[Health_Education_Promotion] Section Meeting Recap - WORKSITE WELLNESS

[Adrienne P MULLOCK]

Hi everybody! I hope this email finds you all well. 
 
At our section meeting last week, we had representation from local and state programs including: Oral Health, Environmental Health, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention, Cancer and Chronic Disease Prevention and WIC. 
 
Cathryn Cushing, the Lead for Worksite Wellness (WW) at the State Health Department gave a brief summary on the history of WW from a funding, policy and organizational standpoint including the assessment tools that were used to gather data in junction with PEBB. She discussed The Governor's Wellness Initiative and how WW is being promoted on a broad scale across the state. She described the policies that are currently in place here at the state, and highlighted the importance of getting buy-in from leadership and to have WW activities happen during work time. Here is a link to their webpage: 
 
http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/worksites/index.shtml 
 
After a brief overview on the 12 counties that are currently implementing healthy community programs, we had the opportunity to hear specifics from one county; POLK.
 
Randi Phillips, Polk County's Health Department Administrator, presented on their latest WW initiative The Biggest Loser Challenge. This friendly competition has peeked much interest among staff and at the time of our meeting, the dept. as  whole had lost 3.5% of their body weight. Apparently they are using an internal website to post their results and are providing opportunities for everyone to participate, although not forcing anyone to do so of course. Although Randi did not have the resources or time to organize lunch time presenters to compliment the The Biggest Loser Challenge, as a section we discussed how great it would be if we combined resources so that as a section we could assist one another with our WW efforts. In the past months, Randi had helped coordinate monthly walking challenges for staff, using http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ to assist staff with tracking their mileage since pedometers were too expensive. 
Finally, I briefly described some attempts I am making in encouraging people to get up and stretch throughout the day, including email "spontaneous stretch breaks" using stretches from an Exercise guide that is available for free at http://www.yogatg.com/ys-office-1.html. 
 
This was a really inspiring meeting and lots of additional WW ideas were discussed. Thanks to all who were able to participate!
 
I look forward to continuing our conversations at our next meeting, scheduled at this year's OPHA Annual Conference. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions. 
 
Other WW resources:
California WIC has a pretty amazing Worksite Wellness site...check it out. 
http://www.calwic.org/worksitewellness/best.html 
 
Attached you will find:
 a FWD email containing Information on the State of Wellness Webinar Series 
Please let me know if you are interested in my sending you:  (files too big to send with this email)
A Sample Worksite Wellness Program from Veris Industries 
An article on how gain leadership support for Health Promotion 
AND the blank Excel Spreadsheet used by Polk Co. to track lbs in case you are interested in doing something similar with your coworkers. 
The exercise guide that includes simple yogic stretches anyone can do at their desk! 
 
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