Developing a Culture of Wellness in NJ DOH Wellness Strategies to Improve Health Among NJ DOH Employees

By: Erik Romeo

Commissioner's Office; New Jersey Department of Health

Purpose

To establish a culture of wellness in New Jersey’s Department of Health through a Worksite Wellness Program using the New Jersey’s Worksite Wellness Toolkit along with feedback and recommendations from NJ Department of Health officials.

Significance

Research studies have shown that chronic

disease is related to sedentary work

conditions.

Employees spend 36% of their total waking

hours at work in sedentary conditions.

Heart disease and stroke are linked to

working in sedentary conditions.

In 2009; 59% of deaths in New Jersey were

caused by heart disease, cancer, stroke, and

diabetes.

Semi Structured Interviews

State Examples

CDC Examples

Wellness Recommendations

Wellness Committee Action

Methodology

Recommendations

Outcomes

The proposed recommendations will be presented to the wellness committee in the form of a white paper involving the:

Commissioner of Health

Deputy Commissioner of Health

Administrative Director

Director of Tobacco Control

Director of Human Resource Services

Director of Occupational Health Services

Director of Chronic Disease

Evaluation

Feedback and response from the wellness committee on the white paper and presentation will be in the form of a survey, and this will evaluate the plan and will determine any implementation.

Acknowledgement

Thank you to Dr. Arturo Brito, Deputy Commissioner of Health, Lisa Asare ,Executive Assistant to Deputy Commissioner and all the interviewees of NJ DOH who helped make this project a success.

•Food Posters

•Weight Watchers Club

•Healthy Vending Machine

Healthy Eating

•Stair Prompts

•Improving Stair-ways

•Walking Trail

Active Living

•Newsletter Awareness

•Web Intranet Updates

Social Media

•NJ Quitline Posters Smoking Cessation

•Employee Advisory Services

Emotional Health