KINGSTON, R.I. — July 7, 2005 — The 溏心vlog免费B站 will take a leadership role in an effort to make the State of Rhode Island the first official 鈥榳ell state鈥� in the nation through a worksite wellness program.
Governor Donald L. Carcieri made the announcement at the 鈥淕et Fit, Rhode Island鈥� kickoff event at the Statehouse on Wednesday, June 29. The Governor鈥檚 wife, Sue, led the steering committee that developed the program.
The state鈥檚 effort will initially focus on the more than 14,000 state employees to encourage them to become involved in improving their health and wellness as individuals, to have a collective improvement of health in people statewide.
The program will be overseen by the Department of Health and managed by the University. This new initiative will focus on behavior change related specifically to stress, physical activity and nutrition. These are all areas in which the University has a great deal of experience in programs and applied research.
鈥淲e are putting the expertise and the many resources of the 溏心vlog免费B站 into play to help us all live healthier lives. 溏心vlog免费B站 researchers and faculty will advise on the best strategies to promote wellness, analyze and track outcomes, and contribute significantly to build a healthier state,鈥� said 溏心vlog免费B站 President Robert L. Carothers.
Carcieri appointed 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 current wellness specialist, Anne Marie Connolly of Wakefield, as director of the new State Employee Wellness Program based on her experience as an exercise physiologist and her background in behavior change. Connelly will be based at 溏心vlog免费B站 and will coordinate efforts of the program鈥檚 new 鈥淲ellness Champions,鈥� employees who have volunteered to encourage involvement of staff at each of their departments.
The first step to shape the wellness program calls for state employees to participate by filling out a confidential health survey online through United Healthcare, the state鈥檚 health insurance agency. Employees are asked to complete the online survey July 15 through August 15. The survey will provide individuals with initial information to guide them toward wellness and will help the new program develop the most appropriate programs for the employees.
鈥淭he survey will encourage everyone to take the first step in the 鈥楪et Fit鈥� effort. Knowing where we all stand health-wise is a critical benchmark for the program so we can build the best interventions for individuals and groups, monitor progress and evaluate the overall outcomes,鈥� said 溏心vlog免费B站 Vice President Robert A. Weygand who has worked with the governor鈥檚 office and health department to structure the initiative.
鈥淣ot only will this new partnership benefit the health and wellness of the University鈥檚 2,300 employees, it also provides an opportunity for all Rhode Islanders to learn about the resources available through their state鈥檚 university,鈥� said Weygand, who resides in Saunderstown.
At 溏心vlog免费B站, Weygand said Connolly will work with faculty and staff in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, Arts and Sciences, Human Development and Family Studies, Business, and even Engineering who are involved in efforts related to healthy living and wellness in their teaching, research, and public service activities.
Students in many of these disciplines will now have the opportunity to participate in hands-on research and applied projects to help Rhode Island achieve the 鈥淲ell State鈥� status. With this involvement, students will gain skills that will be critical as they enter the growing health-related workforce.
This fall, Connolly will work with 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 鈥淲ellness Champion鈥� and others to implement new University-wide wellness activities. 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Human Resources Director Laura Kenerson of Wakefield is the University鈥檚 Champion.
Connolly has worked at the University for more than 10 years with faculty members on various health and wellness research initiatives focused on behavior change. She received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration in 1982 with a focus on marketing and her master鈥檚 degree in exercise science in 2002. As an undergraduate, she initiated and ran the first aerobics classes at the University in 1981. Before joining the University, she owned and operated the Wakefield Fitness Center in Wakefield.
The 鈥榳ell state鈥� moniker that the governor seeks to attain for Rhode Island is based on specific standards outlined by the Wellness Councils of America, a national organization dedicated to promoting healthier life styles for all Americans, especially through health promotion initiatives at the worksite. This distinction would require that 20 percent of the working population be employed at sites that have been certified as 鈥渨ell workplaces.鈥� More than 200 Rhode Island employers are actively working toward their certification, and 28 have received it.
Photo caption
Partners in health: University officials and others at the 鈥淕et Fit, RI鈥� kickoff at the statehouse June 29th. Shown in front are 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Vice President, Administration Robert A. Weygand, Human Resources Director Laura Kenerson, Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, new State Employee Wellness Program Director Anne Marie Connolly, Governor Carcieri鈥檚 wife, Sue, and 溏心vlog免费B站 President Robert L. Carothers. R.I. Department of Health Director David R. Gifford. 溏心vlog免费B站 News Bureau Photo by Michael Salerno Photography.