Indiana
Indiana Council Promotes Workplace Wellness
Recognition
The Wellness Council of Indiana is asking cities and towns to
participate in the AchieveWELL Workplace Wellness Recognition
Program, which includes a 10-step certification process for
companies. Program director Chuck Gillespie says healthier
businesses and communities can help lower medical costs, improve
quality of life and motivate others to adopt healthy
lifestyles.
It starts with making the right food choices and maybe parking
further away from a grocery store or shopping center to create a
habit of walking. Whatever is done to improve the wellness of
residents in Southern Indiana could lead to more jobs and lower
health costs in the long run.
One thing is guaranteed, it will create a healthier community in
which to live, work and play.
"It's not all about going to the gym. That is probably eighth on
the list," said Bill Hanson, publisher of the News and Tribune. "We
have to get to the very root of this thing. We have to teach basic
nutrition, offer smoking cessation, talk about the benefits of
walking."
Hanson joined other community leaders in discussion, along with
Chuck Gillespie, program director for the Wellness Council of
Indiana and Julie Callaway, senior wellness director for the Floyd
County YMCA.
Gillespie is making his way around the state to promote
community wellness and to sign cities and towns up for the
AchieveWELL Workplace Wellness Recognition Program. The goal is
simple, to improve the health of residents living in the Louisville
and Southern Indiana area. Louisville ranks 49th in the nation in
the recent 2011 American Fitness Index rankings.
Gillespie said having a healthier business and community saves
money by lowering health care costs and improves the overall
quality of life of those who live there. Businesses, cities and
towns will trickle down and encourage others to practice healthier
lifestyles, he said.
Hanson, Callaway, and Jennifer Hadley Graff have been asked by
Gillespie to help jump-start the process by promoting the
AchieveWELL program in Southern Indiana, focusing their efforts on
Clark, Floyd, Harrison and Scott counties. The idea was embraced by
local leaders.
"This was an opportunity to bring community leaders together for
a common good," Hanson said at the meeting held at the New Albany
YMCA. "I can't think of anything better than having healthier
people in our community. You guys have clout and that helps get
more people engaged. It's a quality-of-life issue."
There is a 10-step wellness workplace certification process
according to Gillespie.
"We want to make the region a star. It's been proven that one
area companies look at when relocating is quality of life issues,"
Gillespie said. "We want to make this a more attractive place to
live."
Gillespie has been meeting with community leaders across the
state to push the workplace wellness recognition programs.
Jeffersonville mayor-elect Mike Moore said promoting wellness in
his government will be "huge."
"One of the things going for us is we have one of the best parks
departments in the state," he said. "We want to start early and
create a program for kids in the school system. We will pay
attention to all aspects of a healthy life."
John Gilkey, who was recently elected to the Clarksville Town
Council, said his town has a program in place to promote fitness.
He said if a Clarksville employee works out at a fitness center
eight times a month, the town will pick up membership costs.
Callaway said it's important for community leaders, educators
and parents to set good examples when promoting eating and living
habits. She said she talks to young educators who may still hand
out candy bars as a way to encourage students.
"You have to look at yourself and see what kind of role model
you are going to be," she said.
The core group of the wellness committee will meet again in
January to form specific goals and begin the process of reaching
out to possible committee members.
