Serve Up a Healthier You North Carolina Child

Serve Up a Healthier You North Carolina Child Nutrition Services Staff Wellness Toolkit N. C. Nutrition Education and Training Program Nutrition Services Branch N. C. Division of Public Health USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Serve Up a Healthier You § Staff wellness toolkit tailored for Child Nutrition professionals in North Carolina § Developed with input from focus groups and surveys and guidance from a diverse advisory committee § Offers resources and strategies for eating smart, moving more and living healthy

Need Why is there a need for staff wellness? § Poor nutrition and physical inactivity have a significant health and economic impact § § § The number of adults who are overweight or obese has increased An unhealthy lifestyle increases the risk of weight gain and many chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers Employees spend a significant part of each day at work Obesity and its related health conditions are responsible for much of the increase in health care spending by employers Obesity and chronic disease can also decrease productivity and increase absenteeism

Yield What are the benefits of staff wellness? § Effective employee wellness programs offer direct and indirect benefits, including promotion of a healthy work environment and support of staff in taking steps to protect or improve their health § A review of published research showed an average $3. 50 to $1. 00 savings‐to‐cost ratio in reduced absenteeism and health care costs

Yield What are the benefits of staff wellness? § Healthier employees § Reduced health care costs § Decreased absenteeism § Increased presenteeism § Enhanced productivity § Reduced workers’ compensation and disability management claims costs § Increased employee satisfaction and morale § Reduced employee turnover

Ingredients What should a staff wellness initiative include? Comprehensive Worksite Health Promotion Program Five Key Elements: § Health education focusing on skill development and lifestyle behavior change § Supportive social and physical work environment, with established norms for healthy behavior and policies that promote health and reduce disease risk § Integration into the organization’s administrative structure § Related programs, such as safety and employee assistance programs § Screening programs, linked to medical service delivery to ensure follow‐up and appropriate treatment as necessary and to encourage adherence

Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Employees It’s a shared responsibility § Wellness programs that focus solely on behavior change lack sustainability § To achieve a lasting impact on employee health, the work environment and culture must change – – § Worksite policies must clearly define the expectation regarding health behavior Supportive social and physical environment enables employees to make the healthy choice Policies and changes in the work environment influence individual behavior at work, which may lead to change outside of work and at home

Recipe Where should a staff wellness initiative start? Commit and Support § Gaining and maintaining commitment and support from all levels of administration or management is critical to success § Wellness initiatives must become an integral part of the culture § Wellness must become a mutual goal for employer and employees

Recipe Where should a staff wellness initiative start? Role of Administration § Create a supportive work environment and implement policies or practices that make adopting healthy behaviors the easy choice for employees § Provide the wellness committee with the resources needed to develop and implement effective programs § Approve and set parameters for employee participation in wellness activities § Ensure staff have access to health care and employee assistance programs § Demonstrate support by participating in wellness activities § Set an example by taking steps toward a healthy lifestyle

Recipe Where should a staff wellness initiative start? Organize § Establishing, supporting and maintaining a wellness committee provides opportunities to… – create a healthy worksite – model healthy behaviors for students and the community – foster collaboration – build healthy lines of communication among staff from all levels

Recipe Where should a staff wellness initiative start? Role of the Wellness Committee § Plan, develop and implement group and individual activities to support employees who want to adopt healthy behaviors § Gain support for the wellness program from co‐workers and encourage participation § Promote programs, policies or practices and environments that support healthy living § Evaluate results of wellness programming, activities, policies and practices

Recipe Where should a staff wellness initiative start? Organize § Diverse representation from all levels encourages input, involvement and shared ownership of the program by employees § Size of the wellness committee depends on the size of the Child Nutrition program and goals and activities of the wellness initiative § Revitalize the committee by rotating members and roles and responsibilities within the committee

Recipe Where should a staff wellness initiative start? Assess § Worksite assessment should be completed as a starting point – – a survey or other mechanism for employee input – § an analysis of the current worksite environment and policies collection and examination of any existing data that may be helpful in decision‐making Assessment results identify strengths and areas for improvement and serve as a baseline for evaluation

Recipe Where should a staff wellness initiative start? Protect § HIPAA Privacy Rule – assure that individual’s health info is properly protected while allowing the flow of health data needed to provide and promote quality health care and protect the public’s health § GINA – restricts the ability of employers and insurers to collect and disclose genetic info, including family history – No financial incentive can be offered for completion of a health risk appraisal (HRA), if the HRA contains questions about family medical history

Recipe Where should a staff wellness initiative start? HIPAA Employee Wellness Program Nondiscrimination Requirements § Total reward for all the plan’s wellness programs that require satisfaction of a standard related to a health factor is limited § Program must be reasonably designed to promote health and prevent disease § Program must give individuals eligible to participate the opportunity to qualify for the reward at least once per year § Reward must be available to all similarly situated individuals § Plan must disclose availability of a reasonable alternative standard

Recipe Where should a staff wellness initiative start? Protect § N. C. Office of State Personnel provides foundation for state entities to develop activities and modify work environments and policies to support the health and well‐being of state employees – Participation in wellness activities is voluntary – Injury that occurs during non‐pay status is not compensable – Safety and maintenance guidelines for wellness areas should be developed – Employees should sign a wellness activity liability acknowledgement – Employees should be informed of all wellness policies

