Mission
The Wellness Program was designed to promote healthy lifestyles through educational programs that identify health risks and encourage lifelong wellness of mind and body. The program seeks to improve employee health and well being while reducing risk factors associated with the leading causes of death and disability. From reduced-rate fitness memberships, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and comprehensive screening programs, the Wellness Program has the employees' health in mind.
Faced with a high incidence of catastrophic illness and health-care costs that doubled over five years, the Polk County School Board (PCSB) launched a Wellness Program. The Wellness Program is a part of the Student Services department. Key components of the Wellness Program include:
Administration
Debbie Zimmerman
Manager
Visit our Staff Directory to contact any staff member via e-mail.
Contact Information
Wellness Program
3425 New Jersey Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 648-3057
Disease Management
The ABCs of Diabetes was launched in 2004 to provide screenings, education, and high-risk interventions/goal-setting for diabetics. The program was recognized as a quality initiative by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), has improved medication adherence by 43% (participants have a 95% adherence rate compared to 52% for non-participants), and has yielded a return of $3.58 for every dollar invested in the program.
Worksite Wellness
The Health Plus Challenge (HPC) improves employee health and meets the eight components of a Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP). Health promotion for staff includes health screenings and assessments, education, and fitness activities. HPC statistical results include:
- Eight of ten objective biometric parameters improved significantly.
- Average and median cardiovascular and diabetes risks were reduced.
- Average per capita health claims costs were $613.00 and $498.00 (respectively) per year lower than the rest of the district’s employees.
- Returns on investments were 2.30:1 and 1.58:1 in 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, respectively.
- More than 100 HPC participants submitted testimonies of beneficial experiences.
- 97% of 2003-2004 survey respondents asserted that they were happy that the School Board provided these programs.
Coordinated School Health for Students
The HPC integrates the eight components of the CSHP. Efforts include:
- Lewis/Anna Woodbury Elementary serves as a model for other schools and has presented its program design and results at state conferences.
- Nutrition programs for families are presented at PTAs and PTOs.
- On-site fitness centers are utilized by students as part of personal fitness curricula.
- Pedometer projects utilizing “America on the Move” curriculum are incorporated at many sites to increase physical activity.
District-wide Wellness Initiatives:
- The Babies & You and the Babies 1st programs provide prenatal education and high risk obstetrical case management.
- Over 8,000 cancer screenings are performed on-site annually for the early detection of breast, prostate, skin, and colorectal cancers as well as osteoporosis.
- An annual health fair for over 2,000 PCSB employees and retirees includes screenings and educational opportunities.
- A monthly newsletter is distributed to over 13,500 employees and can be accessed at www.polk-fl.net/wellness.
- Annual fitness and weight management contests.
- LOSE for Life Plus—a pilot weight loss program incorporating biometric measurements, nutrition, fitness, and behavior modification.
- Educational seminars on stress management, back care, and migraine management.
- Annual flu shot clinics.
Evaluation
Evaluation data demonstrates that the Wellness Program has succeeded in creating a cost-effective public-health model and empowers participants to make informed personal, health decisions.
