Osceola School District selected for health awards

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Osceola School District selected for health awards

Community

Thursday, 04 March 2010 03:09

The Florida Department of Health has announced the selection of the Osceola County School District as one of 20 recipients of the Surgeon General’s Health Innovation Prevention and Management Awards.
The award was designed to honor organizations, businesses or programs that are innovative in bringing preventative health care to their members, employees or community.
Thirty-four applications were judged by a panel of experts from the Department of Health. Nominations were scored based on the creativity/innovation of the initiative; the leadership demonstrated by encouraging peer groups to engage in complementary or similar initiatives; characteristics of sustainability; the ability for another group to emulate the successful initiative; and the outcome—that the organization, business, or program achieved the intended result. Additional consideration was given to those organizations, businesses and programs that have received statewide or national recognition. The winners represent faith-based organizations, community-based initiatives, health care delivery systems, workplaces, non-profit organizations, public sector entities and schools.
The School District was recognized for its Employee Worksite Wellness Program called “4 the Health of it!” which focuses on providing education and tools to assist employees to live healthier lives. The department awarded the School District three years of funding ($75,000 annually in 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10) under the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program - School District Worksite Wellness Project.
The grant aided the district in addressing a serious rise in health problems and insurance costs during the previous year. This federal-through-state funding allowed the district’s Risk and Benefits Management Department to include the employee wellness specialist, Candice Roberson, who oversees and coordinates employee wellness activities for more than 7,000 employees in the district. Planning involves integration of the district-adopted wellness policy and collaboration with School Health Advisory Council members, which include wellness coordinators at the district and school levels.
Studies show that people can lower their risk by making simple changes in routine. Consequently, “4 the Health of it!” promotes four such adjustments: eat smart, move more, relax, and get regular checkups.
“I am proud of the creative public health efforts demonstrated by all applicants,” said State Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros. “I specifically commend the award winners for their accomplishment in implementing innovative ideas that can be shared with and adopted by other groups, therefore replicating their successful model.”