Physical Activity and Nutrition

• Program Overview

Key Initiatives

• Activity-Friendly Routes
• Breastfeeding
• Community Nutrition
• Early Care and Education
• Healthy Food Initiative
• Play Every Day
• Sugary Drinks
• Schools

Partnerships

• Alliance for Healthy Kids
• Healthy Futures

Publications & Materials

• Burden of Obesity
• Evaluations
• Fact Sheets
• Student Weight Status
• Play Every Day Materials
  • Physical Activity
  • Sugary Drinks

School Health Program

Program Contacts

3601 C Street, Suite 722
Anchorage AK 99503
Fax: 907-269-5446
pan@alaska.gov

• Katie Reilly, MPH
  Unit Manager
  907-269-3457
• Ann Potempa, MPH
  Play Every Day Coordinator
  907-744-0474
  
• Lauren Kelsey, MPH
  Public Health Specialist
  907-269-8165
• Jessie Doherty, MPH
  Public Health Specialist
  907-334-5966

Webpage updated August 2024

School Partnerships (2013-2015)

 

The Obesity Prevention School Grant Program ended June of 2015. While shortened to just two years, grantee districts had many accomplishments. Four districts successfully updated their local school wellness policy through their school board. Three districts met the criteria to apply for USDA Healthier US School Challenge recognition. Another successfully updated their district health curricula. Several districts increased the number of salad bars available to students and increased their sites offering school breakfast programs. Each of the districts maintained active school wellness teams and successfully increased opportunities for before- and after-school physical activity programs.

A few of the successes of obesity prevention partner districts are highlighted on the Play Every Day Success in Alaska Schools page as well as the blog posts below:

• North Slope Borough School District goes soda-free in elementary and middle schools
• Alaska school districts update school wellness policies to meet new regulations
• School store makeover: Mat-Su schools serve Smart Snacks
• Ketchikan School District promotes drinking water and plain white milk for good health, growing up at a healthy weight
• Petersburg school celebrates birthdays with books instead of treats
• Schools follow new state law increasing physical activity to improve health, academic performance
• Tongass School receives Healthier US School Challenge award
• Hungry for breakfast? Petersburg High School will give you a second chance
• District greenhouse puts fresh produce into Alaska Gateway Schools
• Organized recess means playground fun at Sitka school
• NANA Nordic/Skiku puts students on skis, revives cross country skiing in rural Alaska

While the PAN Program is no longer funding grantees, we are maintaining partnerships with Alaskan school districts and are committed to providing technical assistance to schools as they work to improve the nutrition and physical activity opportunities for their students. Resources can be found on the Alaska School Wellness Policies webpage. We also provide evaluation and support and technical assistance to the Department of Education and Early Development Child Nutrition Program in their CDC cooperative agreement for school health: Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement Through Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Management of Chronic Conditions in Schools (DP18-1801)

Contact

For more information about the Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) unit in School settings, please email: Lauren Kelsey, MPH or call 907-269-8165.