Healthy Minutes

Barrow, AK, 1998

APRN partnered with the Women, Infant, and Children's (WIC) nutrition program, the Alaska Native Health Board, and Chugachmuit, a regional Native corporation serving Valdez and six villages. Along with APRN, these partners are some of the very few organizations that link all of Alaska's diverse culture and vast geographic regions.

The project improved health for Alaskan children by enhancing outreach campaigns with each partner. With WIC, we worked to enhance four regions' nutrition programs for young children by adding a fitness contest, coupons, puppet shows, and a party. With Chugachmuit, we supported programs to promote traditional values and help village children balance a confusing clash of peer influences. With the Alaska Native Health Board, we exported the Bristol Bay Health Corporation's successful dog-mauling prevention program to the rest of the state.

APRN linked these providers with businesses to expand their outreach by donating prizes, printing, freight, etc. Each region tailored posters, press releases, articles, and flyers and held classes, contests, and other community activities to increase public awareness of its topic. APRN's 30 member stations aired educational messages about children's nutrition, sanitation, traditional self-respect values, and dog-mauling prevention. Some areas ran newspaper articles. APRN's news team created 12 feature stories on children's health issues.

From parent surveys to children's drawings, evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. Service recipients enjoyed the games and contests that enhanced children's health education. Bonds were forged among APRN, other media, businesses, and health providers that helped meet our goal of reaching the public with meetings, classes, contests, and media. Providers felt they could work with these sources again to enhance future outreach, education, and prevention efforts.

Contact Information

KBRW-AM
David Paeth
Tel: 907-263-7403

Awards:

Alaska Public Radio Network (KBRW) Round One

Best Commentary
— Alaska Press Club

Best Daily News Program, including five children's feature stories
— Alaska Press Club