NS - Grant - Application to NCACC for Employee Wellness Program Funding

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24 SECTION 1. DESCRIPTION OF ONGOING WELLNESS PROGRAM Number of employees eligible to participate: 844 1. Describe the mission and goals of your ongoing wellness program and how they were developed. (Please see attached goals and objectives) The mission of our Orange County Employee Wellness Program (OCEWP): `To offer a wellness program to all employees which will improve health and productivity, reduce absenteeism and health care costs and establish an overall work environment that promotes good health and a positive work attitude" A committee that included representatives from the County Health Department, Personnel Department and Blue Cross Employer Health Partnership Blue Program developed this mission, along with the attached goals and objectives. Over the past 12 months this group has been working, along with a student from the UNC-CH School of Public Health, to assess the current employee wellness status in Orange County. As part of this process, two surveys were conducted, one on vending machine use and preference and a second on wellness program interest. Seventeen department heads were interviewed about their attitudes and perceptions related to employee health and wellness. An environmental scan to assess things such as areas for exercise, break rooms, bulletin boards and access to healthy vending options was conducted at 6 of the major worksites in the county. We also reviewed the Blue Cross claims analysis of employees from 2003. Finally, a listing of all the existing health and wellness programs being offered through the County was also compiled. The group also sought assistance and feedback from the County's Employee Relations Consortium (ERC), a group made up of representatives from all 30 County departments. From this group a wellness subcommittee has been formed. Based on all of the data collected and feedback from employees, a set of goals and objectives has been established with strategies for the first year. 2. Describe the involvement of both employees and management in ongoing program planning and implementation. As mentioned above, the Health Director and Personnel Director were both part of the program planning committee during the first year and department heads were interviewed for input. An Employee Relations Consortium wellness subcommittee has been formed. A presentation of the plan was made to all department heads and the County Manager on April 14, 2005. At that time they were asked for their support and agreed to give it. The County Manager is very supportive and has