Increasing Physical Activity and Employee Wellness in Pima County: Planning Grant Progress and Sustainability Plan

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1 Increasing Physical Activity and Employee Wellness in Pima County: Planning Grant Progress and Sustainability Plan January 2014 A National Business Coalition on Health Community Health Planning Seed Grant funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and United Health Foundation Employers Health Alliance of Arizona

2 Introduction and Background Since being awarded a $50,000 community health planning seed grant funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and United Health Foundation, the Employers Health Alliance of Arizona (EHAAz) and Pima County Health Department (PCHD) have embarked on a journey to transform the health and wellness of all Pima County residents by engaging employers in increasing physical activity among their workers. Throughout the first eight months of the one- year grant period, EHAAz and PCHD have facilitated in- depth discussions among and collected valuable data from local employers, community leaders, and public health professionals regarding the health of our community and how to reduce barriers and increase access to physical activity in the workplace. As the planning grant funding period draws to a close, the leadership team led by grant principal investigator and EHAAz Executive Director and Board Chairman Larry Aldrich and PCHD Director Francisco García, MD, MPH recognized the need to develop a plan for implementation and sustainability of the planning grant efforts. While the leadership team will continue to seek additional funds to support implementation of a final plan to increase physical activity, to ensure long- term community engagement and sustainability the planning efforts will transition into existing community health planning infrastructure as a fifth objective under Healthy Pima s Healthy Lifestyles workgroup chaired by an EHAAz staff member. Following analysis of the content produced during community health planning summits held in August and November 2013, the grant leadership team developed the following objective for the fifth Healthy Lifestyles workgroup: Enhance employee wellness, including physical activity, among all employers across Pima County by Strategies and tactics to guide the fulfillment of this objective represent best practices and/or suggestions offered by participants and stakeholders of both summits. The leadership team further recognizes that in order to reach those who would most benefit from a community- wide physical activity plan whether it be a workplace wellness program, a business mentor, low or no- cost resources or other intervention the involvement of small and mid- size employers in the workgroup and plan implementation is critical. Efforts to identify and recruit workgroup members from this sector are underway. 1

3 Health Planning Process Community Health Planning Summit The keystone of the planning grant was the Aug. 17 community health planning summit, Employer Conversation on Physical Activity, held at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and attended by more than 60 stakeholders representing 20 area employers. Group discussions focused on physical activity barriers, opportunities and practical approaches, and lessons learned in creating a community- wide physical activity plan. A report outlining the discussion highlights from the first summit was developed and distributed to Summit participants for feedback, and is available for review here. Employer Physical Activity Survey An integral part of the planning grant process is to determine metrics by which to evaluate progress. While the CDC s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) provides county- level data on many health- related factors including physical activity levels, data specific to employer stakeholders was not available. To further engage employers and to provide baseline data regarding employee physical activity, EHAAz and PCHD developed a 10- question online survey based on the 2011 BRFSS physical activity questionnaire and distributed it to employer stakeholders. While survey participation was anonymous, at least seven employers shared the information with their employees and 1300 responses were collected. The full survey results and questionnaire can be found here. The survey will be distributed again in late 2014 or early 2015 to determine any change in physical activity levels among employees. To determine county- wide progress in increasing physical activity, an oversample of the BRFSS physical activity questionnaire will be purchased. Summit 2 Following on the success of the first community health planning summit, the leadership team held a second meeting to discuss strategies for moving forward with the physical activity plan and identify specific action steps for each strategy. This shorter, more intimate meeting served to validate and condense many of the results from the first summit into a few key proposed tactics. An analysis of the discussion content produced key strategies and tactics from which arose the idea of adding a fifth objective to the Healthy Lifestyles priority under Healthy Pima. A synthesis of the discussion content from this meeting may be found in Appendix 1. 2

4 Sustainability Healthy Pima s Healthy Lifestyles priority to promote and support healthy lifestyles for all Pima County residents provides a structure conducive to developing a workgroup focused on employee wellness, including increasing physical activity. The workgroup, tentatively named Pima Well Workforce, will be comprised of employers representing small, medium and large businesses with an interest in workplace wellness and increasing physical activity. The following objective, strategies and tactics have evolved from discussions held during the two community health planning summits. With support from EHAAz and PCHD, workgroup members will be responsible for fulfilling the objective through development and implementation of the proposed (and/or additional) tactics and strategies. Potential Objective 5 for Healthy Lifestyles: Pima Well Workforce Goal: Promote and support healthy lifestyles for all Pima County residents Objective 5: Enhance employee wellness, including physical activity, among all employers across Pima County by 2017 Strategy 1: Develop online resource repository for employers to access and connect with each other Tactic 5.1: Research employee wellness models, programs, and options available to employers Tactic 5.2: Inform employers of available employee wellness models, program, and options Tactic 5.3: Provide technical assistance to employers in setting up employee wellness initiatives Tactic 5.4: Develop business buddy program Strategy 2: Design and implement pilot activities Tactic 5.5: Identify business leader champions Tactic 5.6: Develop employer recruitment process Tactic 5.7: Develop an employer recognition program for businesses adopting the pilot activities Tactic 5.8: Work with media outlets and other community partners to promote initiative 3