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Plan § An action plan serves as a road map – Point A – Identify areas to work on – Point B – Behavior change – Point C – Culture change in the LEA, Child Nutrition program and schools § Short term goals should focus on individual or group strategies § Long‐term goals should focus on environment or policy strategies

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Communicate § Recruit Child Nutrition employees’ talents to market the wellness initiative § Child Nutrition program and administration should convey both their concern for the health of employees and their commitment to wellness § Everyone should be informed of the wellness initiative name and mission § A kickoff event can promote awareness and excitement § Wellness committee members and fellow employees can champion the wellness initiative with one‐on‐one promotion

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Act § Worksite wellness activities afford employees the opportunity to practice and adopt strategies for healthy lifestyle behavior § Honor interests, suggestions and requests of employees in planning § Offer a variety of programming to accommodate the abilities and educational and social preferences of employees § Consider different schedules of Child Nutrition staff when planning § Select accessible location and provide an address, directions and contact

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Role of the Employee § Participate in wellness activities § Adopt healthier behaviors § Encourage and support co‐workers § Talk with Administration and the Wellness Committee about what is needed to support healthy behaviors

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Resource § Seek resources and support from within the LEA, schools or community – – – School nurses, Counselors or Physical Education and coaching staff Trained and credentialed professionals in the community Medical facility County Cooperative Extension, Parks and Recreation, or YMCA Businesses or gyms School Nutrition Association of North Carolina districts or chapters

Review How should a staff wellness initiative be evaluated? Document § Wellness events and activities should be documented § Documentation helps in… – recording what has been accomplished – evaluating strategies – implementing and adapting the action plan – communicating successes to administration, employees, and others

Review How should a staff wellness initiative be evaluated? Evaluate § Process measures ‐ Modify programming and activities to better meet employee needs – § Participation numbers, employee satisfaction, tracking of environment and policy changes Impact measures ‐ Measure whether employees’ attitudes, behaviors and health indicators have changed as a result – Pre/post tests or quizzes, eating and activity logs, aggregate employee health data, comparison of program costs and return on investment

Success How should achievement be recognized? Celebrate § Employees should be recognized for their participation in the wellness initiative and for progress made § LEA and school administration should be notified of employee participation § Achievements can be celebrated at the local or state level through the use of school or community media, success stories, certificate presentations, or submission for awards

Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Employees It’s a shared responsibility § Successful wellness programs promote a healthy work environment and encourage staff in taking steps to protect or improve their health § Serve Up a Healthier You offers resources and guidance, ingredients and recipe, to yield an effective wellness program § Healthy workplaces, healthy employees, and healthy communities are a shared responsibility

Serve Up a Healthier You Toolkit Resources § How‐To Guide/Planning § Assessment/Evaluation § Environment/Policy Change § Education/Mini‐Lessons § Activities/Challenges § Handouts/Newsletters § Promotion/Marketing/Recognition

Recipe Where should a staff wellness initiative start? Planning § How‐to‐Guide § CDC Cost Calculator § OSP Worksite Wellness Policy § OSP Activity Liability Form § Wellness Action Plan Template

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Assessment/Evaluation § Environment and Policy Survey § Employee Interest Survey § Wellness Activity Evaluation § Wellness Initiative Evaluation § Employee Wellness Evaluation

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Environment/Policy Change § Motivational Posters

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Environment/Policy Change § Sample Healthy Foods Policy § Sample Physical Activity Policy

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Environment/Policy Change § Guidelines for Healthy Foods and Beverages and a Guide to Making Physical Activity a Part of Meetings, Gatherings and Events § Businesses Leading the Way in Support of Breastfeeding § Bring Fresh Produce to Your Setting § A Guide to Stairwell Initiatives

Education Mini-Lessons Ingredients § Introduction to Staff Wellness § Mini‐Lessons Objectives Chart § Sample Timeline § References/Resources § Mini‐Lessons

Education My Recipe for Health Ingredients § Summary ‐ Key take away messages § Resources § Activities ‐ Ways to actively reinforce the concepts of the mini‐lesson

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Activities/Challenges § Activity Planning Worksheet § Ten Minute Challenge § Stress Less Challenge § Smart Fuel Challenge § Fruits and Vegetables Challenge § Solving the Puzzle of Moving More § Scavenger Hunt § Guide to Creating Walking Maps

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Handouts/Newsletters § National Nutrition Month Handouts § Newsletters

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Communicate/Promote § Mini‐Lesson Activity Flier § Mini‐Lessons Certificate § Superintendent Letter § Principal Letter § Press Release Template

Production How should staff wellness be implemented? Communicate/Promote § Promotional Posters

Child Nutrition professionals play a vital role in school wellness and have an opportunity to set a healthy example for students, other school staff, and families.

The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or if all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities. ) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found at http: //www. ascr. usda. gov/complaint_filing_cust. html or at any USDA office, or call 866. 632. 9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U. S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S. W. , Washington, D. C. 20250‐ 9410, by fax 202. 690. 7442 or email at program. intake@usda. gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877. 8339; or (800) 845. 6136 (in Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.