Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 22:24:43 -0700

From: Dom Splendorio <domsplendid@YAHOO.COM>

Subject: Elementary Curriculum, lesson ideas

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Dear Hedirs,

I have been asked by my daughter's elementary school to do a presentation on

Communicable Diseases (3,4, and 5th grade)

I taught middle and High School health for many years, but need some suggestions for curriculum, lessons, activities, web-sites, demonstrations, etc. The presentation will be to large groups of 100 or more in an assembly type setting. I am comfortable with the information, but need some ideas to keep their attention and that is developmentally appropriate. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks

Dom Splendorio

NY

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#733

Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2006 01:25:18 -0400

From: Liz O'Grady <LizO@WRHHS.ORG>

Subject: Re: HEDIR-L Digest - 19 Oct 2006 to 20 Oct 2006 (#2006-53)

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I will be out of the office until Monday, October 30. I will reply to your e-mail at that time.

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#734

Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2006 12:50:16 -0700

From: Margo Harris <margo@PNWHEALTH.COM>

Subject: Worksite Wellness Answers

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Well, I don't mind starting.

We have a tri-level program: Gold, Silver, Bronze. Remember, 2006 is an Olympic year. You complete activities to get to the different levels. We don't have points per se. We have added on some competitive activities, including a Wellness Challenge. That involved points, and the team with the most points did win! We are on a program that provides the same benefits to all, and what changes is how much you pay out of pocket to get those benefits. Gold = retaining your current benefits by completing an HRA and additional wellness activity. Silver = completing the HRA. Bronze = doing nothing - or your spouse/partner on your plan doing nothing.

2. I have no data on effectiveness, but every employee is now sent the Hope Heart Institute Newsletter. This was probably a first step before we even knew there would be a Healthy Incentives Program. It arrived with no pre-warning or explanation. At one point, there was a brief survey about how we used this and/or if we read it. Although many said no, and "hand wrote" please unsubscribe or please email only, those comments were not received. We are not permitted to unsubscribe and email is not available.

In addition to the generic information, it is a major, print communication tool for King County specific benefits information. I imagine that is why we can't unsubscribe. The health educators in our group sort of chuckle and decided that the County is working hard to keep us out of "precontemplation."

3. Again, no data, but we have a HUGE health and benefits fair every year about two weeks prior to open enrollment for benefits. While the target is information about benefits and open enrollment, all those activities you list are offered. A variety of "health at work" programs, like Weight Watchers, are also promoted at that fair. The emphasis is not on screenings, but that is offered.

4. Yes, we all had to take a Health Assessment - HRA - as a first step toward retaining our current benefits without paying more out of pocket. We will have to repeat the health assessment every year during the month of January to qualify for fully paid benefits. The HRA is Step One toward Gold. Completing a specific activity or accepting a defined number of health coach calls is Step Two. While all employees receive the same benefits, the amount paid out of pocket changes. If you do not complete the health assessment, you receive a bronze level of payment out of pocket.

5. About that $200. We were never given or told that a defined amount of money/employee was available. We were told that each County program or a floor in a County building had a sum of money to use for wellness activities. We were able to vote for what we wanted. I lost! I wanted a mid-day/lunch-time yoga program. We have a busy Help Desk, and I thought our employees would go for it. We got outvoted, and instead we got a program membership at the Downtown YMCA that let us attend one class or have one visit, during the day, per week for six months. That six months ends on November 1. The floor also voted for and bought a supply of pedometers which are available for loan. Other floors made other choices.

Money is a powerful motive. We are a workforce of 16,000. 15% did not complete the HRA and will receive bronze level for 2007. The challenge for me is that if your spouse/partner is covered by your benefits (mine is), they have to participate. In that 15% are a number of spouse/partners who refused to participate and take the HRA. That's a big financial hit for a family. Also, the County only focuses on employees. To make this concrete, my husband and I took the HRA. Based on 100 points, I scored 90+ and he scored 50+. Because he is not a county employee, he got the same generic letter from Harris Health Trends, "Congratulations you are in great health and doing a great job taking care of your health. Complete one of these two maintenance activities to get to Gold." I was shocked, but County resources are being devoted to County employees only.

The average age in our workplace is 48, and we have little turnover. We also have many families where both spouse/partner are County employees. I was particularly struck by how the HRA identified mental health issues, but did nothing about it. All the behavioral activities were nutrition or physical activities, and the health coach calls didn't cover mental health or make suggestions about mental health either. It is unfortunate to me that an HRA would identify and bring into a respondent's conscious mind one or more significant mental health issues and leave them hanging, unsupported.

A number of people have contacted me and asked about contact information for the program. Do check the web site and review the supplemental programs (Gym Discount, etc.) and check for contact information on the web site. I can tell you that this is a program of the County's Benefit and Operations Program, 206/684-1556 or kc.benefits@metrokc.gov. Just don't tell them I told you! Keep in mind that most of the program is handled by outside contractors like Harris (no relation :-)!) and our benefits staff are not always that well informed about the details of the program.

Sorry for the length of the post. Hopefully that provided some insight into the King County Healthy Incentives Program. Margo

Margo Harris

Seattle, WA

206/932-1273

Email: margo@pnwhealth.com

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