Bay Area Region :: Worksite Program

Key Objectives
The Worksite Program empowers low-income workers to consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables and enjoy physical activity every day. The fruit and vegetable and physical activity objectives are designed to reduce the risks of chronic diseases, especially cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

The Worksite Program works with employers throughout California to:

• Improve access to healthy foods and physical activity at workplaces
• Foster supportive work environments that encourage healthy lifestyle choices
• Establish public policies that bolster health promotion efforts at worksites

Key Activities
The Worksite Program partners with and supports low-income worksites throughout the Bay Area in the development, implementation, and evaluation of their own Worksite Program. Toward this effort, the Program has developed the California Fit Business Kit to help employers develop and implement a culture and environment that supports healthy eating and physical activity among workers.

Partnerships
The following Bay Area companies are currently participating in the Worksite Program Partners.

Suellen Haggerty's, Worksite Coordinator, Events
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Christopher Ranch Event Christopher Ranch is moving!  Acres of cherry trees in full blossom, garlic & mustard fields reflecting dazzling yellow provide the backdrop for lots of walking at Christopher Ranch. 180 of the nearly 600 employees have joined Andale sponsored by the Network for a Healthy California – Worksite Program. Andale is the Spanish translation of one of the most popular tools of the California Fit Business Kit.  The 10 week program, Take Action, was customized for the south county employer where over 90% of the workforce prefers Spanish. “I never imagined that the energy would take off like this” amazes the human resource director, Janette Codiga.  Instead of sitting for breaks the employees are walking.  Staffs are coming in early, walking before their shifts, on their breaks and even after work to reach their goal of 10,000 steps everyday. Thanks to collaboration with the Diabetes Society, on the day of the Wellness Launch, Spanish speaking nurses conducted more than 150 blood sugar screenings.  The Bay Area Network team also conducted body fat analysis and provided nutrition education in Spanish.   Every Tuesday from 2:00 - 3:00 PM team captain meetings take place to learn how to be healthier. Most of the captains share the information with their teams on their daily walks. Meeting topics include how to lower your cholesterol, sugar savvy, ballroom dance instruction and fitness training.  All of the materials for the meetings are translated into Spanish for the captains and provided to the employees company wide. The Worksite Program’s efforts have been further leveraged through the support of the Christopher Ranch Head Start Program. This center supports the employee’s children and is working hand-in-hand with the Worksite Wellness Campaign to embrace the Networks key goals and objectives.  Christopher Ranch Head Start now has the Harvest of the Month and other Network materials. The pinnacle celebration for the employees at the completion of their 10 week program will take place at the Network’s Fruit and Veggie Fest in Gilroy, where they will be receiving their certificates, awards, and free produce.

Research
The following links are PDFs.

• Fruits and Vegetables and Physical Activity at the Worksite: Business Leaders and Working Women Speak out on Access and Environment
  16-page summary report of the California Worksite Program formative research report, including background, methods, results, conclusions and recommendations, resources, and references.
   
• About the California Worksite Program
  A brief description and history of the program.
   
• Health Statistics Related to Californians and the Workplace
  Statistics on topics relevant to California’s workforce including overweight and obesity, the cost of chronic diseases, nutrition, physical activity, and health promotion at the workplace.
   
• Issue Brief: Worksite Nutrition and Physical Activity
  An issue-oriented overview including healthy eating and physical activity at work, what employers can do, what employees can do, what community organizations can do, case studies, and information resources.

Links

• Network for a Healthy California (Worksite Program)

• CDC’s Healthy Worksite Initiative