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June 14, 2005
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Media Contact: |
Mike Andrei
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Daemen College Awarded Funds for Employee Wellness Initiative
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In May of 2005, Daemen College was awarded funds as part of the Western New York Wellness Works Initiative, a program that has been made possible by a $1 million grant to the School of Public Health and Health Professions at the University at Buffalo through State Senator Mary Lou Rath. The college has been awarded funding support of $49,600 ($25,000 year 1 and $24,600 year 2) in matching funds from WNYWW and has committed $51,150 ($25,575 each project year) of institution funding.
WNYWW provides matching funds to companies and organizations based on a competitive proposal process. The UB School of Public Health and Health Professions, in conjunction with a community-based board of directors, set program parameters and developed a request for proposals, and made the final program selections. The goal of the initiative is to document the premise that making healthy choices can improve the lives of workers, decrease their need to use health-care services and increase productivity. Daemen's project will engage employees in holistic health programs. Participation is entirely voluntary. Program components will address weight management and musculoskeletal and cardiovascular fitness through education, diet and exercise improvement and stress reduction and management. The wellness opportunities will be offered at a variety of convenient times both around and during the work day. The programs will focus on physical health, substantially enhancing our existing Holistic Health Initiative and moving the campus to the next level of understanding and engagement in activities directed toward both healthier individuals and a more balanced and supportive work environment. Funds will be used to acquire essential equipment for the Employee Fitness Training program, including a Life Fitness Multi-Jungle 8 Stack cable motion series unit; two stationary bicycles; free weight systems; a Life Fitness treadmilll; a dual adjustable pulley system, paint for murals in stairwells, wall mounted frame enclosures (13) and signage for “checkpoints” along the walking courses. Health & Fitness Assessments will be completed at the outset of the CHI program and semi-annually (beginning and end of each academic semester) for all those who volunteer to participate. Additional opportunities will exist throughout the year for employees to participate in these and more specific physical fitness assessments including the annual Health Fair (fall each year). Voluntary blood paneling and explanation of results will be available to employees through collaboration with a local diagnostic center. Personal Fitness Training will be available at midday and/or immediately prior to or following business hours. In addition to the semi-annual fitness assessments, personal training assistance will be provided in the college's fitness facility. The funding for this project will support the desperately needed updating of the facilities as well as the personnel needed for assessments and individual and/or group exercise cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness program design, instruction and mentoring. The Team Walking program will facilitate increased walking as part of the typical work day tasks and team walks during lunch, breaks and/or before or after work hours. The team walks will be lead by team captains along courses designed as part of the program. Signage will promote program awareness and provide brief exercise suggestions at points along the course. The Stair“well” Challenge is designed to encourage the use of the stairs rather than elevators for getting between offices as well as for brief daily exercise during breaks or lunch hours. Murals will be painted at the landings of stairwells and enclosed frames used in each to post diet and fitness tips. This art will beautify the otherwise often dreary staircases making them a bit more inviting while posted tips will be educational fodder for monthly challenges and prize drawings. The Healthy Cooking and Eating program is an educational program that focuses on selecting and preparing healthy foods for a balanced diet. Issues relating to general nutritional needs and weight management will be discussed and participants will actively participate in meal preparation. Each participant will receive a Healthy Eating Cookbook. Justine Tutuska , the program director of our Health Care Studies program, will assist in coordinating offerings as well as using her expertise in community health for development of specific programs. The college will also engage our athletic trainer, Jeff Sage , in employee fitness assessment, individual employee fitness program design, and oversight of the student trainers. Four to five of our health professional students will be employed as trainers throughout the year to carryout and mentor the employees in their training programs. Keith Taylor, principal investigator, is overseeing the program development, implementation and administration of the project. He will be supported by Pam Neumann , personnel director, in performing the community impact evaluation and program awareness efforts. The program will kick off in the Fall 2005 semester. Daemen College will be notifying employees of the exciting program opportunities through flyers, posters, and e-mail. For more information, contact Justine Tutuska at jtutuska@daemen.edu . |