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LifeSPAN

LifeSPAN (Life Sustaining Physical Activity & Nutrition) is an evidence-based SNAP-Ed program that helps families lead healthier lives. SNAP-Ed is the education portion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (federal food assistance). Our Direct Education (DE) helps teach participants how to establish healthy eating habits and increase their time spent being physically active. In this program, nutrition facilitators work with classroom teachers to implement culturally relevant, nutrition-based curriculum for students in PreK-12th

In addition to DE, the LifeSPAN team works with local partners and coalitions to create sustainable change in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. By supporting policies, systems, and environmental (PSE) change within our communities, LifeSPAN works towards increasing access to local resources that help families integrate healthy eating and physical activity into their daily life.

LifeSPAN Social Media and Video LInks

Staff

Carolyn Bennett

Faculty & Staff
EUPISD Central Office
General Education, Health and Nutrition Education, LifeSPAN

Carrie is an Elementary School Nutrition Facilitator who teaches students in grades K, 3, and 5/6 all about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables as well as being physically active. Grade 5/6 students also learn how to cook with the produce focused on in each specific nutrition lesson.

Paula Finfrock

Paula Finfrock

Bachelor of Arts in Education, Michigan State University
Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, Lake Superior State University
Faculty & Staff
EUPISD Central Office
General Education, Health and Nutrition Education, LifeSPAN

Paula Finfrock serves as the project director for LifeSPAN; a program funded under SNAP-Ed (the education portion of supplemental nutrition assistance program from the USDA). By overseeing the project as a whole, she is in charge of project reporting and communicating with the grant fiduciaries, Michigan Fitness Foundation. She provides support for LifeSPAN nutrition facilitators who teach PK-12th grade students through culturally relevant, evidence-based nutrition programming. The program's focus is to support families by working towards increasing access to local resources that help them integrate healthy eating and physical activity into their daily life.In addition, Paula is the Cultural Competence Consultant for EUP school districts, where she supports school staff around Anishinaabe inclusion and engagement within school policies, academics, and environment. Contact for:LifeSPAN program

Denise Folkersma

Faculty & Staff
EUPISD Central Office
General Education, Health and Nutrition Education, LifeSPAN

Denise is an Elementary School Nutrition Facilitator who teaches students in grades K, 3, and 5/6 all about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables as well as being physically active. Grade 5/6 students also learn how to cook with the produce focused on in each specific nutrition lesson. 

Cara Ortiz

Cara Ortiz

Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Grand Valley State University
Registered Nurse, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification(RN-BC), American Nurses Credentialing Center
Faculty & Staff
EUPISD Central Office
General Education, Health and Nutrition Education, LifeSPAN

Cara is a preschool nutrition facilitator for the LifeSPAN program (Life Sustaining Physical Activity and Nutrition). She visits classrooms to help students learn about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables as well as being physically active through fun, interactive lessons. Cara is a registered nurse, with education and experience in the fields of nutrition and community health. She also has experience teaching in Israel and is excited to be able to combine her passions for education and health in this position.

Article Library

When COVID-19 shutdowns began impacting the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District (EUPISD), the Life Sustaining Physical Activity and Nutrition (LifeSPAN) team found the proverbial silver lining and leveraged it to create opportunities that will benefit their community long after the pandemic has passed.
For many parents, encouraging children to eat more fruits and vegetables can be an exhausting battle. This is not the case for Matt Perkins, a fifth-grader at Rudyard Elementary School in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula. His mother, Karen Perkins, says Matt often encourages his parents to eat more vegetables and loves going to the grocery store and cooking dinner for the family.
Trying to promote physical activity in Kinross Charter Township is a path littered with hurdles. The rural community about 20 miles south of Sault Ste. Marie has just one recreation center, which is not open on weekends. The community of about 6,000 lacks sidewalks, and it’s not safe to walk along snow-covered streets in the winter. Snowshoe and cross-country ski trails exist in the region, but they’re not in proximity to residential areas. Transportation can be a problem.

This project was funded in whole or in part by the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Fitness Foundation.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.