A group of Wood County human services agencies recently received $7,500 from the United Way to help
coordinate transportation services for their clients.
In addition, the National Easter Seals Office agreed to provide technical assistance to the group via its
Accessible Transportation Technical Support Project.
The funds come as a coordinated human service and public transportation plan is being updated this year.

The first plan was completed in 2008 by the Bowling Green State University Institute for Child and Family
Policy, with the Children’s Resource Center leading the effort. The goals for the 2014 update are very
similar to the first plan: assess need, inventory current services, identify strategies, and create an
action plan to implement those strategies.
"We believe this is an important service to our clients," said Kate Sommerfeld, executive
director of the local United Way, "and we believe in putting our money where it is most
needed."
WSOS is the lead agency for the 2014 update. A steering committee began meeting in 2013, facilitated by
WSOS Transportation Director Robin Richter. A study was conducted by graduate students at BGSU and a
presentation made to human service agency stakeholders in April. Additional survey work was conducted,
including the collection of nearly 500 surveys at the Wood County Fair, to gather input on
transportation needs in the county.
Five meetings of the interested organizations are planned for 2014 and will begin on Monday. Attendees
will review the data collected, identify unmet needs and develop strategies to meet those needs.
For more information on this planning effort, call Richter at 419-334-8911.