What is
a Quality Initiative?
A Quality Initiative (QI) offers early care and education programs a chance for professional development on specific topics. It includes setting goals for continuous improvement, participating in educational opportunities, and receiving technical assistance from a thread consultant. Programs licensed by the State of Alaska or the Municipality of Anchorage can apply. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with funding available from September 1, 2025, to September 19, 2025. Priority is given to facilities serving rural areas, low-income families, and/or Alaska Native children.
What is
Go NAPSACC?
Established in 2002, the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC) program has helped early care and education programs promote healthy eating and physical activity for children. Go NAPSACC works with child care providers to improve the health of young children through practices, policies, and environments that instill habits supporting lifelong health and well-being. More details are available at gonapsacc.org.
How is this Quality Initiative funded?
The FY26 Quality Initiative for Go NAPSACC is funded by The Alaska Department of Health, Physical Activity and Nutrition Unit (DOH PAN)
What are the
requirements to participate?
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Requirements
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Submit QI Application
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QI applications can be submitted to the thread office on a first-come-first-serve
basis while funding is available for the project period (September 1, 2025 - September 19, 2025). Priority will be given to early care and learning facilities that serve rural Alaska, low-income families, and/or children who are Alaska
Native.
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SEED Registry
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The program administrator, along with
additional early educators involved in the QI, must be current in the SEED
Registry. To join or renew the SEED Registry go to www.seedalaska.org.
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Orientation
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Upon acceptance into the QI, the administrator will attend a 1-hour orientation training and 1-hour reflection.
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Education*
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The program administrator, along with at least one other early educator who is also involved in the QI, will select 1 general module (such as Child Nutrition, Oral Health, Screen Time, Outdoor Play & Learning and Social/Emotional) + 1 priority model (such as Breastfeeding & Infant Feeding, Farm to ECE, and Infant and Child Physical Activity) in the Go NAPSACC portal. Each module consists of a pre-and post-assessment. The self-assessments allow the individual to measure how effectively the program meets each of the best practices for the specific module topic. Educators will receive 9 hours of training credit for completion of all requirements.
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Consultation | The thread consultant can provide support using the Go NAPSACC portal and monitor progress. Additionally, up to 5 hours of technical assistance to support goal implementation will be provided by phone, via ZOOM, MS Teams, and/or through email from a thread consultant. As well as a 1-hour orientation training and a 1-hour cohort reflection meeting at the end of the QI. |
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Evaluation
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Upon completion of the QI, early care and education programs must complete an evaluation to assess the services they received from thread through their participation in the QI. On this form, the early care and education program will identify how the grant funds were used and how participation was beneficial to their program.
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Grant Funds
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Early care and education programs who complete the QI requirements will receive a financial stipend of $12,500.00 to purchase items related to nutrition and/or physical activity. The funds are distributed to the early care program and will be mailed out within 90 days of the completion of all QI requirements. Participation to receive funds is on a first-come-first-serve basis while funding is available for the project period of July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026.
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*
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These items are completed through the Go NAPSAC portal which requires computer/internet access to participate.
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