DETROIT – The first year of prenatal and postnatal care is critical for both moms and babies. But for many Detroit families, just getting to the doctor can be a major challenge.
That’s why the Detroit Health Department launched its Rides to Care program one year ago, offering free round-trip rides to medical appointments for pregnant women and caregivers of babies up to age 1. Now, new data shows the program is making a significant impact.
For new moms like Danielle Walker, finding a ride used to mean asking for favors and paying what she could.
“You always had to ask somebody. Or they always wanted gas, needed gas,” Walker said.
Danielle met fellow moms Margarie and Jantina Jackson months ago in a Detroit Health Department support program while they were all pregnant. One thing they had in common: none of them had their own transportation.
They knew that making prenatal appointments was essential. Actually, getting there was the hard part.
“As an expectant mom who cares for her child, she is really concerned about what the child is doing in the womb. So, being able to get to those appointments was very vital,” Jantina Jackson explained.
The Rides to Care program provides free round-trip transportation to medical appointments for:
- Women who are pregnant
- Individuals who care for babies up to 1 year old
The goal is simple: remove transportation barriers so families can access the care they need.
“When we launched Rides to Care, just about a year ago, in November, our goal was simple: to remove transportation barriers so that moms can have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. And today, the results speak for themselves,” said Denise Fair Razo, Chief Public Health Officer, Detroit Health Department.
This week, the Detroit Health Department announced a major milestone: More than 20,000 free round-trip rides have been provided through Rides to Care since its launch.
Local pediatricians say the impact on babies’ health care is already clear.
At Wayne Pediatrics, the number of missed appointments for babies under 1 has dropped dramatically.
“As a pediatrician over at Wayne Pediatrics, last November our no-show rate for babies under 1 year of age was about 40 percent. This November, we are down to 14 percent,” Dr. Lynn Smithermann shared.
Doctors are calling Rides to Care a game-changer for families who might otherwise miss crucial checkups and vaccinations in that first year of life.
Program organizers say their next goal is to spread the word so more Detroit residents know these rides are available.
For Jantina, using the service is straightforward.
“All you have to do is just call the number, and once you call, they book your ride. And then you get a text message to your phone to let you know when it’s going to come.”
If you’re pregnant or caring for a baby under 1 year old in Detroit, you may qualify for a free ride to your medical appointment. To schedule a free ride, call 313-876-0000. A coordinator will help book your ride, and you’ll receive a text message with details about when your ride will arrive.
Because of its success, Detroit’s Rides to Care program is now drawing attention from public health agencies across Michigan and around the country. Health officials say they’re getting calls from other communities that want to learn how to launch similar services.