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Where Wellness Matters
Staff Wellness Program
Vision
Employees of the Anoka-Hennepin School District will value a healthy lifestyle and will make choices that demonstrate their desire for wellness.
Mission
To promote and support employee wellness. Being healthy and happy is something that all Anoka-Hennepin employees and their families deserve. The staff wellness program, Where Wellness Matters, created by the district's Wellness Steering Committee, is devoted to helping achieve this goal. You are welcome to participate in various ways through district-sponsored wellness. Each building has identified a Wellness Champion (wellness contact) to help serve as a resource. Let's work together in bringing continued health and happiness to our Anoka-Hennepin team!
Building Wellness Champion
Each building has a wellness champion to promote health and wellness at your site. Did you know that each building in our district can apply for a $750 mini grant to be used toward wellness initiatives? Check with your building to find out who your wellness champion is.
Classes & Activities
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Anoka-Hennepin Community Education
Offerings are below for you to take advantage of this great opportunity of enrolling in a health or fitness class offered by the Adult Learning program in Winter 2023.
Staff receives a $10 discount on Adult Learning fitness, health and finance classes.
It's important for you to set aside a little time for you.
- Try a healthy cooking class from the comfort of your own home.
- Plan for future success with our informational
financial literacy classes. - Improve your personal health and wellness.
- Online and in-person options available.
Register online with code (W23SWD) or call 763-506-5766 to utilize the staff wellness discount.
Sample March classes, which qualify for a staff discount!
March 8 - Yoga with Weights - Sandburg Education Center
March 9 - Yoga - Gentle Stretch - Sandburg Education Center
March 10 - How to Make Extra Cash Pet Sitting - Online
March 22 - What is the GAPS Diet - Staff Development Center
March 26 - Shinrin Yoku - Forest Bathing - Eastman Nature Center
Activities
De-stress with these coloring pages from local artist Melissa Gray.
Monthly Update
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[March 2023]
And just like that, we have made it to March! Who is ready for some spring temperatures?!
March is also known as National Nutrition Month. During this month, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits. The theme for this year is “Fuel for the Future.” Food is what keeps your body running smoothly throughout your life, so nourishing your body with nutrients it needs at each life stage is very important.
Here are a few eating tips to help guide you all year long:
- Buy foods in season
- Start a garden this spring/summer and grow food at home
- PLAN!! Plan your meals and snacks to stay nourished and save money.
- Create a grocery list and watch for sales
- Try to not grocery shop on an empty stomach 🙂
- Eat a variety of foods from all food groups
- Fresh, frozen, canned or dried are all great options to incorporate into your diet.
- Focus on cooking more at home
- Research new recipes and try something new!
- Find creative ways to use leftovers instead of throwing them away.
Food is fuel! Food also brings people together. Create happy memories by eating with family and friends when possible. See the additional resources below for more tips on how to incorporate healthy practices into your lifestyle.
Additional resources from “Eat Right”:
20 Health Tips
Healthy Eating on the Run: A Month of Tips
Smart Tips for Successful MealsMarch Resources:
March Wellness Calendar
Community Education - MarchAdditional Resources:
Real Appeal, an online weight loss program
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SupportingYoU: Employee Wellness Podcast
SupportingYoU, an employee wellness podcast, aims to provide teaching and school district staff with a library of resources to support employee health and mental wellness. Topics support student mental wellness, offer guidance around difficult conversations for teachers, and share important school climate themes with school administrators. This information could inform school support programming, curriculum, or school practices for teachers/staff and be available for listening at any time that is convenient. Go to ahschools.us/SupportingYou for more information.
UnitedHealthcare Resources
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Rally, wellness program
The wellness program for employees utilizing UnitedHealthcare benefits is Rally.
Employees can take healthy steps to earn Rally gift cards. Choose and complete any combination of activities offered to earn rewards. View the informational flyer.
Get started today.
If you are registered on myuhc.com:
- Sign in to myuhc.com.
- Click on Health & Wellness.
- Click on Health Resources Home.
- Complete your registration.
If you are not registered on myuhc.com or don’t have access:
- Visit the Rally registration site.
- Click on Sign Up.
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Real Appeal®, an online weight loss program
Employees utilizing UnitedHealthcare benefits have access to Real Appeal®, an online weight loss program proven to help members achieve real, lifelong results — and live a healthier, happier life.
