36 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, ME 04345
making connections ~ improving lives Worksite Wellness Newsletter of HCCA
Volume 3 Issue Adult and Worksite Wellness |
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Board of Directors
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Mary Frances Bartlett
Rebecca West Dick, Chair
Cindy T. Flye
Rob Gordon
Chuck Hays, Treasurer
Bill McKenna
William McPeck, Vice Chair
Kathi Wall
Jim Wood, Secretary
Mark Yerrick |
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Our Towns |
- Augusta
- Chelsea
- Farmingdale
- Fayette
- Gardiner
- Hallowell
- Litchfield
- Manchester
- Monmouth
- Mount Vernon
- Pittston
- Randolph
- Readfield
- Richmond
- Vienna
- Wayne
- West Gardiner
- Windsor
- Winthrop
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 Welcome HCCA's
June 2010
Worksite Wellness Newsletter
HCCA's monthly Worksite Wellness e-newsletter contains general wellness, community information & subjects specific to worksite wellness program development. |
| Breathe Easy! |
Smokefree Areas for Worksites and Public Spaces
Free signage available call Amy at 588-5019.
Smoking is prohibited in outdoor eating areas, if outdoor eating areas or any portion thereof are open and available for dining and beverage service.
Maine law makes common areas in our state parks and state historic sites smoke-free. These areas include:
* Beaches
* Playgrounds
* Snack Bars
* Picnic Shelters
* Business Facilities
* Restrooms
* Public Spaces
Under The Workplace Smoking Act smoking is prohibited in all company vehicles (owned or leased) and subject to fines up to $ 1,500. |
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| June Health Observances |
 National Men's Health Week is June 14-20
The purpose of Men's Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.
This week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. The response has been overwhelming with hundreds of awareness activities in the USA and around the globe. To learn more visit www.menshealthmonth.org/week/.
National Home Safety Month
During June, the Home Safety Council (HSC) is working to educate and motivate families to take actions that will incease the safety of their homes. To download resources and to learn more visit www.homesafetycouncil.org.
National Great Outdoors Month
June is a special time to celebrate America's Great Outdoors. Presidential recognition of Great Outdoors Week was begun in 1997 by then-President Clinton and has continued ever since. Since 2004, Presidential proclamation of Great Outdoors Month has come annually, celebrating a variety of important events and actions that occur during the month. Great Outdoors Month highlights the benefits of active fun outdoors and our magnificent shared resources of forests, parks, refuges, and other public lands and waters. Media attention to the proclamation triggers actions by millions of households and prompts public discussion of important issues linked to outdoor recreation, including volunteerism, health, and outdoor ethics.
 Take it Outside is a initiative led by Governor John E. Baldacci to encourage Maine's children and families to reconnect with nature. Take it Outside! is your one-stop shopping information source for year-round outdoor recreation opportunities in Maine. For more information visit www.take-it-outside.com/.
The State Parks in Maine are celebrating their 75th year this summer. As part of this celebration the Department of Conservation has developed a passport that rewards people who use the parks. The passports have a page for each of the state parks, with a brief description and overview. The passport is designed so that when those who receive the passports go to one of the parks and present the passport, the passport is stamped, and for every so many stamps collected; there are prizes, such as free passes, water bottles, etc.
National Trails Day is June 5
American Hiking Society's signature trail awareness program, National Trails DayŽ (NTD), inspires the public and trail enthusiasts nationwide to seek out their favorite trails to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops and trail work projects.
NTD also provides an opportunity to thank volunteers, land managing agencies, and outdoor-minded businesses for their support in developing and maintaining trails. To learn more visit www.americanhiking.org.
Other June Holidays and Resources
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| Wellness Team Corner | |
Outdoor Safety-Sun and Ticks
The weather is wam, the days are longer and many of us are spending more time outside. Whether it is for work or for play, if you are going to be outdoors you need to stay safe, the sun and ticks are two major concerns.
