The January 18 Work Well 2.0 Health Series meeting began with a panel discussion covering the Worksite Wellness Grant, which funds The Chamber’s Work Well 2.0 Health Series in partnership with Tri-County Health Department, and also highlighting family-friendly policies and practices for the worksite. The meeting was held at the Commerce City Parks and Recreation Center.

Daniel McKenna from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), David Shapiro from Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC), and Abby Waldbaum from Children’s Hospital Colorado each provided updates in their areas of expertise.

McKenna gave an overview of the grant providing funding for the Worksite Wellness Initiative, created through Amendment 35, with tobacco tax dollars. Grant goals include early detection and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic pulmonary disease, as well as achieving health through worksite wellness. The Worksite Wellness Grant is part of the Health Eating and Active Living (HEAL) funding priority of the CDPHE.

Shapiro and Waldbaum each talked about the importance of family-friendly policies, providing assessment and workplace toolkits, as well as examples of how to introduce family-friendly policies and practices.

Shapiro stressed work/life integration, rather than work/life balance, and the need to consider all employees, in all stages of life. Waldbaum reviewed the process Children’s Hospital Colorado went through to achieve platinum status in the Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact, which included forming a committee, reviewing best practices, taking inventory of current policies, setting priorities, analyzing the costs and benefits of policy changes, and then preparing a summary of findings and proposed policies and practices.

Following the panel discussion, the group was treated to a healthy lunch from Saj Mediterranean Grill, a prize drawing, and a great dose of healthy networking with fellow coalition members.

Worksite Wellness enthusiasts hear about grant opportunities and family-friendly policies for the worksite. Below: Prizes were given out through a business card drawing. Prizes included a Gym in a Box, Water dispensers, and a fresh fruit and nut gift basket from Fruit Revival.