NCACC wellness grants can provide a wealth of health benefits

By Alissa Willett
Wellness Program Coordinator

According to the Wellness Coalition of America, a company should spend $100 per year on each employee in order to have a successful wellness program. That figure simply isn't reasonable for county governments and county-funded entities across North Carolina given the ongoing budget troubles, but that doesn't mean counties and entities shouldn't invest any funds in employee wellness – and thanks to an NCACC program, members of the County Health Plan (Group Benefits Pool) might be able to pump additional funds into their employee wellness program without using their own money.

The goal of a wellness program for employees is to have a healthier, happier workforce. Employers receive a return on investment by reduced insurance costs. Health promotion and wellness initiatives not only require an abundance of planning and executing, but they also need cash flow to be a success. For that reason, the NCACC's Risk Management Pools are for the third consecutive year offering wellness grants to members. The grants can significantly increase a county's or a county entity's wellness budget and thereby help promote a healthier lifestyle among employees.

The NCACC annually awards an average of 11 grants to various counties and entities. All counties and entities that are enrolled in the County Health Plan are eligible for the grant. The total amount of money that a member is eligible to receive depends on how many of the NCACC's pools the county or entity is enrolled in. If a member is enrolled in only the Group Benefits Pool, that county or entity is eligible to receive $5 per enrolled employee. If the member is enrolled in two of the three pools, that member is eligible for $10 per employee. If the member is enrolled in all three pools, that county or entity is eligible for $20 per employee, with a maximum of $5,000.

Members that have received a grant during the past three years have allocated wellness funds in a variety of ways. Some counties have created walking trails near county government buildings or fitness centers on county property. Others have produced a series of wellness presentations and launched various nutrition and fitness initiatives. In 2009, one member county used its funds to pay for an exercise instructor to lead employees in fitness activities during lunch breaks, and to pay for gym memberships for employees.

The following criteria applies:

1. Any member of the County Health Plan is eligible to apply.
2. Any recipient of a wellness grant must begin its wellness program within 90 days of receiving the grant money.
3. Members may submit a proposal for the Wellness Grant Program at any time during the fiscal year. Grants run a 12-month cycle.
4. Each grant submission must have a new program element from year-to-year. Existing programs will be considered if the proposal incorporates a new element.
5. As a condition for receiving a grant, all applicants must have a smoking cessation program, or include a plan for one in the application.
6. All applications will be reviewed by the NCACC Risk Management Grant Committee.
7. The amount of money that a member can receive depends upon the number of NCACC pools in which the member participates, and the number of full-time employees the member employs at the time of the grant application. The maximum amount that can be awarded to a county or entity each year is $5,000.
8. The Wellness Program Coordinator will monitor and audit grant compliance. Grant recipients will be required to report measurable outcomes for each initiative entered into their timeline prior to the end of the grant cycle.

NCACC Wellness Program Coordinator Alissa Willett will help grant applicants understand the process and determine which programs may work best for applicants' populations. She can be reached at (919) 719-1125 or alissa.willett@ncacc.org.