Iowa Safe Routes to School Project

Funding provided by

I-WALK Partnership & Purpose

Assist communities in the development,

implementation, and evaluation

of local Safe Routes to School programs

I-WALK Goal

To develop a sustainable model for community coalitions to continuously update, implement, and evaluate the local Safe Routes to School

(SRTS) plan.

I-WALK PhasesPhase 1: Organization

Coalition formation/planning

Phase 2: Initial operationsProgram implementation: Teacher Tally, Parent/Child Survey,

GPS walkability audit, Expansion of coalition

Phase 3: Early sustainability planning

I-WALK Success: A Focus on Building Coalitions

• All coalitions are meeting and most are meeting on a regular basis

• 54% I-WALK communities had coalition meeting previous month

• Members attending meetings range from 4-19

Coalition Members

Benefits of a Community Coalition

• Enhances understanding of the need for SRTS

• Expands networking opportunities

• Strengthens political position in community

• Increases access to funding opportunities that require collaboration

Keys to an Effective Coalition

• Create a clear mission and goals

• Identify specific action steps to achieve goals

• Define roles of coalition members: – Level of time commitment– Needed area of expertise– Nature of participation

(communication, share resources, actively participate)

Identifying Coalition Members: WIIFM?

• What’s In It For Me ?– How does being a part of your coalition help

achieve their goals—professional and/or personal?

• Professional: helps them expand their program outreach, updates to current happenings in community they can be involved in

• Personal: They may have a child at that school who WOB to school, personal interest in wellness

Coalition Members

Student:How your coalition benefits

How can your coalition benefit from having a student on it?

• Identification of barriers adults may not be aware of

• Unique insight into peer groups

• Assist with awareness efforts

Student: WIIFM?

How could a student benefit from being a part of the coalition?

• Making a difference• Voice is being heard• Visible changes in school environment• Leadership opportunity

Coalition Meetings: Keeping Interest

• State meeting and project goals and objectives at each meeting

• Keep the meetings productive and action oriented: What needs to be done, by whom, by when, to accomplish what

• Share project successes and progress toward goals

• Allow members to share their program updates

Local Public Health: Finding your Niche

Leading the way!

Amy Marlow, DirectorBuchanan County Public Health DepartmentIndependence, Iowawww.co.buchanan.ia.us

Department of Natural Resources

WIIFM? Insight from a coalition member…

Scot MichelsonPark RangerDepartment of Natural ResourcesFayette, Iowa

Department of Public Safety

State partners with local resources:

Mick MulhernProgram Administrator/Youth Coordinator Iowa Department of Public SafetyIowa Governor's Traffic Safety BureauDes Moines, Iowa

Department of Education: School Transportation Directors

State partners with local resources:

Max ChristensenSchool TransportationDepartment of EducationDes Moines, Iowa

Online Resources

• Building a case for SRTS: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/getting_started/what_is_srts.cfm

• Iowans Fit for Lifehttp://www.idph.state.ia.us/iowansfitforlife/

• Iowa Department of Natural Resourceshttp://www.iowadnr.gov/index.html

• Iowa Department of Public Safetyhttp://www.dps.state.ia.us/

• Iowa Department of Educationhttp://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1240&Itemid=2125

Questions?

If you have additional questions that were not answered during this call, please direct them to: Tami Larson tlarson@idph.state.ia.us

Thank you!

www.i-walk.org