A Wellness Champion is a staff member with a commitment and passion to health. These volunteers served as ambassadors for the Employee Wellness Program. They were messengers and motivators assisting with the implementation and coordination of wellness initiatives. They shared information, engaged friends and colleagues participating in wellness programs and created excitement around leading a healthy lifestyle. While the focus was to promote the health and well-being of district staff through education, behavior modification, guidance and support, the program also produced good role models for the students while supporting high student academic achievement.

• default_titleChoose Healthy Lifestyle Programs to Fit your Location Needs and Interests
• default_titleHelp Others to Understand Employee Wellness Programs and Benefits Available
• default_titleAssist Others through Leadership, Enthusiasm and Guidance to Get Started on Wellness Habits
• default_titleMonitor and Chart Progress on Wellness Activities to Measure Success
• default_titlePraise and Reward Program Success
• default_titleInnovate Creative Programs on Various Health Topics
• default_titleOrganize Fun Health Events and Promote Monthly Health Topics
• default_titleNominate More Wellness Champions and Establish Coordinated School Health Teams
• default_titleSolicit Feedback on the Wellness Program to Evaluate and Support Employee Wellness
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Wellness Champions are vital to the success of Employee Wellness and have several options to provide great wellness programs for their location. The goal is to have a representative at every school or department, and we are well on the way with 187 Wellness Champions.

Many champions were encouraged to attend our September Meet & Greet Event. One hundred participants attended and this created an exceptional, inspiring experience for the year. The Wellness Champions networked with each other. The January Mid-Year “Tea Party” Meeting 60 participants featured a fun themed event with new program information and relaxation for Wellness Champions. We ended the year with a June Wellness Champion Executive Committee Meeting 10 participants successfully planned and assisted in providing feedback and creative ideas for next school year.

TrainU was utilized to provide wellness champion updates, program information, presentations, and resources to assist schools in promoting Nutrition & Weight Management, Physical Activity, Stress Management, Wellness Communications, and Other Special Events. Wellness Champions had an option to complete up to 5 programs to be eligible for a $100 stipend per program upon completion of a program evaluation ($500 for the year).

Wellness Champions have been very successful by increasing awareness of health risks and motivating employees to make positive health behavior changes. In SY 2012-2013, we had 328 programs completed with 13,848 participants supported by 187 Wellness Champions.

It takes a dedicated group of individuals to accomplish comprehensive programs that help our employees adopt a healthy lifestyle and improve their quality of life. With each year, we continue to make great strides in improving the health, wellness, and safety of all students, staff, parents and the community.

The following highlights some of their successful health and wellness program efforts. *These results represent information from schools that submitted program evaluations during the school year.

• Wellness Champions completed 58 program evaluations for Nutrition & Weight Management.
• 2,304 employees participated in various four to twelve week healthy eating behavior change programs.
• Most popular Nutrition & Weight Management programs included: Apple A Day, Lose and Win Challenge, HealthyLiving Recipe contest, and Onsite Healthy Options

Wellness Champions promoted “Get Active” events such as exercise challenges, fitness classes, pedometer programs, or community walks. The goal was to encourage participants to increase their physical activity on most days of the week.

• Physical Activity program evaluations were completed by 60 Wellness Champions.
• 916 Employees participated in a four to eight-week “Get Active” challenges which encouraged, motivated and energized employees.
• Top Physical Activity programs included: WonderFit, Running & Walking Clubs, Community Fitness and Stretch & Fit Breaks.

Wellness Champions offered support and resources for coping with stress such as relaxation fairs, wellness seminars, tip sheets, and more. The goal was to encourage participants to reduce stress in the workplace and find overall balance between work and family responsibilities.

• Wellness Champions completed 38 program evaluations for Stress Management programs.
• 1,504 Employees participated in various Stress Management activities.
• Most popular Stress Management programs included: Stress Less Day, Stress Seminars, Relaxation Techniques, and Humor Therapy.

Wellness Champions promoted, communicated, and encouraged participation in District sponsored wellness programs and provided monthly health topics to staff through email, flyers, bulletin boards, staff meetings, announcements, and more. The goal was to promote monthly health topics and encourage participation in District sponsored wellness programs.

• 180 Wellness Champions communicated monthly wellness information, with 43 Wellness Champions actively documenting their marketing and promotion efforts.
• 3,682 Employees were touched by site specific Wellness Communications.
• Top Wellness Communication programs included: Wellness Rewards, Wellness Watch, Bulletin Boards & Teacher Tips and Wellness Wednesday.

Wellness Champions integrated employee wellness programs with student wellness programs such as Wellness Fairs, Health Education, Health Screenings, Classroom Challenges, Healthy School Programs, and more. The goal was to promote coordinated school health wellness initiatives.

• Other/Special Events program evaluations were completed by 119 Wellness Champions.
• Over 5,442 employees participated in Special Events.
• Special Events programs included: Wellness Fairs, Flu Shots Clinics, and Community Wellness Events.

Our success could never be accomplished without the support, encouragement,
and dedication of all Wellness Champions…THANK YOU!