Get started with the enrollment process. (Have your health insurance ID card ready to enroll.) Learn more from this informational flyer.
Make the change you’ve always wanted, for free*
Real Appeal is available to employees and eligible family members at no additional cost as part of your health insurance plan.
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Small steps. Lasting change. Set achievable nutrition, exercise, and weight loss goals, then track your progress from your daily dashboard.
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Support and guidance. Committed to you. Stay focused on your goals with online group sessions led by coaches and a caring community of members.
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Tools and resources. Delivered to your door. You’ll receive a Success Kit with food and weight scales, a balanced portion plate and more.
Get started with Real Appeal and achieve the results you’ve always wanted.
*Real Appeal is a program on Rally Coach™ available to employees utilizing UnitedHealthcare benefits at no additional cost as part of your medical plan, subject to eligibility requirements.
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Optum, the district's Employee Assistance Program
Optum, the district’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and WorkLife Services are available to employees utilizing UnitedHealthcare benefits at no extra cost.
Eligible employees have 24/7 access to EAP over the phone and online. Call 866-374-6061 for master’s-level employee assistance specialists which provide consultation, risk screening, advocacy, referrals and educational materials. Web services at liveandworkwell.com are available in English and Spanish and include self-help information, resource databases/directories, video programs, personal empowerment programs and thousands of articles. View the EAP flyer for detailed information about the services listed below.
Some of the EAP services available include:
- Face-to-face counseling.
- Financial coaching from experts.
- ID theft protection.
- Legal counseling and mediation services.
- Online EAP clinician visit certification.
- Sanvello - an app to address symptoms of stress anxiety and depression - anytime.
- Virtual visits.
WorkLife services include:
- Adult and elder-care support.
- Child and family support.
- Chronic illness and condition support.
- Convenience services.
- Educational resources.
Connect with your EAP and WorkLife Services. 24/7. Confidential. No cost to you.
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Self Care by AbleTo, self-help app (Formally Sanvello)
On Jan. 1, 2023, the self-help app, Sanvello, transitioned to Self Care by AbleTo. Self Care includes many of the same features and benefits as the Sanvello app and UnitedHealthcare eligible members will still have access at no cost.
Self Care by AbleTo is an on-demand access to self-help for stress and emotional well-being. Members can get access to self-care techniques, coping tools, meditations and more — anytime, anywhere. With Self Care, members get personalized content that’s designed to help you boost your mood and shift your perspectives. Tap into tools created by clinicians that are suggested for you based on your responses to a short, optional assessment. Self Care is here to help members feel better —and it’s available at no additional cost.
Beginning in January 2023, member communications will be available and prompts within the Sanvello app will begin to invite existing users to transition to Self Care by AbleTo. View the flyer for more information about AbleTo.
Existing users of the Sanvello app:
- Existing users of the Premium version of Sanvello may continue to use it throughout their annual subscription and will be invited to transition to Self Care beginning in January 2023, or at the renewal of their annual subscription.
- Existing users of the free version of the Sanvello app (non-Premium) will continue to have access through December 31, 2023.
New users of Self Care by AbleTo:
- New members wanting to access self-help through their benefits will be directed to Self Care by AbleTo.
Ready to get started?
- Visit ableto.com/begin (Have health plan ID handy).
- Follow the steps to sign-up.
- Begin your self-care program.
Wellness Mini Grants
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Who can apply for a wellness mini grant?
Staff members may take leadership on a mini grant idea but it is best to work closely with the building wellness contact (your wellness champion) from the inception of an idea. Grants need to be signed and supported by both building administration and the wellness champion. Check with your building to determine your wellness champion.
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How much money can our building apply for?
Each building is eligible for up to $750 per school year.
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How are the grants disbursed?
Send your grant application to wellness@ahschools.us. After the approval of your building’s grant you will receive notice via email. Purchasing must adhere to district purchasing guidelines and therefore certain vendors may be required for certain items.
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What have other buildings received grants for?
Items funded include:
- Pedometers.
- Water bottles.
- Fitness supplies or fitness DVDs.
- Support for hosting a staff sports game or competition.
- T-Shirts for a walking club or wellness challenges.
- Designing and printing of walking maps.
- Community Education organized yoga, Zumba, or fitness boot camp classes.
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Is there a deadline?
Yes! The deadline to submit your application is March 10, 2023.
Questions? Contact wellness@ahschools.us.
Wellness Chair
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Jackie Nelson
763-506-1085