What is Power Panther Professionals?

Power Panther Professionals is an innovative 12-week health education program for school and child care center 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 includes RealAge®, a dynamic and engaging concept in health and wellness developed by cardiologists.  Participants will learn about the difference between their chronological age and their biological age.  They will also learn how to become biologically younger by making simple, enjoyable lifestyle choices.  RealAge® allows each participant to develop personalized goals based on his or her health history and lifestyle choices.  In addition, RealAge® provides the information and tools to support participants’ healthy lifestyle changes after the Power Panther Professionals program concludes. 

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.  Nearly one-third of 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 and presentations are available for download free of charge.  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.

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How do I apply?

Power Panther Professionals applications for participation are available and must be submitted to KSDE no later than September 24, 2010. Schools and child care centers selected for participation will be notified in October 2010 and materials will be mailed to these sites in December. Program materials can also be downloaded at any time on the download current materials section of this page. 

Click this link to access the Power Panther Professionals Information/Application packet in PDF format.

Click this link to access the Power Panther Professionals Information/Application packet as an enterable Microsoft Word form.

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Download current materials:

Kansas Team Nutrition has developed two years' worth of materials to allow continuation of the program beyond one semester.

Click this link to access Power Panther Professionals Year 1 Materials.

Power Panther Professionals Year 2 Materials will be posted here soon!.

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