Fewer kids walk or bike to school (U.S. DOT, 2009)

1. Danielle Hewson, MPH CHESN.C. Division of Public Health Healthy Schools Summer Institute: Casting Your Net for Partners in HealthFriday, June 27, 2014

2. Why Focus on Walking and Biking to School? • Fewer kids walk or bike to school (U.S. DOT, 2009) • 15% of NC children ages 5-17 live within 1 mile of their school • 34% live within 2 miles, however… • Only4% walk or bike to school. (CHAMP, 2011) • Parents driving their children to school amount for up to 25% of morning rush hour traffic. (Parisi Associates, 2003; Morris, 2001) Image: Provided by Joel Cranford

3. Benefits of Walking and Biking to School Children • Improves health – decreased obesity and asthma-related events • Teaches fundamental safety skills • Increases sense of freedom and responsibility School/ Community • Improves the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists • Provides cost savings by reducing need for “hazard” busing • Benefits the local economy by funding construction projects Environment • Improves air quality by reducing vehicle emissions • Reduces traffic congestion near schools

4. What is Active Routes to School? Partnership • NC Department of Transportation and NC Division of Public Health • Administered through local NC health departments in 10 regions Alignment • NC Safe Routes to School initiatives • Community Transformation Grant Project partnerships • Local, regional and state community safety and health initiatives Timing • Three year project

5. Active Routes to School Goal Increase the number of elementary and middle school students who safely walk and bike to school.

6. Active Routes to School Regions 3 5 7 9 2 4 10 1 6 Mitchell Avery Caldwell Yancey Madison 8 Burke McDowell Buncombe Haywood Swain Rutherford Henderson Jackson Graham Polk Legend Transylvania Macon Cherokee Clay Active Routes To School Lead Health Departments Community Transformation Grant Project Lead Health Departments Counties Regions Alleghany Northampton Gates Ashe Surry Stokes Rockingham Person Caswell Warren Camden Vance Hertford Currituck Halifax Pasquotank Wilkes Watauga Perquimans Yadkin Granville Forsyth Chowan Bertie Orange Guilford Franklin Alamance Nash Durham Alexander Davie Edgecombe Martin Davidson Wake Dare Iredell Washington Tyrrell Last updated: 04/21/14 Randolph Chatham Wilson Catawba Rowan Pitt Beaufort Johnston Lincoln Hyde Greene Lee Cabarrus Harnett Wayne Stanly Moore Gaston Cleveland Montgomery Lenoir Mecklenburg Craven Pamlico Cumberland Hoke Jones Richmond Union Anson Sampson Duplin Scotland Carteret Onslow Bladen Robeson Pender New Columbus Hanover Brunswick

7. Project Timeline Year 1 • Hired and trained staff • Complete regional assessments • Begin establishing partnerships Year 2 Current • Begin execution of work plan and intervention activities • Identify and engage schools • Start evaluation Year 3 May 2016 • Continue execution of work plan and intervention activities • Plan for sustainability • Complete evaluation and report results Program End • Demonstrategrowth that exceeds the baseline • Create momentum to achieve future sustainability

8. Assessment Criteria Components Schools (K-8) July 2012-June 2013 academic school year All walking, biking and awareness-raising activities Trainings/Workshops Policy change efforts for towns and schools Outcome Creates baseline for NC Used in development of work plans for years 2 and 3

9. Project Activities

10. National Bike to School Day Region 7 – East Clayton Elementary

11. National Bike to School Day Region 4 -Woodlawn Elementary Region 4 –Grand Oak Elementary Region 9 – Nags Head Elementary

12. Partnership Opportunities • Partnership Meetings • Programming • Infrastructure Statements • Trainings and Webinars

14. Thank you Danielle Hewson, MPH, CHES Danielle.Hewson@dhhs.nc.gov 919.707.5219