NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 21, 2016
CONTACT: Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
218-725-5049 (office) • 218-591-2219 (cell)
County named Health Champion by American Diabetes Association
St. Louis County has achieved the Health Champion designation from the American Diabetes Association. This designation recognizes companies and organizations that inspire and encourage organizational well-being and is part of the Association’s Wellness Lives Here initiative.
“It's an honor to see St. Louis County recognized by the American Diabetes Association for its commitment to making the health and wellness of our employees a priority," said Tiffany Kari, Health Promotions Coordinator for St. Louis County. "Our goal is to encourage the adoption of healthy habits that will benefit our staff, their families, and our productivity and morale overall, because that ultimately best serves our citizens."
To qualify for the Health Champion Designation, a company or organization must meet the healthy living criteria in three areas:
1. Nutrition and Weight Management: Five of the twelve criteria options such as offering healthy food choices, promoting nutritional information and providing healthy vending options.
2. Physical Activity: Four of the nine criteria options, such as participating in the physical activity events of the American Diabetes Association, facilitating walking or biking to work, encouraging taking the stairs, etc.
3. Organizational Well-Being: Having an organizational smoke-free policy and three more of the nine criteria options, such as having a designated wellness program coordinator, a wellness committee, or a contracted wellness company available to staff/members, integrating health topics/information into internal communications, etc.
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Since 1940, our mission has been to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, about Wellness Lives Here and the Health Champion Designation, please visit diabetes.org/wellnessliveshere.
St. Louis County employs approximately 1,700 people to serve its more than 200,000 residents spread across 7,000 square miles. To learn more about working for St. Louis County and the benefits offered, visit stlouiscountymn.gov/jobs.
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