Wellness                              

WELLNESS PROGRAM WELCOME AND OVERVIEW

Dear Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Employees:

On behalf of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, welcome to the UGACC Wellness Program.  You are to be congratulated for taking a positive step toward better health by joining the Wellness Program.

Did you know heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death in the ?  Fortunately, these diseases can be prevented.  Even if you are at risk, you can take action!  By eating right, being physically active, and not smoking, you greatly reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.  The UGACC Wellness Program is here to assist you in making healthier choices for you and your family thus helping you to improve and maintain good health.

UGACC is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of you and your family.  That is the reason for the Wellness Program initiative adopted by the Mayor and Commission.  The goal of the program is to create an environment that fosters and supports the good physical and mental health and well-being of all UGACC employees.  Participants in the program will be encouraged to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles.  Based on your level of participation, incentives may be earned.  You can even earn a $400 reduction in your insurance premiums.  But, the best prize of all is that you feel better, have more energy and enjoy life to the fullest!

Best wishes and good health to you!

Sincerely,

W. Alan Reddish
Manager


WELLNESS COMMITTEE MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County Wellness Committee is to create, promote, and support programs that foster the good physical and mental health and well-being of all employees, retirees, and their families.

The committee is dedicated to lead by example and encourage through education and opportunities the development of healthier lifestyles throughout the ACC Unified Government community.

WELLNESS PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County (ACC) has designed and implemented an aggressive worksite wellness program to create, support, and promote activities that foster good physical health and well-being for all employees.  The incentive-based program, which began in April 2004, is dedicated to enhancing the mind, body, and spirit of ACC employees and designed to empower them to take personal responsibility for their health and well-being.  As an incentive for active participation, Wellpoints can be accumulated and redeemed for rewards.  If you earn 350 points, you can receive up to a $400 reduction in health insurance premiums.  However, the best reward is the improvement of personal health.

As participants accumulate Wellpoints and reach certain point goals, they will receive incentive prizes.  There are different prizes to be earned at the 50-point, 150-point, 200-point, 250-point, and 300-point goals (please note that prizes change from year to year).  Wellpoints will continue to accumulate toward the 350 points required to earn up to a $400 reduction in your health insurance premiums.  Participants accumulating at least 350 Wellpoints in a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) may earn up to a $400 reduction in their health insurance premium the following year.   The $400 reduction will be divided among the 26 pay periods effective the first paycheck in July.  For example, if you were paying the FY 2008 HMO “Employee Plus One” health insurance rate of $100.66 per pay period, you would now only pay $85.28 each pay period ($400/26 = $15.38; $100.66 - $15.38 = $85.28).  Employees in the program, who are not on an ACC insurance plan, may be rewarded with two paid days off from work (pending supervisor approval).

In an effort to afford participants the greatest opportunity to earn Wellpoints, additional programs may be added.  Those wishing to suggest new programs for inclusion in the Wellpoints program should forward their suggestions to Wellness Committee member or the Wellness Coordinator.  In addition to improving your health and receiving great incentive prizes, making healthier choices will set a positive example for your family to follow.

REGISTRATION AND REWARDS
Participation in the Wellness Program is voluntary and open to all ACC employees.  Employees register for participation each year by: (1) completing a Personal Health Analysis (PHA) and (2) having their blood work (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and glucose) done during the annual ACC Wellness Screening or through their own physician.

Once you have completed the PHA and blood work, you will receive 10 Wellpoints for the PHA and 15 Wellpoints for the blood work.  Wellpoints are awarded for participation in identified “wellness” activities and you can earn rewards for reaching specified point levels.  See Wellpoints Opportunities on page 7.

Full-time employees who earn at least 350 Wellpoints in a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) and meet certain physical activity and nutrition requirements may reduce their health, dental or vision insurance premium by up to $400 for the following year.  Employees who do not reach the 350-point goal can still earn other great prizes and improve their health.  Part-time employees do not participate in UGACC insurance plans, and therefore are not eligible for the $400 reduction.  However, they may still participate in the Wellness Program, earn incentive prizes, and improve their health. 

Since physical activity and proper nutrition are essential to good health, special emphasis is placed on these two behaviors.  In order to receive up to the $400 health insurance premium reduction, at least 175 of your 350 Wellpoints must be from physical activity and at least 90 must be from nutrition, and the remaining points may be from any category.  

Overall wellness includes mental, as well as, physical health.  Therefore, we encourage you to get involved in the community and to participate in activities that exercise your mind such as attending an educational program at Sandy Creek Park or taking an art class.  You will find such opportunities listed under “Community Involvement” and “Life Enrichment Programs” on the Wellpoints Opportunities list located on page 7.


BUDDY SYSTEM
To help promote the program and get more people involved, the Wellness Program will offer 25 Wellpoints if you encourage a “buddy” to join the program.  Once you are enrolled in the Wellness Program, encourage someone to sign-up and become active in the program.  Once he or she earns 50 Wellpoints, you will earn 25 Wellpoints!  Not only will you be helping someone choose a healthier lifestyle, but you will also have a “buddy” who can help keep you motivated.  In order to receive these 25 Wellpoints, your “buddy” must list you on his or her Wellpoints activity log and then must earn 50 Wellpoints.

POINT DOCUMENTATION AND DEADLINES
To document points, participants must use Wellpoints logs and submit them to the Wellness Coordinator, at the end of every fiscal quarter.  You may send them by interoffice mail, fax, e-mail, or bring them over if you are ever in the Human Resources Department. 

Points must be turned in by the deadline of each quarter in order for you to receive proper credit.  If points are not turned in on time, they may not be counted.  Deadlines to submit Wellpoints are as follows:

 1^st Quarter (July 1 – September 30)……………………………………………….…...October 5, 2007
 2^nd Quarter (October 1 – December 31)………………………………………….……January 12, 2008
 3^rd Quarter (January 1 – March 31)…………………………………………………….April 4, 2008
 4^th Quarter (April 1 – June 30)…………………………………………......…...……..June 20, 2008

You may earn prizes at each point goal (50, 150, 200, 250, & 300).  Your total points will continue to accrue during the UGACC fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).  “New” Wellpoints will begin to accumulate on July 1 of each fiscal year.  Wellpoints from the previous fiscal year cannot carry over into the new year.

Please note:

If you would like to receive Wellpoints for an activity not listed here, please contact Traci Mason at 706-613-3090 ext. 1125 to determine eligibility and point allocation.