There are benefits to the sun rays, they help the body produce Vitamin D, which is necessary for bone health, breast health and our immune systems. But too much sun can result in sun burns, pre-mature wrinkles and cancer. Staff members of the Healthy Communities of the Capital Area will be at Hallowellness and Kids Day later this month with sun safety activities. For a sample sun protection policy contact Amy at 588-5019 or download July 2009 Adult and Worksite Wellness newsletter from the archive page at http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs080/1102150261374/archive/1102618578680.html.
Join Amy for Hallowellness, June 26, 2010 from 11 am to 4 pm on the Hallowell Riverfront.
Join Renee for Kids Day at Capital Park in Augusta on June 26, 2010 from 11 am to 4 pm.
Another concern this summer is ticks, deer ticks carry the bacteria that causes lyme disease.
Important tips for preventing lyme disease:
- Wear light colored clothing-this will allow you to easily see ticks,
- Tuck your pant legs into your socks so ticks cannot crawl up inside your pants legs,
- Apply repellents to discourage tick attachement. Repellents containing permethrin can be sprayed on boots and clothing and will last several days. Repellents containing DEET can be applied to the skin and only lasts a few hours,
- Check entire body upon returning from tick infested areas, do the same for your pets,
- To learn more visit the MaineCDC Lyme Disease Resource Center at www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/epi/vector-borne/lyme/ or the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/.
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| Keep ME Well! | |
The goals of KeepMEWell are to assist Maine residents, especially those who are uninsured, underinsured or experiencing health disparities to:
* Assess their risk for chronic disease,
* Receive feedback that promotes action to address identified health risks,
* Link to local community resources that assist residents in taking action to lower their risk for
disease and improve their health,
* Link uninsured and underinsured residents to healthcare services at no cost or sliding scale
cost.
KeepMEWell is a free public service offered by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), Maine Department of Health and Human Services. No personal information about individuals will be collected. Only the individual will decide what to do with their personal results. One way is to use it as a conversation starter with your health care provider.
To participate fully, you will need a computer, internet access, and a printer. Some resources are available, call 211 for assistance.
If you are interested in helping others use KeepMEWell, there is a manual. Call Healthy Communities of the Capital Area at 588-5012 for information or download a copy of the Keep ME Well Manual How to Help Others manual from our website at: www.healthycommunitiesme.org/.  |
| WANTED: Worksites to use Healthy Maine Works! FREE software |  Healthy Maine Works! is a software program that helps wellness teams develop their strategic plans and administer employee surveys easily and confidentially. This is an opportunity to receive free technical support provided by a Nationally Certified Worksite Wellness Program Consultant and access to the free software. Call Amy at 588-5019 to schedule a demonstration today. |
| Managing the Cost of Asthma in Maine Business | | 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
Friday, June 25, 2010
Holiday Inn by the Bay, Downtown Portland
This program is jointly sponsored by the Maine Asthma Council and the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council
Approximately 10% of Maine citizens have asthma. When properly managed and treated, most of the serious consequences of asthma can be avoided. Unmanaged and untreated, however asthma is a serious and expensive health issue.
This half day program will present practical steps employers can take to reduce the costs associated with asthma in the workplace.
- Tips for improving healthcare coverage to promote better asthma management and reduce the cost of medications for employees and their family members.
- Tips for improving the workplace environment to minimize pollutants and common asthma triggers.
- Tips for implementing worksite wellness programs, to support employees in better managing their asthma.
Program Presentations:
1. A Medical Overview of Asthma in the Workplace
Leslie Walleigh, MD, Maine CDC Environmental & Occupational Health Program, Augusta
2. Presentation of Recent Research by the Asthma Regional Council - Asthma: A Business
Case for Employers
Stacey Chacker, Director, Asthma Regional Council, Boston, MA
3. Management Practices that Eliminate Triggers and Contaminants in the Workplace
Elise Pechter, Industrial Hygienist, Massachusetts Department of Health
4. Maine Resources for Maine Businesses on How to Implement Recommended Practices to
Reduce the Burden of Asthma on Their Business
Presenters to be announced
Who should Attend:
- Human Resource Personnel responsible for decison making in health care for employees (negotiating benefits covered by health insurance),
- Worksite Health & Safety Personnel responsible for facility management and operations.
