The Wright Center For Primary Care

The Wright Center was so inspired by the success of the new mother’s room in their administrative offices that they created a similar space within The Wright Center for Primary Care Mid Valley. Watch this quick video to see what expectant mom Sarah Pettinato had to say about the new space.

https://www.facebook.com/TheWrightCenterForCommunityHealth/videos/1717401651638655/

Healthy Workplace Reception and Open House

Healthy Workplace Reception and Open House

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for joining us on September 28 for our open house and to celebrate the work of our Healthy Workplace grantees, featuring Beth Kanter, author of The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout. 
 
For those that weren't able to make it, below are some event highlights.
We hope to see you all soon!
 

Healthy People Workplace Highlights Video

We premiered a brief six-minute video celebrating our Healthy Workplace Initiative and highlighting some of our grantees, including Carbondale YMCA, Community Intervention Center, Everhart Museum, Friendship House, Johnson College, Luzerne County Community College, and The Wright Center.
Click the video to watch.

Words of Wisdom

"Self-Care and wellbeing in the nonprofit workplace is not a luxury. It is part of doing your mission-driven work and getting better results."
 
- Beth Kanter
The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout

Event Photos

2017 Healthy Workplace Highlights

2017 Healthy Workplace Highlights

 

A video celebrating our Healthy Workplace Initiative and highlighting some of our grantees, including Carbondale YMCA, Community Intervention Center, Everhart Museum, Friendship House, Johnson College, Luzerne County Community College, and The Wright Center. Video by Kenny Luck.

Lackawanna Blind Association

Lackawanna Blind Association  

Ergonomic and Antiglare Project
http://www.lackawannablind.org/

The mission of the Lackawanna Blind Association is to support and promote the interests of the blind and visually impaired, and the prevention of avoidable blindness.

 

Healthy Workplace Grant Overview:

The Lackawanna Blind Association used its healthy workplace grant to purchase ergonomic chairs and antiglare computer screens for its employees. Research was done to find high quality antiglare screens, and the team went shopping for its new chairs together.
 
Jeanne Boland, who worked as administrative support and as a caseworker-aide with the Association, was happy to see the organization embrace its own mission in the office. 
 
"Looking too much into a computer screen can cause similar changes to the eye as dry eye can cause, it affects your eye health," Jeanne explained. "We wanted to reduce the effects of that on our vision to practice what we preach."  
 
Recognizing the importance of eye health and the significant detriments from looking at screens for too long, like headaches and eye strain, is important for any office, Jeanne added. 
"It's not just an annoyance, and it's not just temporary discomfort. It does serious harm to your eyes. I became very conscience of it, and I took steps to reduce the impact."
 

Why We Support This Work:

We support this project as it takes inspiration from the Lackawanna Blind Association's mission to promote eye health. It also encourages employees to continue practicing healthy eye habits at home on their own devices. 

How You Can Make It Happen*:

  • See if antiglare computer screens and monitors are feasible for your office. Slip-on covers and attachable antiglare screens are an option for established setups and can be as cheap as $10 per screen.
  • Learn what to look for in an ergonomic chair through this guide.
  • Encourage employees to observe the 20 / 20 / 20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a break and look 20 feet ahead for 20 seconds to rest one's eyes from the screen. It helps reduce the impact of eye strain.
*Special thanks to the University of Scranton Center for Health Education & Wellness for their contributions.

Everhart Museum

Everhart Museum  

"Everhart Team Motivate"
http://everhart-museum.org/

The mission of the Everhart Museum is to spark the imagination, challenge thought and provide enjoyment.

 

Healthy Workplace Grant Overview:

The Everhart Museum is using its healthy workplace grant to integrate healthier habits and daily stress relievers for its staff. The Museum has begun having "Massage Mondays" with a professional massage therapist and "Guided Meditation Tuesdays" with various yoga-like meditation exercises. 
 
Dawn McGurl, Marketing Coordinator for the Everhart Museum, recognized that her staff has a lot to juggle, and she wanted to find a way to relieve some of their stress. 
 
"These projects are helping address these stressors that we face daily," Dawn explained. "When this grant appeared, we jumped at the chance to have the opportunity to see if implementing healthy habits would assist our staff in creating a more satisfying and healthier work environment."
 
And so far, it has. Dawn sees that everyone looks forward to Mondays now with massages available, and the meditations on Tuesdays, along with additional meditation "homework," helps everyone in and out of the workplace. 
 
"Participating in the meditation exercises has been really helpful in incorporating mindfulness every day and at work. We've even gotten tips on readjusting computer height to eliminate neck strain," Dawn added.
 

Why We Support This Work:

We support this project as it promotes stress management, employee education, and healthier work environment at the Everhart Museum. With the additional meditation "homework," it also encourages employees to continue their mindfulness and stress relieving habits outside of the workplace.
 

How You Can Make It Happen*:

  • Find ways to incorporate "down time" or stress-relieving activities for employees to prevent burnout. Remind employees to get up from their desks every so often, and try holding ten minute guided meditation sessions. Such videos can be found on YouTube.
  • Encourage employees to have a dialogue about daily motivators: What would help them get through a Monday or a stressful day in general?
     
*Special thanks to the University of Scranton Center for Health Education & Wellness for their contributions.

Johnson College

Johnson College  

Fitness Classes Project
http://www.johnson.edu/

Johnson College delivers industry-focused learning in a caring environment designed to develop graduates prepared to enter and advance in their careers.

 

Healthy Workplace Grant Overview:

For its grant, Johnson College is sponsoring a free fitness class one evening every month for its 75 employees. Each month will focus on a different activity, ranging from Zumba or yoga to strength training and kickboxing. 
 
