Health & Wellness Support
Early Educator Health and Wellness: Building Resilience Grant Application Window: September 2, 2025 – September 30, 2025
This grant supports early educators by promoting their health and wellness. Applicants can apply for one or more of the following three initiatives:
1.) Health Services (Optima Benefits):
Access to telehealth, dental, vision, insurance plans, and more.
2.) Gym Membership (Body Renew “Signature” Package):
A top-tier membership that comes with a bring-a-friend privilege, 24-hour access to Body Renew locations, a success coach to make sure you’re making progress on your goals, a customized workout program, unlimited sauna and tanning, online fitness tracking, and more!
3.) Health & Wellness Fair:
A health fair with resources such as blood and thyroid screenings. A three-hour wellness training session focused on mental health. You’ll receive a stipend and training credit for attending.
In partnership with the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA), Anchorage Health Department (AHD), thread is now accepting applications for the Early Educator Health and Wellness: Building Resilience for Early Education Workforce, Children, and Families Grant. Applications are open from September 2, 2025 – September 30, 2025.
Please join thread in illuminating the impact early childhood educator’s health and wellness has on building resilience for early educators, young children, and families.
When early educators are healthy, both physically and mentally, they can be more attuned to their jobs and co-workers, and better able to meet the needs of the children they serve. A nationwide survey conducted by Teaching Strategies (October 2022) of 2,300 early childhood educators found 45% are experiencing high levels of burnout and mental health challenges and a study conducted by RAPID in December 2022 had similar results and found 71% of early childhood educators reported burn-out or “compassion fatigue”.
of surveyed early educators felt burned out “often” or “always.”
Available Supports
Health Benefits
Receive a monthly stipend for one year to be used for selected health services, including vision and dental insurance plans, telehealth, and teletherapy services.
Details
Stipend amounts will be determined by the total number of eligible applicants. After applications are verified, all eligible educators will receive approval letters with the stipend amount and instructions to sign up with Optima Benefits to select health services from a menu of options. Access to services will begin in October 2025 and last for 12 months.
Choose from the following options:
- Dental Insurance Plan – multiple plan options to choose from, ALL with full network coverage
- Vision Insurance Plan – Davis and VSP vision network
- Telemedicine – options to include Teletherapy or Primary Care with Dermatology
- Accident Insurance
- Life Insurance – whole life and term life options
- Short Term Disability
- Long Term Disability Critical Illness Insurance Plan – Cancer, Heart Attack, Stroke, Disease Coverage
- Hospital Indemnity – Provides coverage for admissions into the hospital
- Pet Insurance
- Legal Coverage
- ID Theft and Cybersecurity
For more information, watch as Brandon DiCesare of Optima Benefits walks through each option in detail. See the recording at the bottom of the page.
Gym Membership
1-year gym membership to All Body Renew (Alaska locations) from October 1, 2025 – October 1, 2026.
Details
Membership Dates: October 1, 2025 – October 1, 2026
To get the most out of your membership, we encourage you to sign up as early as possible. Please note:
- If you register in October 2025, you’ll receive the full 12-month membership.
- If you register later in the year (e.g., March 2026), you’ll receive access only for the remaining months until October 1, 2026.
This offer is not extended or prorated beyond October 1, 2026.
Membership Includes Access To:
- The Body Renew App – featuring fitness tracking, on-demand workouts, and meal planning tools
- Unlimited Sauna Access
- Unlimited Tanning
- Body Renew’s Top-Tier “Signature Membership” Program (a $1,707.94 value)
- Bring-A-Friend privileges
- 24-hour Access to all Body Renew Locations
- Customized Workout Programming
- A Success Coach
Health & Wellness Fair
A health fair offering resources such as blood/thyroid screenings, and a wellness training session focused on mental health. Space is limited for this event, so please apply promptly!
Details
Event Information
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Z.J. Loussac Library, Anchorage.
Note: If you are doing blood work, please fast as you typically would before the tests.
Lunch will be provided from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Training Information
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Z.J. Loussac Library, Anchorage.
Training Description: As educators, we often give so much to others that our own needs are overlooked. This session will provide practical tools and hands-on strategies to help you recharge, strengthen resilience, and care for yourself while supporting those around you. Together, we’ll explore techniques that foster personal well-being, energize your workday, and build stronger connections within teams.
Trainer: Naomi Ducharme is a consultant and facilitator who helps organizations build resilience, strengthen leadership, and foster workplace wellbeing.
Stipend: You will receive a monetary stipend for attending this training session.
Giveaways
Pick up a ticket at the door for a chance to win wellness items and door prizes to support your health and well-being.
Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements
- Educators who are currently employed in a licensed child care program within the Municipality of Anchorage
- Current member of Alaska SEED Registry
Not Eligible
- Educators who work for a program outside of the Municipality of Anchorage
- Programs licensed by the Child Care Program Office and not the Municipality of Anchorage