Iowa Safe Routes to School Project

1. Iowa Safe Routes to School Project Funding provided by

2. I-WALK Partnership & Purpose Assist communities in the development,implementation, and evaluation of local Safe Routes to School programs

3. 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.

4. I-WALK Phases • Phase 1: Organization • Coalition formation/planning • Phase 2: Initial operations • Program implementation: Teacher Tally, Parent/Child Survey, • GPS walkability audit, Expansion of coalition • Phase 3: Early sustainability planning

5. 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

6. Coalition Members

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. Coalition Members

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Local Public Health: Finding your Niche Leading the way! Amy Marlow, Director Buchanan County Public Health Department Independence, Iowa www.co.buchanan.ia.us

15. Department of Natural Resources WIIFM? Insight from a coalition member… Scot Michelson Park Ranger Department of Natural Resources Fayette, Iowa

16. Department of Public Safety State partners with local resources: Mick Mulhern Program Administrator/Youth Coordinator Iowa Department of Public Safety Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau Des Moines, Iowa

17. Department of Education: School Transportation Directors State partners with local resources: Max Christensen School Transportation Department of Education Des Moines, Iowa

18. Online Resources • Building a case for SRTS: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/getting_started/what_is_srts.cfm • Iowans Fit for Life http://www.idph.state.ia.us/iowansfitforlife/ • Iowa Department of Natural Resources http://www.iowadnr.gov/index.html • Iowa Department of Public Safety http://www.dps.state.ia.us/ • Iowa Department of Education http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1240&Itemid=2125

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

20. Thank you! www.i-walk.org