Iowa Safe Routes to
School Project
Funding provided by
I-WALK Partnership & Purpose
Iowa
Department of
Public Health
Public School
System
Local Public
Health
Iowa State
University
Extension
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 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
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, Director
Buchanan County Public Health Department
Independence, Iowa
www.co.buchanan.ia.us
Department of Natural Resources
WIIFM? Insight from a coalition member…
Scot Michelson
Park Ranger
Department of Natural Resources
Fayette, Iowa
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
Department of Education:
School Transportation Directors
State partners with local resources:
Max Christensen
School Transportation
Department of Education
Des Moines, Iowa
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=a
rticle&id=1240&Itemid=2125
Questions?
If you have additional questions that were not answered during this call, please direct
them to: Tami Larson [email protected]
Thank you!
www.i-walk.org