(reducing things that impact those with asthma),
- Worksite Wellness Program Professionals (to promote healthy asthma mangement practices by employees and family members.
For more information contact Christine Crocker, Executive Director, Maine Indoor Air Quality Council (207) 626-8115 or christy@maineindoorair.org.
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Looking for Volunteer Coaches | |
Chances are you know someone who has fallen or who is afraid of falling. A Matter of Balance is a proven program designed to help people manage concerns about falls and increase physical activity. Spectrum Generations is looking for volunteers to help provide this program.
Free Coach Training
June 3rd and 4th
8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Cohen Community Center, 22 Town Farm Road, Hallowell
For More Information Contact Vicki Foster, Spectrum Generations at
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| New Education Tool for Prescription Drug Safety | A new 9-minute video/DVD that can be used in health care provider offices, classrooms, or social service agencies is available either on You Tube or as a DVD. This tool, developed by the Kennebec County Drug Overdose Prevention Task Force provides viewers with 3 clear messages:
1. Take Medications as Prescribed
2. Don't Share
3. Don't Flush
This message is targeted to people who are prescribed pain medications - and their family members. It has already been used to spark meaningful discussion among social service agency staff and among people at high-risk for overdose. To obtain a copy of the free DVD, contact Jayne Harper at jayne.harper@mainegeneral.org or 207-621-3740. It can be viewed on You Tube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_xxS6AbpNM <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_xxS6AbpNM> |
| Farmers Markets |
Augusta:
Turnpike Mall:
Wednesdays & Saturdays 10:00-1:00 WIC Accepted
Mill Park: Tuesdays 2:00-6:00 WIC Accepted
Gardiner:
The Common: Wednesdays 2:00-6:00 WIC & SNAP Accepted
Hallowell:
Water Street: Sundays 11:00-3:00
Wayne:
Mill Pond: Sundays 9:00-11:30
Winthrop:
Union Street: Tuesdays & Saturdays 9:00-1:00 |
| Wellness Council of Maine Training Opportunities |
June
6/16: Webinar: Winning By Losing: How To Promote Healthier Eating In the Workplace
6/23: Workplace Wellness Roundtable Discussion, Presque Isle
6/25: Well Workplace University Level I Express Certificate Training, Presque Isle
August
8/4, 11, 18, and 25th: Four-part Webinar: Well Workplace University Certificate Training (Level II)
September
9/9: 2nd Annual Workplace Wellness Leadership Symposium -- Morning session and afternoon break out sessions, HGI Riverwatch, Auburn
9/15, 22, and 29th: Three-part Webinar: Stressed Less: A Roadmap to Managing Unhealthy Stress In the Workplace
October
TBD (late October): Well Workplace University Certificate Training (Level II), Bangor
10/20, 10/27 and 11/3, 11/10: Four-part Webinar: Well Workplace University-Certificate Training (Level III)
November
TBD (Mid-November): Well Workplace University for Small Business, Bangor
For more information contact Jaime Laliberty at wellness@bangorregion.com or call |
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Thank you for your commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community. Please contact us if we can be of assistance in supporting your southern Kennebec community's quality of life.
Sincerely,
Joanne Joy, Director
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Amy Wagner, Adult and Worksite Wellness Initiatives Program Manager
Nationally Certified Worksite Wellness Program Consultant Healthy Communities of the Capital Area
Visit us online www.healthycommunitiesme.org
HCCA is a local Healthy Maine Partnership (HMP). HMP is a collaborative effort among 28 local coalitions, the Maine DHHS (Maine CDC and Office of Substance Abuse) and DOE, supported primarily by the Fund for Healthy Maine with federal grants from the US CDC, SAMHSA, and DOE. |
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