5 Next Steps The immediate next steps in the community health planning process are to recruit participants representing small, medium and large businesses to serve on the new Healthy Lifestyles workgroup, tentatively named Pima Well Workforce. This workgroup s primary task will be to meet monthly and develop a final action plan to enhance employee wellness, including physical activity, for county- wide implementation. A final plan must be submitted by March 31, 2014 to the grantor, however it is expected that any final plan will continue to change and adapt along with the needs of the community and stakeholders. EHAAz and PCHD will continue to seek funds to support ongoing implementation and infrastructure needs. In the meantime, EHAAz, with the support of PCHD, will provide administrative, facilitation and technical assistance for this initiative to Healthy Pima and the new Pima Well Workforce workgroup throughout EHAAz and PCHD extend deep appreciation for and thanks to the various employers, public health professionals, and community leaders who have provided input, gave generously of their time and expertise, and continue to demonstrate commitment to improved health for all Pima County residents. For additional information or to join our efforts, contact Emily Coyle at [email protected]. 4

6 Appendix 1: Summit 2 Discussion Highlights During the Nov. 7 community health planning meeting, or Summit 2 a follow up to the first community health planning summit in August participants were divided into three groups to address the following components of a physical activity plan: 1. Plan development; 2. Recruitment of businesses and employers to participate in the plan; and 3. Plan implementation. The meeting progressed from individual group conversations to full group discussion. For the purposes of clarity and brevity, the discussion content is presented as it relates to the strategies and tactics of the proposed fifth Healthy Lifestyles objective, serving to further expand upon and define each tactic and strategy. Objective: Enhance employee wellness, including physical activity, among all employers across Pima County by 2017 Strategy 1: Develop online resource repository for employers to access and connect with each other Tactic 5.1: Research employee wellness models, programs, and options available to employers o Suggestions included identifying successes from other communities/states, best practices from local community stakeholders and evidence- based programs or initiatives. The various options should include an array of business sectors, including service industry, manufacturing, professional/office setting, etc. Tactic 5.2: Inform employers of available employee wellness models, programs, and options o Suggestions included developing a coalition/group information- sharing and communications system; developing a menu of options customizable to employer size and available resources. Tactic 5.3: Provide technical assistance to employers in setting up employee wellness initiatives o Develop a toolkit with how- tos, standard employee assessments (e.g. employee mobility assessment questionnaire, workplace cultural assessment and a small business self- assessment to help employers determine most appropriate approach for their workforce), connect with existing wellness organizations (e.g. YMCA, WELCOAZ) Tactic 5.4: Develop business buddy program o Identify businesses who have successfully implemented a wellness and physical activity plan, program or initiative to mentor a smaller 5

7 business and provide guidance and support; recruit and connect mentor and mentee businesses Strategy 2: Design and implement pilot activities Tactic 5.5: Identify business leader champions o Participants expressed a need for high- profile business leaders to champion the initiative and engage other businesses in participating in improving employee wellness. These business leaders would also agree to lead by example and pilot a wellness and physical activity initiative, define metrics and track progress. Results would be shared with other employers to support participation. Tactic 5.6: Develop employer recruitment process o Participants suggested the following possibilities to encourage employer/business participation: develop compelling talking points/messaging including benefits of employee wellness and physical activity (e.g. reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and morale) to seek buy- in from organizational leadership at the executive level; encourage employers to engage colleagues and other business leaders; ensure participation by small and mid- sized businesses (engage chambers, associations, Tactic 5.7: Develop an employer recognition program for businesses adopting the pilot activities o Develop a seal of approval for participating businesses; recognize via media, newsletters, other communications; offer financial incentives, gym discounts and/or hold contests between businesses Tactic 5.8: Work with media outlets and other community partners to promote initiative o Recruit one or more media partners (print, radio and/or TV) who will agree to promote employee wellness initiatives; encourage partner businesses and community stakeholders to promote their participation via social media. 6