California: Statewide

Safe Routes to School California Safe Routes to Schools Initiative

Lead Implementers:

California Department of Health Services
-State and Local Injury Control Program
-Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section
Institute for Health and Aging, UC San Francisco
- Physical Activity and Health Initiative

Partners:

California Bicycle Coalition, California Parent-Teacher Association, California Dept. of Education, California Dept. of Transportation, California Highway Patrol, Local Government Commission, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Surface Transportation Policy Project

Location:

Statewide, California

Contact Info:

Anne Seeley, Active Communities Coordinator
Physical Activity & Health Initiative
UC San Francisco / CA Department of Health Services
PO Box 942732 - Mail stop 675
Sacramento, CA 94234-7320
916 445-0472           916 324-7763 fax

Web Address:

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/routes2school
www.cawalktoschool.com

Project Focus:

Encourages communities to pursue Safe Routes to School projects comprehensively, for sustained cultural and environmental improvements that enable children to be more physically active and safe.

Summary:

·   1999: Conducted focus groups, hosted a statewide conference, created Walk to School Day Headquarters, began research projects with data from schools participating in Walk to School Day

·   2000: Began 2-year SR2S project with 10 community-based planning projects using federal 402 Safety funds. Distributed 30,000 copies of a fact sheet about all aspects of SR2S in California.

·   2001: Projects with planning grants continue to implement “Safe Communities” activities. Reprinted the fact sheet; developed new “10 Good Reasons to Walk to School” brochure. Walk to School Day Headquarters initiates on-line registration.

Engineering, Planning and Design Strategy:

Planning activities are for community assessment and prioritization of projects using NHTSA’s “Safe Communities” model for mobilizing communities.

Enforcement Strategy:

Not a focus

Educational Focus:

Annual Walk to School Day

Built/Unbuilt-Urban/Suburban:

All

Status:

Ongoing since 1998.

Budget:

Walk to School Day Headquarters: ~ $15,000/year
1 ½ SR2S staff:  ~ $100,000/year (through June 2002).
9 community planning projects granted $25,000 each for 18 months in October 2000.

Funding Source:

California Department of Health Services and UCSF staff, including Walk to School Day Headquarters, are funded by the federal health and human services prevention block grant. In 2000-2002, community-based Safe Routes to School projects receive Federal 402 Safety funds.