners |
Bank of America Bank of the West Citibank Comunidad Latina Federal Credit Union First Bank Orange County's Credit Union Union Bank US Bank Wells Fargo |
SparkPoint OC is part of Orange County United Way's Banking On The Future Initiative.
Source: http://www.unitedwayoc.org/sparkpoint-oc
SNEMT CENTRAL WEST OC
The Senior Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Program (SNEMT) is funded through the Office on Aging (OoA) by the County of Orange. The program was developed to provide Seniors with access to non-emergency medical appointments including but not limited to dialysis, therapy, dentistry, prescription pick-ups, lab tests, x-rays, etc.
Participant Criteria:
Must be 60 years of age or older and reside in our service area.
Service Criteria:
Complete a simple application and waiver form and return it via mail or fax to obtain your Indentification Number.
Rides must be scheduled a minimum of 5 days in advance. Calling 5 days in advance does not guarantee an appointment.Same day appointments depend on availability.
CUSTOMER SERVICE – SNEMT TRANSPORTATION:
Flyer: SNEMT CENTRAL WEST FLYER
Application: SNEMT CENTRAL WEST APPLICATION & WAIVER
| SNEMT CENTRAL WEST OC For the following cities please call (714) 891-9500 *Participants must register and be approved prior to utilizing the service. |
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| Costa Mesa | Huntington Beach | Midway City | Sunset Beach |
| Cowan Heights | Lemon Heights | Rossmoor | Surfside |
| Cypress | Los Alamitos | Santa Ana | Tustin |
| Fountain Valley | Seal Beach | Tustin Heights | |
| Garden Grove | Stanton | Westminster | |
Rides are limited to 15 miles within Orange County and within 10 miles outside of Orange County.
Rides are available to the following locations which may exceed the 15 mile limit:
Long Beach VA, Kaiser Lakeview and Irvine/Sand Canyon, UCI Medical Center in Orange, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, Newport Beach Dialysis Center and Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach.
Clients are limited to 16 one-way trips per month.
Exceptions to the 16 ride limit are made on a case by case basis. Please inquire about exeptions for chemotherapy, dialysis, radiation, physical therapy and other special circumstances.
$2.00 DOLLAR FEE—DONATION PER TRIP. Care attendants may also ride free of charge.
Transportation Hours: Monday thru Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Transportation is not available on major holidays
* All trips exceeding 15 miles in length are subject to program funding and availability
| ABRAZAR Partners |
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"I didn't know how costly health care was going to be. My wife needs dialysis three times a week and I didn't know what I would do if I had to order an ambulance every week. ABRAZAR's drivers always help us get to the appointments on time and are always so polite and helpful. Your Transportation Program is a lifesaver."
