The Valley Council of Governments has won a grant aimed at making children in its member towns stronger and their walks to school safer.

The $12,000 grant from the Federal Safe Routes to School Program will be spread among Shelton, Derby, Ansonia and Seymour, where committees of parents, teachers and administrators will evaluate sidewalks and street crossings for hazards.

Ideally, their findings will lead to safety improvements that encourage children to walk to school and make them more physically fit as a consequence.

Rick Dunne, director of the council of governments, said more funding will be sought to implement the changes.

The National Center for Safe Routes to School was established in 2006, inspired by a program first undertaken in Denmark. Congress has allocated $$612 million for the program through next year.