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Network Resources
A Safe Routes to School State Network can unite stakeholders to help make your state SRTS program successful, provide for an educational forum, and contribute to a national learning network. The Network can also play a leading role in removing barriers to walking and bicycling to schools by improving SRTS-related state and regional policies and practices.
Almost anyone can convene a SRTS State Network, although leadership is best suited to organizations, agencies and individuals with experience and credibility in SRTS-related policies and programs in the state. Funding for a State Network could come from a variety of sources, including agencies, but most likely will come from foundations with an interest in the success of SRTS programs.
What follows are resources that can be used to create and manage a SRTS State Network in your state.
Network Stakeholder's List
This list gives examples of potential network partners.
An effective SRTS State Network is made up of leaders from many diverse agencies and organizations. At a minimum, the State Departments of Transportation, Education and Health should be recruited to participate. In addition, bicycle, pedestrian, health and school advocacy groups should serve on the Network through the participation of high level staffers or board members. There may be other potential stakeholders in your state such as environmental and smart growth groups, elected officials, regional and local agencies, and individuals that you should seek to include in the Network.
Policy Research Template
This template is used for collecting information on a policy or program.
Once you have assembled a SRTS State Network, the next step is to research existing policies in your state that affect the ability of children and adults to walk and bicycle to school safely. Your Network should create a list of policies, laws and practices of interest. Network partners can be tasked with completing brief written research on particular policies.
Policy Prioritization Template
This template will help you to organize policy ratings.
Once policy research is completed, present the information on each of the policies to your Network partners. The Network can then begin to prioritize which issues should be primary and which should be secondary for group action. This rating process would include considerations for timelines, opportunities and importance. We recommend that Network partners rate policies for both the importance to their organization and the importance to the Network.
Action Plan Template
This template will help you to organize policies by leadership, objectives, tasks and timelines.
Work with your Network partners to complete an Action Plan, which would list the prioritized policies your Network chose to work on. The Action Plan will show who the appropriate leaders are for implementing each prioritized policy and which partners will assist. The Action Plan should be reviewed periodically, and should be considered a ‘living’ document, subject to change as policies are added or removed from the Plan.
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