NS Grant - Application to North Carolina Association of County Commissioners for Wellness Program

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 15, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Grant Application to North Carolina Association of County Commissioners for Wellness Program DEPARTMENT: Human Resources PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No ATTACHMENT(S): NCACC Grant Application INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael McGinnis, Human Resources Director, 245 -2552 Clarence Grier, Financial Services Director, 245 -2453 Diane Shepherd, Benefits Manager, 245 -2558 PURPOSE: To authorize the submission of the County's wellness grant application to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners ( NCACC) Risk Management Pool for Employee Wellness Program funding; to accept any grant funds awarded; and to establish a grant project ordinance to monitor expenditures per the grantor's request. BACKGROUND: The NCACC provides a wellness grant for members of the risk management pool to provide start up funds for programs members wish to implement for their employees. Healthier employees have a greater quality of life as individuals and contribute to the health of the organization. Healthier employees are more productive and with healthier employees and fewer medical claims, the County can better sustain employees' health insurance coverage. Orange County requested and received wellness grants in 2006 and 2009. Grant funding is based on the number of employees in the member organization, to a maximum of $5,000 and are to be used for new wellness programs. Grant funds are to be used beginning within 90 days of receiving the grant money. In October 2009, the Board approved the submission of an NCACC wellness grant application for $7,500 to be used for incentives for wellness activities. A variety of rewards were purchased and distributed to employees who completed the Health Assessment. Incentives were distributed through a drawing of the 85% of employees who took the Health Assessment, and others were provided for participation in wellness activities, such as the Walks at Work and "Walktober challenge." Each department was issued one or more copies of a "Stop & Go Fast Food Nutrition Guide," and smaller individual booklets were purchased and distributed to all new employees.