ABSTRACT
The Santa Cruz County Connections Shuttle is a transportation option for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Program (CalWORKs) welfare-to-work participants. The Connections Shuttle consists of a small fleet of vans with drivers and dispatchers who work together to bring people from their homes to work and work-related destinations, including child care and job training. The primary purpose of the Connections Shuttle is to respond to the great need for transportation among CalWORKs families whose jobs are often far from their homes. Public transportation in Santa Cruz and adjoining counties is often insufficient for travel to work, school, child care, and errands from outlying areas. The Connections Shuttle provides temporary aid in the transition from welfare to work. The secondary purpose of the Connections Shuttle is to train welfare-to-work participants to become drivers and dispatchers. They are hired for a seven-month training period, during which they receive a Class B license, allowing them to drive commercial, fifteen-passenger vehicles.
