Get $ For Workplace Health Program

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Viridian Health Management have selected Pierce County as one of seven communities in the United States to participate in a new workplace health program called the National Healthy Worksite Program (NHWP).

CDC and Viridian are working to identify about 15 employers in Pierce County who could benefit from a comprehensive workplace health program.

Employers who are selected to participate will receive a complimentary menu of benefits from the program, including:

• A complete health and safety assessment of their organization to define existing needs, interests and the capacity of their workplace for a health and safety program
  
  
• A two-year workplace health improvement plan tailored to their organization’s needs and interests
  
  
• On-site program support provided by experienced health professionals who have a track-record of getting results
  
  
• Training to build their knowledge, skill and capacity to maintain and enhance their program
  
  
• Availability of health education materials
  
  
• Access to national workplace Health experts for consultation
  
  
• Hardcopy reports on the progress of their health and safety programs and program staff readiness to discuss progress with senior employer leadership
  
  
• Aggregate reports on the health of their participating employees and regular progress updates
  

Pierce County was selected to participate in the NHWP because of several prevalent health factors in the county, including a high rate of chronic disease, among them heart disease, strokes, diabetes, obesity, cancer and other smoking-related diseases; the availability of community resources to support a sustainable program, such as proximity to a hospital and existing community health initiatives or programs; and high rates of health disparities among various racial, ethnic, urban/rural and industry sectors groups.

Pierce County employers can apply to be one of the 15 employers selected as National Healthy
Worksite Program participants by going to the NHWP website, http://www.cdc.gov/NationalHealthyWorksite/, and certifying that they meet all of the program’s eligibility requirements.

The deadline to apply and complete the online certification is April 2, 2012.

In addition, the program will include a robust training program and other benefits and resources to a much larger group of Pierce employers who are not eligible or selected to formally participate in the program. As a selected community, this larger group of Pierce employers will be provided with training, technical assistance, and resources from health promotion experts during the next two years, as well as networking and mentoring opportunities.

Employers interested in this option can sign up to participate in this worksite health promotion training and receive ongoing NHWP program communications by registering at http://www.cdc.gov/NationalHealthyWorksite.

Please contact Sheila Pudists, NHWP Director for the Pierce County community, or call (253) 686-8527 if you have any questions or would like additional information.