On Oct. 25, 2017, the Madison County Rural Health Council convened employers from Madison County for the third Worksite Wellness Coalition meeting at Morrisville State College.

This meeting continued to support the effort of addressing the Community Health Assessment NYS Prevention Agenda Priorities of a) improving the rate of colorectal cancer screening in adults 50 to 75 years old, and b) improving the rate of healthy weight adults in Madison County through employee wellness programs.

Wendy Hunt, from Cancer Services of Oneida, Herkimer and Madison Counties, shared the importance of colorectal cancer screening for adults. The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable reports that with men and women combined, colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in the United States. It can be prevented through screening and early detection.

At the meeting, employers were encouraged to take the 80 percent 2018 Pledge for Colorectal Cancer Screening. Since our first meeting in February 2017, more employers have taken the pledge. For more information, visit nccrt.org/what-we- do/80-percent-by-2018/.

Eric Faisst, director of the Madison County Department of Health, spoke to the group about the Healthy Workplaces in Madison County Profile. The overarching goal is to “create and sustain social and physical environments that are accessible; that support health, safety and quality of life; and that promote healthy behaviors for individuals at each stage of life.”

Visit madisoncounty.ny.gov/documentcenter/view/3061 to read the Healthy Workplaces in Madison County Profile.

Managing Stress in the workplace was another topic addressed in the meeting. The American Institute of Stress reports that “80 percent of workers feel stress on the job, and nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress.”

Health and Wellness Consultant Pat Salzer from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield shared information on how to address and manage stress at home and in the workplace.

Kate Bryant, Healthy Lifestyle Coach and Owner of Simply Mindful Wellness, shared the evidence-based program, Active Living Every Day. ALED is a program that helps participants to learn the skills needed to become and stay physically active. ALED is a great program for employers to offer as a Lunch and Learn series to employees.

The meeting also recognized the awardees of a worksite wellness grant offered to employers involved in the Madison County Worksite Wellness Coalition. Morrisville State College, The ARC of Madison Cortland and Oneida Molded Plastics were all awarded grants due to their innovative ideas to improve the health and wellness of their employees. Ideas included an under desk cycle, a chance to win a CSA share after completing wellness screenings and wellness lunches using the expertise of Morrisville State College faculty.

The next Madison County Worksite Coalition meeting will be held in spring 2018.

For more information on Active Living Every Day or to join our efforts to improve the health of Madison County residents, contact Madison County Rural Health Council at 315-400-7331 or visit henry.s@mcruralhealthcouncil.org.

By martha

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