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LiveWell Colorado Publishes “Worksite Wellness Blueprint”
to Align with National Workplace Wellness Week
Environmental Scan Reviews Wellness Activities, Needs and Barriers;
LiveWell Colorado to Pursue Two Key Strategies
April 6, 2010 – Denver, CO – LiveWell Colorado, a non-profit organization committed to reducing obesity in Colorado by promoting healthy eating and active living, today released a “Worksite Wellness Blueprint” to assess the current state of worksite wellness in Colorado and to identify, prioritize, and guide future efforts. LiveWell Colorado has collaborated with the Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition (COPAN) program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, part of the statewide Worksite Wellness Task Force, which is building a framework to guide employers to take action. The release of the Blueprint aligns with the second annual National Workplace Wellness Week, April 4-10.
“We must acknowledge the importance of workplaces that encourage, build and sustain healthy living initiatives,” said Maren C. Stewart, president and CEO of LiveWell Colorado. “This Blueprint allows us to see what is currently working and what opportunities exist so we can effectively improve wellness among employees in our state.”
Worksite wellness is an important strategy to LiveWell Colorado’s mission, with numerous potential benefits including a healthier workforce, a reduction in healthcare costs, increased morale, higher employee productivity and reduced absenteeism.
To develop the Blueprint, LiveWell Colorado sought input from over 150 stakeholders throughout Colorado, and conducted an environmental scan to understand current worksite wellness activities, needs and barriers in Colorado. Based on stakeholder feedback, LiveWell Colorado will pursue and support the following strategies to promote Colorado worksite wellness efforts:
• Convene a Colorado Worksite Wellness Leadership Group that will bring together content experts from diverse sectors to provide leadership, momentum and coordination in identifying and implementing statewide worksite wellness priorities, as well as an initial list of strategies to be undertaken and prioritization criteria.
• Promote a Colorado Worksite Wellness Framework, which will include steps and resources to build, assess, plan, implement and evaluate worksite wellness programs at the organizational level. The Framework is currently under development by members of the COPAN Worksite Wellness Task Force, and LiveWell Colorado will work with COPAN and additional partners to make it available, promote its use, and provide training and certification programs statewide.
The Blueprint is available at http://www.livewellcolorado.org/resources/policy-blueprints.
LiveWell Colorado and COPAN will host a webinar offering an overview of the Blueprint and Framework, as well as additional resources and training opportunities on Wednesday, May 19, which is National Employee Health and Fitness Day. To register, visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/997472259.
Workplace Wellness Week was passed by the House of Representatives on September 26, 2008 during the 110th Congress. The resolution was endorsed by the American Heart Association, Chamber of Commerce, Partnership for Prevention and many other groups. During the week, private and public employers are encouraged to invest in the health of their employees by creating worksite employee health promotion programs, or by sharing their worksite wellness experiences with other employers. Visit http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3065460 for more information.
To learn more about LiveWell Colorado’s public policy agenda and to advocate for healthy eating and active living, please visit http://www.livewellcolorado.org/advocacy.
About LiveWell Colorado
LiveWell Colorado is a non-profit organization committed to reducing obesity in Colorado by promoting healthy eating and active living. Leading a comprehensive approach, LiveWell Colorado inspires and advances policy, environmental and lifestyle changes that aim to provide every Coloradoan with access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity in the places they live, work, learn and play. For more information about LiveWell Colorado, visit www.livewellcolorado.org.
