What is Power Panther Professionals?
Power Panther Professionals is an 8 to 12-week customizable staff wellness program designed for school and child care personnel. Its ultimate goal is to improve employees' health and well-being while empowering them to serve as healthy role models for young people and other adults.
Power Panther Professionals utilizes USDA's SuperTracker to allow participants to make a personalized nutrition and physical activity plan. Participants can see how their food choices and physical activities stack up to their goals while getting tips and support to help make healthier choices. Power Panther Professionals also includes an optional staff wellness challenge to encourage healthier lifestyle behaviors among participants and to reinforce weekly lessons.
Power Panther is the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) spokes-character for the EAT SMART. PLAY HARD. campaign. This national initiative is aimed at making our nation’s children healthier. But Power Panther’s messages are also applicable to people of ALL ages! A healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet and regular physical activity is a great goal for people, regardless of age.
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How does Power Panther Professionals fit into my school’s wellness policy?
Power Panther Professionals is designed to allow each school or child care center to determine their site’s level of involvement. Some sites may choose to implement only some of the lessons and activities in Power Panther Professionals, while others may incorporate the all of the activities as part of their school’s wellness initiative. Depending on their level of involvement, a school may reach the Advanced or Exemplary levels for Staff Wellness on their school’s wellness policy.
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Why do Kansas school and child care staff need Power Panther Professionals?
The prevalence of obesity in the United States has doubled in the past two decades. More than one-third of US adults are now obese – a scary statistic! Many of these adults are interacting with children on a daily basis, and the lifestyle being modeled to youngsters is often an unhealthy one. Taking steps now to eat smart and move more can not only improve the lives of adults, but can provide children with positive, healthy role models.
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Who can participate?
The Power Panther Professionals Implementation Manual, presentations, and printed materials will only be provided to Kansas schools or child care centers that participate in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program or the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Each attendance center must complete a separate application. If an entire district wishes to participate, EACH attendance center in the district must complete a separate application, and EACH BUILDING must have a program facilitator.
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Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include individuals with a health-related background working in a school or child care center. This includes nurses, teachers (family and consumer science, health, physical education, science, etc.), school food service directors and/or dietitians. If none of these options are available in your school or child care center, there may be a qualified community member who could present the program information to the faculty and staff.
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Does it cost anything to participate in Power Panther Professionals?
Sites selected for participation will receive teaching materials and resources at no charge. Sites not selected for participation can still access the Implementation Manual and PowerPoint presentations on the download current materials section of this page.
Kansas Team Nutrition is able to provide mini-grant funding for schools and centers selected at $100 per participating school and/or child care center to be used in the implementation of program activities. Sites may have the opportunity to request additional funding while implementing the program. More information on how mini-grant funding can be spent can be found in the application materials below.
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How do I apply?
Applications are now available for SY 2013-14 on the Kansas Team Nutrition Homepage! Completed applications must be submitted to KSDE no later than August 31, 2013..
Program materials can also be downloaded at any time on the download current materials section of this page.
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Download 2012-13 school year materials:
| MyPlate Basics Program Materials |
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Implementation Manual |
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| PowerPoint Slides |
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Introduction to Wellness |
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Hydration |
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Fruits and Vegetables |
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Low-Fat Dairy |
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Whole Grains |
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Lean Protein |
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Breakfast |
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Healthy Snacking |
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Bonus Presentation: Stress Management |
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Bonus Presentation: Physical Activity |
| Wellness Everyday Program Materials |
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Implementation Manual |
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| PowerPoint Slides |
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Introduction to Wellness |
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Managing Stress |
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Warm-Up, Stretch & Cool-Down |
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Making Healthy Choices While Eating Out |
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Fitting Exercise Into a Busy Routine |
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Fad Diets and Weight Loss |
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Physical Activities for Families |
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Bonus Presentation: Stress Management |
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Bonus Presentation: Physical Activity |
| Be a Healthy Role Model Program Materials |
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Implementation Manual |
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| PowerPoint Slides |
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Introduction to Wellness |
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Setting Goals and Modeling Behavior |
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Teaching Nutrition and Physical Activity - General |
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Teaching Nutrition and Physical Activity - Science |
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Teaching Nutrition and Physical Activity - Math |
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Teaching Nutrition and Physical Activity - Language Arts |
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Teaching Nutrition and Physical Activiy - Social Studies |
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Teaching Nutrition and Physical Activity - Fine Arts |
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Teaching Nutrition and Physical Activity - Meal Times and Downtime |
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Bonus Presentation: Stress Management |
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Bonus Presentation: Physical Activity |
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