BSPH Internship Fit City Worksite Wellness

1. BSPH InternshipFit City Worksite Wellness Emily Hopler

2. Public Health Agency • Mecklenburg County Health Department • Mission “To promote and protect the public’s health.” • Vision “The Mecklenburg County Health Department assures the health and safety of our diverse and changing community today and for future generations.” 2007 Annual Report to the Community and Board of Public Health, April 2008.

3. Mecklenburg County Health Department • Population: 827,445 • 55.3% White, 29.5% Black, 9.8% Hispanic, 3.9% Asian, .08% Multi-Racial, .06% Other • Organization • Partnered with Carolina’s HealthCare System • Privately funded Healthy Mecklenburg: A Profile of Health Indicators and Prevention Priorities for Our Community, 2008. Statistics from 2006.

4. Fit City Worksite Wellness • Worksite assessment followed by recommendations to help start a wellness program • Businesses with over 50 employees in Mecklenburg County • Lower cost of health care, less work missed, improved productivity, better employee morale • Address this issue • Being more physically active at work • 57.2% adults overweight and obese • Sedentary lifestyle • Creating better access to healthier foods at work 2007 Annual Report to the Community and Board of Public Health, April 2008. Statistic from 2005-06.

5. Preceptor Julie Jackman Worked well together Professional and friendly Appreciated by colleagues Adapts well to new situations Went out of her way to incorporate my interests Fit City Worksite Wellness Program Coordinator http://www.fruitsandveggiesnc.com/documents/new/2007starawards.pdf

6. Experiential Learning Projects Healthy Snack Baskets • Increase access to healthy snacks for employees • Well accepted at the Health Department • Academic knowledge improved upon • Communication skills • Confidence in professional interactions • Professionalism • Health promotion

7. Experiential Learning Projects Wellness Bulletin Boards • Easy to access information regarding eating well and being active • Academic knowledge improved upon • Microsoft Word • Internet research • Fit City Challenge www.fitcitychallenge.org • National Health Observances http://www.healthfinder.gov/library/nho/ • Healthy Cooking http://allrecipes.com/Info/Healthy-Cooking/Main.aspx • Health promotion • Health communication

8. April Wellness Bulletin Board Theme: Climate Change; Travel Differently, Eat Differently

9. Experiential Learning Projects Created Promotional Flyers and Informative Handouts • Avenue for potential clients to gain information other than the website • Academic knowledge improved upon • Health communication • Health promotion • Microsoft Publisher

10. Microsoft Publisher Flyer For Allison Mignery, Dietitian

11. Experiential Learning Projects Health Fairs • Opportunity to tell people about the program • Networking with other organizations • Academic knowledge improved upon • Health communication • Health promotion • Confidence • Professionalism

12. Experiential Learning Projects Worksite Assessments Report Write-ups • Assist individual businesses develop a wellness program • Positive response • Academic knowledge improved upon • Needs assessments • Professional report writing

13. Experiential Learning Projects Administration And Data Entry • Provide supplemental resource binders for businesses to maintain their wellness programs • Utilized Epi-Info • Academic knowledge improved upon • Organizational skills • Data collection and analysis

14. Recommendations • Snack Basket Program • Sell beverages, use a cart • “Healthy Snacks in Here” sign • Each office have their own basket • Wellness Board • Targeting health department clients or employees? • Add “Take One” sign Please Take One

15. Professional Development • Professional meetings and observational experiences • Self-Awareness • Skills • Technical • Microsoft Publisher • Epi-Info • Microsoft Word • Practical • Professionalism • Communication

16. Informational Interviews • Public Health Professionals • Academic knowledge improved upon • Communication skills • Interviewing skills • Professionalism • Punctuality • Health Department • Health Promotion • Kristen Shaben • Pricilla Laula • Jon Levin • Administration • Michael Kennedy • Healthy Carolinians • Kerry Burch • Community Health • Dominique Brown • Cheryl Emanuel

17. Observational Experiences • Rotary Club Meeting • Johnson & Wales Orientation • Fruit and Vegetable Coalition • Tobacco 101 Training • HIV/AIDS Presentation • Syphilis and HIV testing event • Ryan White Part A Team meeting • AIDS Consortium meeting

18. Influenced My Goal of Pursuing Public Health as a Career • Michael Kennedy, Director of Core Services • Clinical experience • Nursing • Midwifery • Administration • Brian Witt, Health Educator • STD and HIV presentations • Adults

19. Bits and Pieces to Think About Enjoyed most Enjoyed less • 1. Meeting a variety of people, collaboration • 2. Creating documents for the Wellness Boards • 3. Selling healthy snacks • 1. Not speaking Spanish • 2. Lack of focus in my area of interest • 3. Apprehension, nervousness

20. Summary • Skills and experience • Positive working relationship with preceptor • Network of professional contacts • Academic knowledge and professional practice

21. Thank you Julie Jackman, Preceptor Camina Davis, BSPH Internship Coordinator

22. References • 2007 Annual Report to the Community and Board of Public Health, April 2008. Mecklenburg County Health Department. • Healthy Mecklenburg: A Profile of Health Indicators and Prevention Priorities for Our Community, 2008. Mecklenburg Healthy Carolinians. • Fit City Challenge, www.fitcitychallenge.org.