Making a change for change
Walking is paying off for many Santa Rosa County school district employees who are strapping on pedometers and taking part in the Virgin Health Miles wellness program.
The initiative that the district adopted 18 months ago has had a running start as nearly 44 percent of the employees in the school district are participating in the program.
The 1,207 employees have put in over 3.2 billion steps and walked over 31 million miles.
Santa Rosa County school board members were told about the good news at Thursday’s school board meeting.
The program, now in its 18th month at the school district has had a great success rate not only with its mile program that rewards participants with cash payments for every level up they are able to achieve on the program.
The program has 5 levels, with each level having a mileage goal.
Since the start of 2009, the program has given out $291,350 in rewards to associates.
Almost 66 percent of participants who are in the program have achieved level three or above, nearly 15 percent above projected amounts.
Along with rewards though, participants have the opportunity to take part in various health screenings and seminars throughout the year.
Elizabeth Henderson, a paraprofessional at East Milton Elementary School has not only taken advantage of the money the program has to offer, but the health benefits.
“Last Labor Day, I participated in a 10k walk/run in Georgia,” Henderson said. “I credit this program to giving me a total lifestyle change.”
The lifestyle changing program aims to not only reward participants, but to also bring down the cost of healthcare. And so far, the program has been hard at work doing that, along with the 83 percent of females and 17 percent of males who participate in the program.
To-date, the program has cost the school district $361,790.04 in funds, which includes the pedometers and health kiosks that are brought to each health screening and presentation.
Another school district employee who works on school buses attended one of the many health screenings the program offered and found out he had high blood pressure, and was asked to see his doctor immediately.
“These are the type of results people get to see from this program,” Henderson said.
Percent of the 1,207 participants at each level as of last week:
Level 1: 22 percent
Level 2: 12 percent
Level 3: 29 percent
Level 4: 25 percent
Level 5: 12 percent
