[HealthyTribes] Resources for Safe Routes to Schools

[Gramp Heather]

Good morning -


Please see below for some opportunities to jump start and grow your efforts (or you partners' efforts) to promote walking in your communities.


These come from the Oregon Safe Routes to School Newsletter, and I also recommend you check out their web site and consider registering for the newsletter to get a plethora of useful info from them directly (including the pending announcement on non-infrastructure funding mentioned below). Please go to http://oregonsaferoutes.org.


Support for SRTS Programs
Here are two ways to help start a Safe Routes to School program at your school! Hurry, only a couple spots left!

Action Plan Mini-Grant
Commute Options<http://oregonsaferoutes.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8d7c94c06abe74e6ad7bc7462&id=6f7bb1313d&e=d860720f76> offers a $2000 grant and technical assistance for new schools to complete an Action Plan. The Oregon SRTS Program recommends completing an Action Plan, which is an extremely useful tool that continues to be a requirement in the non-infrastructure application process.  Action Plans could be very persuasive evidence of the need for a specific engineering project to enhance the safety of students walking to the school site. Action Plans also help guide the other "E's" when undertaking a SRTS program.

If you need help getting organized to write an action plan, Commute Options can help you!

Train the Coordinator
Already have an action plan? This free training is for educators and coordinators within a school, district or community who want to create fun, convenient and safe opportunities for children to walk and bike to and from school.  You will learn about Safe Routes for Kids/Neighborhood Navigators Curriculum, evaluation techniques and tools, how to organize and lead Bike Trains and Walking School Buses and much more! Each team who completes training gets $2,000 to get their program rolling!

The structure of this 1.5-day workshop will be a series of presentations and small group activities designed to engage all participants and gain knowledge and skills to take back to your community.

For more information contact Brian Potwin<mailto:brian at commuteoptions.org>.



Non-Infrastructure Grants to be Announced Soon
Get Ready to apply

Oregon's Safe Routes to School Program will be announcing the next round of Non-Infrastructure grant funding soon. Just so you now:

  *   K-8 schools are eligible to receive services (not High Schools).
  *   Local agencies, school districts, non-profits are eligible to apply.
  *   Applicants must have a SRTS Action Plan or be in process of creating one; SRTS Action Plans must be updated to within 3 years of application.

This next round of grant will prioritize:

  *   Applicants that have not previously received SRTS program funding.
  *   Title one schools.
  *   Schools where there have been Infrastructure improvements within 1 mile of school site within last 10 years.
  *   Schools or school districts that have a current (within 3 years) SRTS Action Plan rather than starting the process of creating one.
  *   Applications asking to establish SRTS Coordinator position rather than funding incentives.

"A SRTS NON-Infrastructure Program enables and encourages children, including those with disabilities, to walk, bicycle and roll to school, makes walking biking and rolling to school more appealing, and facilitates the planning, development and implementation of projects that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of schools."?



Thank you,

Heather Gramp, MPH
Policy Specialist
Public Health Division
heather.gramp at state.or.us<mailto:heather.gramp at state.or.us>
971-673-0630
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