Anchorage Peer Leader Navigators

Learn more about Peer Leader Navigators at their website:

Who are PLNs?

PLNs are bilingual and multilingual people in Anchorage who have been trained to find and evaluate reliable information. They help people find the services they need.
In 2023 we began to recruit PLNs in other regions in Alaska. In 2024, a PLN from Fairbanks graduated from the training program.

PLN BACKGROUND:

In 2013, The Anchorage Health Literacy Collaborative (TAHLC) partners teamed up with Alaska Literacy Program adult students to empower each other with reliable information pipelines and connections to community healthcare providers. Peer Leader Navigators (PLNs) serve as information beacons in their communities, connecting their friends and families to vital health tips and community resources.

The Peer Leader Navigator (PLN) program trains multilingual people to be health and wellness information promoters within their familial, social, and cultural groups. PLNs become empowered with research methods and access to trustworthy information. They, in turn, empower their communities. As a result of this initiative, educators, community partners, and healthcare providers are better able to meet traditionally underrepresented community members where they are; helping to provide vital information and services across Alaska.

In 2022-2023, ALP received a grant from the Alaska Department of Labor to expand this critical program into four new regions: Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Valdez, Fairbanks, and Juneau. This pilot seeks to train new PLNs from these regions to do for their regions what Anchorage PLNs do for theirs.

Anchorage PLNs - Who We Are

Anchorage Peer Leader Navigators (PLNs) explain what the program does, and why it is important to them and the people they help.

PLNs Help with Critical Services

Health Information

Vaccine appointments, find reliable health advice, manage /prevent chronic disease

Rent & Mortgage

Rent assistance, emergency housing, landlord/tenant guidance

Food Supplies

Access food banks, deliver food bank food, sign up for food related public assistance

School & Childcare

Understand ASD policies, find good childcare, early intervention, general parent support

Job Help & Small Business

Fill out job applications, prepare for interview, small business support through ACLT partnership.

Information Literacy

Understand important letters, emails, or processes/systems, help file taxes

Learn more at the PLN website: