Risk Management Pools Safety and Wellness Grant Application

• Association awards four counties with safety and wellness grants (September 2007)
• Grant application (with instructions): Word document | PDF

Executive Summary

Through the approval of the Risk Management Services Board of Trustees, the Pools are offering a Safety and Wellness Grant Program that offers members access to start up funds for programs they are interested in implementing for their employees. The grants are available to any member who has participated in any of the Risk Management Pools for at least 12 months. As part of the preparation to submit a grant request, members define the problem they desire to solve/impact by implementing a safety or wellness program. The problem identification should be evident by a thorough analysis of the type and cause of claims either collectively for the entire organization or by department. Once the central issue or problem is identified, measurable solutions, methods used to monitor the program effectiveness, a budget, a timeline with the steps to be taken for implementation should frame the member’s program proposal. Issues identified during the analysis should also address how employee communication will occur to heighten their awareness about the issue. Members are to define their anticipated results for the safety and wellness program(s) they propose to implement which should include a reduction in claims, absenteeism, increasing productivity, and heightened worker morale.

The grant program has been developed in a similar fashion to the Pool multi-pool discount. The amount of money that a member can receive depends upon the number of Pools in which the member participates, and the number of employees according to data reported for the NCACC annual directory. In the case of a county entity, the number of employees will be determined by the data utilized to calculate the multi pool discount through the underwriting department at the NCACC. The money designated for this grant program is on a first respond, first approved basis and is only for members starting a safety and wellness program. If a member opts to develop a safety or wellness program for a specific department, the grant awarded will be based on the number of Pool employees in that designated department(s) only. A member initiates the process by completing the enclosed application and forwards it to the Director of Marketing who presents the application responses to the grant review committee. This committee meets quarterly to review grant requests and notifies the candidate in writing approximately one week after the committee has rendered its decision.

Eligibility for the Safety and Wellness Grant Program

The following criteria shall apply to any member wishing to apply for a grant:

1. Any member who receives coverage through any of the three Risk Management Pools and has participated in at least one of the Pools for at least 12 months is eligible to apply.
2. There must be a written commitment to continue the program beyond the first year from a management level staff member who also has financial authority to do so.
3. The county who receives a safety and wellness grant must begin the program within 90 days of receiving the grant money and operate for at least nine months of the calendar year.
4. County entities are eligible to apply for the safety and wellness grant program and are required to complete an entity questionnaire as part of submitting a grant application. This questionnaire re-evaluates the county entity’s eligibility to participate in the Risk Management Pools. If the eligibility status of a county entity changes thereby making them ineligible for inclusion in the Pools, their request for the Safety and Wellness Grant request will be revoked.
5. Members may submit a proposal for the Safety and Wellness Grant Program at any time during the fiscal year. Grants will run a twelve month cycle.
6. Submissions are only for new programs, not programs that are currently in existence.
7. Initiation of a minimum safety standards program
8. Initiation of a return to work program

As a condition of making request for the safety and wellness grant program, the member agrees to:

1. Submit annual evaluation data such as:
1. sick leave utilization
2. workers’ compensation, liability and property claims including the number of claims, frequency of claims, the type of accident, claims (reserve amount) cost
3. safety and wellness program participation rates including the number of employee participants in relation to the number of eligible participants
4. annual employee health interest survey summary
5. annual employee safety awareness survey
2. Bi-annual feedback report on the safety and/or wellness program that was implemented along with a year end summary to the NCACC Risk Management Pool. The first feedback report is due after the first quarter the program is funded; the second report is due during the last quarter the program was funded; the year end summary is due fifteen months after the inception of the program.
3. Provide detail on any workplace changes or policies that support the safety and/or wellness program (smoke-free workplace, nutrient listing near vending machines, flex-time, etc.).
4. Offer evidence of the member’s long-term commitment to the targeted risk program and future plans to make the program self-sustaining.