Health Promotion Strategies

Wellness Seminars are learning sessions planned and organized by you to meet specific goals. Decide on a topic and select a speaker. Pick a site for the “Lunch and Learn” session, generally a lunchroom or break room.

Depending on your budget and objectives, workers can brown bag the lunch or you could provide the meal. Meetings could be mandatory or elective, your option.

Experience tells us the most success will be achieved if these Wellness Seminars are elective and if the business provides lunch.

Goals for Wellness Seminars

Education on a specific health problem. You could want to pick one of your group’s top diagnoses. Examples are –

• Diabetes – diabetes prevention and care by a licensed diabetic educator

• Heart illness – cardiovascular health (individual counseling sessions with a nutritionist)

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Flu and pneumonia

• Breast cancer – breast health or breast self-exam sessions may be taught by a trained instructor

Education on health insurance benefits –

• Diabetes – what are the covered benefits, where to purchase diabetic supplies, support groups for workers with diabetes.

• Wellness Program Benefits

• Well baby/child care.

Education on the importance of enrolling in your medical plan or local health department’s health education programs or disease management programs. Example programs –

• Diabetes

• Respiratory

• Low-Back Pain

• Cardiovascular

• Tobacco use

Community Resource Speakers for Wellness Seminars

• Local health plan office

• Local heart association

• Local cancer society

• Pharmacies – many pharmacists are available to speak on pharmacy-related issues.

• Pharmaceutical Businesses – many corporations have standard presentations developed for corporations that are provided free of charge to use at your own direction. Some examples are –

• Know Your Numbers (high cholesterol) – Pfizer

• Respiratory Wellness (flu and pneumonia) – Pfizer

• Men’s and Women’s Health – Pfizer

• Local fitness clubs/personal trainers/YMCA – can discuss walking safety, benefits of walking, swimming and aerobics.

• Yoga and/or Pilates instructors

• Running, cycling club representatives

• Local hospital nutritionists

• Stamp Out Use of tobacco – Tobacco Coalition representatives

Topics for Wellness Seminars

• Bicycling – benefits and opportunities for cycling

• Nutrition and health (Heart Healthful lunch for all attendees)

• Cardiovascular health

• Women’s health issues

• How to recognize the signs and signs of heart attack and stroke

• National Staff Member Fitness Day within the office establishing – Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness representatives can promote event

• Exercise tolerance and healthful heart issues

• Starting a fitness program- include the importance of seeing the doctor prior to the beginning of any new exercise program

• Self-defense

• Domestic abuse

• Safety in general

• Exercise safety

• Walking/running benefits and safety tips Tobacco dangers and avoidance