UGA Extension Banner Program Identify issue relevant to entire population: Georgia wellness Create program for simultaneous statewide delivery Engage.

UGA Extension Banner Program• Identify issue relevant to entire

population: Georgia wellness• Create program for

simultaneous statewide delivery

• Engage communities• Change sedentary lifestyles• Reduce rates of preventable

disease• Increase participation to

100,000 Georgians in three years

• Decrease number of physically inactive people 5 percent per county in three years

• At the core, this program encourages users to embrace physical activity in their daily lifestyle by easily quantifying and tracking their progress!

• It provides amazing research-based resources to equip individuals for physical activity and fitness (recipes, fitness demos, a blog & of course, fitness tracking)

• Empowers users by making local and community resources accessible (county resources, group tracking & events list)

The Motto is “Move More, Live More”!

Why is an emphasis on workplace wellness important?

It’s Simple.

Goals of Walk Georgia

• Reduce costs: Research proves maintaining a healthy workforce can lower direct costs such as insurance premiums and worker’s compensation claims. It will also positively impact many indirect costs such as absenteeism and worker productivity.

• Better Business: Help improve Georgians’ quality of life by developing the habit of regular physical activity.

• Foster Community: Get encouragement from the people you see every day.

Data tells us that:• The ROI (return on investment) on a comprehensive,

well-run employee wellness programs can be as high as $6 to $1!

• Successful programs have 6 essential pillars: 1. Engaged leadership at multiple levels 2. Strategic alignment with the company's identity

& aspirations 3. A design that is broad in scope and high in

relevance and quality 4. Broad accessibility 5. Internal and external partnerships 6. Effective communications

• Companies reap big rewards in the form of lower health care costs, greater productivity, and higher morale.

Source: Berry, Mirabito, Baun, “What's the Hard Return on Employee Wellness Programs?”, Harvard Business Review, December 2010

Walk Georgia provides you with the tools to implement all 6 pillars of an effective wellness program. It’s packaged in a super simple, easy-to-use website that’s user friendly. It’s designed to work specifically for groups, including

businesses. In addition to tracking & measuring fitness, the site includes a sophisticated reporting system to

quantify progress and encourage improvement! The site aims to keep employees fully equipped and encouraged,

and we even have a help desk for administrators.

Did You Know?• According to the CDC, overweight

and obese men (BMI 25-35), miss approximately 2 more work days per year than normal-weight men, a 56% increase in missed days. Women with a BMI of 40 or higher miss 8.2 days, a 141% increase in missed days. That is almost one week more of missed work each year than normal-weight women.

Worksite Implementation

• Form a Employee Wellness Task Force• Designate a Walk Georgia lead administrator• Brainstorm sponsorship/partnership (Dodgeball

Team anyone?)• Implement competitions• Interact with local organizations• Support staff with weekly statistics/incentives• Advertise to spouses• Announce weekly level leaders

Visit walkgeorgia.org for more information!

Registration and Group Set-up

The following slides will show you:• How to create a Walk Georgia

account and log in• How to create and join a group• How to log activity

First, you create an account:

Next, you’ll see your home page:

Here, you can begin to log activity!

Like This…

More than 60 Types of Activities to Log!

Active stretchingAerobicsBadmintonBasketballBiking / CyclingBowlingCalisthenicsCanoeing / KayakingDancingDynabandElliptical trainerExercise ball

FootballFrisbee / CatchGardeningGolfGymnasticsHeavy yard workHorseback ridingHuntingJump ropeMartial artsMedicine ballMowingPilates

RunningSkatingSkiingSoccerSoftballSwimmingTennisVolleyballWalkingWater activitiesWater joggingWeight liftingYoga

You’ll start gaining points & motivation for the activities you do every week!

This awesome group divided into departments and awards prizes every 2 weeks!

This awesome city government created 10 teams who competed against each other in a 4-week challenge!

Employees that move together groove together! Foster teamwork, healthy attitudes, and healthy

minds by fostering a culture of health!

Post-program:

• Work Day celebration (special lunch, prizes, etc.)

• Completion certificates• Awards to top performers recognition• Success stories• County reporting

Contact us!

• Maria Bowie, Walk Georgia program director, can be reached at 706-542-3908 or [email protected].

• Bridget Thompson, Walk Georgia editor, PR specialist, help desk, can be reached at 706-542-4649 or [email protected]

• The help desk is always available by emailing [email protected].

• Visit walkgeorgia.org