Hoonah, Alaska’s Fun & Fit Partnership

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School district reports from Hoonah, Alsaka showed the communities population at an 18% obesity rate. Sonja Engle, RN, itinerant public health nurse for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (ADHSS) wanted to help the community combat the obesity rate by bringing the community together and bringing awareness on the obesity epidemic.

Motivating local community partners, representatives from the school district, the Hoonah Indian Association, and the local health clinic, Engle developed the Hoonah Fun & Fit Partnership. The Partnership grew to include residents, community leaders, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Parents as Teachers, Hoonah Organizers for Peace and Equality, community youth centers, and local and state government agencies.

Working together the Hoonah Fun & Fit Partnership challenged the community to become more active and provide nutrition education to the local schools. They worked within school districts to provide better nutrition in schools by putting locally caught fish into school menus. They supported school gardens, open gym hours, and free community events with a walking challenge, free dance and exercises classes.

But they didn’t stop there.

Creating “fun and fit” physical activities for the residents, they helped prevent obesity by also implementing “Girls on the Run” national program to encourage young girls to run and develop healthy lifestyles. Ideas to promote use of biking and walking trails were developed, the local pool was re-opened, and opportunities to increase ice skating and skiing actives grew.

Although, this community is mainly native Alaskan, they also have a small Latino population that is being encouraged to live a healthier lifestyle through this community initiative.

To learn more about how this partnership grew evidence-based change for their community in using The Community Guide public health tool, click here.