Heather Buck, Human Resources Generalist, is looking forward to exposing the employees to various types of exercise.
 
"This is a great opportunity to open everyone's eyes to having a different outlook on working out, "Heather explained. "Everyone works out differently, and this is a great way to bring the community together."
 
As the academic year resumes and all of the employees return to campus, Heather is looking forward to adding weekly health tip announcements and healthy snack options as part of the mini-wellness program she oversees.
 

Why We Support This Work:

This project exposes Johnson College's employees to the various types of fitness classes that exist. Employees have the opportunity to try a session of each type of exercise class, free of charge, allowing each individual to find an activity that works best for them. It also fosters community building through healthy lifestyle choices.
 

How You Can Make It Happen*:

  • Start small, especially if you're only one person running HR or another department. Try a regular health tip first, and work your way toward greater, manageable goals from there.
  • Use your resources. Health insurance newsletters offer seasonal tips you can share with your office. Use Google or Pinterest to find recipes for upcoming holidays, summer BBQs, or even back to school lunch alternatives.
  • Brainstorm and collaborate. Employees feel more engaged and will be proactive knowing they are part of the process.
  • Don't have a budget to hire an instructor? Gather employees in a large space to exercise to a fitness or yoga DVD.
  • Encourage employees to sign up together for one of the area's many walks or 5K races. The group can train together for several weeks ahead of time. Have a t-shirt made with the workplace logo for participants.
*Special thanks to the University of Scranton Center for Health Education & Wellness for their contributions.

Luzerne County Community College

Luzerne County Community College

Wellness Walking Path Project
http://www.luzerne.edu/

The mission of Luzerne County Community College is to provide excellence in education, foster student success in achievement of goals, and positively impact Luzerne County and the surrounding Northeastern Pennsylvania region.

 

Healthy Workplace Grant Overview:

Luzerne County Community College is using its Healthy Workplace grant to
develop a wellness walking path on its main campus in Nanticoke. The funding will purchase paint, a measuring wheel, signage for directions, distance markers and even exercise stations along the way. 
 
Miranda Costa, who works with the Physical Education department and the Fitness Center/Gymnasium on campus, recognized walking as something many already do on campus and wanted to find ways to improve the experience for everyone.
 
"We felt it would be most utilized; we could mark out a path, a safe zone, as a place for everyone to use. Right now people wander through the parking lots, but now we can map something out and keep everyone safe," Miranda explained.
Though the process is still underway as LCCC prepares for its new fiscal and academic year, Miranda and others on campus, including Machelle Smith, Secretary for College Relations, have plans for the path's mile markers and exercise stations.
"We want to try to keep the employees here healthy and active, and walking is the easiest thing to do around campus," Machelle added.
 

Why We Support This Work:

This project creates a healthier workplace at Luzerne County Community College by promoting not only walking more but also other exercises along the path. It allows for a stronger community where members of campus can walk together safely and accessibly.
 

How You Can Make It Happen*:

  • Encourage employees to stand up and walk around their department, office, or surrounding area throughout the day.
  • Employees can get together to mark paths to know how far they are walking. It only takes a few measurements to map out how far a mile is in the office or around a building.
  • Post signs or send out weekly reminders with exercises employees can do at their desks or while walking.
  • Try walking meetings. They are touted as a way to improve health while also strengthening work relationships. Click here to learn more about these types of meetings.
*Special thanks to the University of Scranton Center for Health Education & Wellness for their contributions.

Voluntary Action Center (VAC)

Voluntary Action Center (VAC)
 

Salad Fridays

Voluntary Action Center (VAC) learned about the Lackawanna Heritage Trail, followed by yoga on the Trail the following morning. They received a $1,000 grant to help support Salad Fridays. VAC will provide the lettuce and greens, and staff members will bring in their favorite healthy additions. One Friday a month, VAC will host a speaker who will introduce healthy living concepts, including shopping for local produce, healthy eating choices, meditation and organization.
 

The Wright Center

The Wright Center
 

Mother's Room Project

http://thewrightcenter.org/
The mission of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education is to continuously improve education and patient care in a collaborative spirit to enhance outcomes, access and affordability.

Healthy Workplace Grant Overview:

The Wright Center has put its Healthy Workplace grant to use in developing a mother's room for its employees: a quiet and private area dedicated to mothers looking to breast pump during the work day. When completed the room will have a hospital-grade breast pump, a cushioned chair and footstool, a refrigerator, dimmable lighting and calming décor. 
 
Jenny Hetro, Director of Communications at The Wright Center, expressed why she is happy seeing this room come to fruition. "It's awesome to put this room together and to feel supported in using it," she explained. "The comfort aspect is really important, and it's great knowing it's starting to be seen as a normal thing to step out during the work day to use it."
 
Brian Ebersole, Senior Vice President for Mission Delivery, further explained the importance of this company culture change. "We want to make sure we create opportunities for these mothers to return to a supportive environment that recognizes their needs," he said. "We want to create a healthy culture for all people to be able to thrive."
 

Why We Support This Work:

Moses Taylor Foundation's support of The Wright Center's Mother's Room Project enables new mothers who are breastfeeding to reintegrate back into work by allowing them the space to pump at the office. By providing a designated private area, mothers are able to feel more comfortable returning to work and can produce more milk in this conducive setting. This project also coincides with The Wright Center's mission to educate and enhance outcomes and access with regard to self-care and family care.
 

How You Can Make It Happen*:

  • Start with a small space, somewhere that is quiet and private with an outlet. 
  • It doesn't need to be glamorous, but don't use a bathroom. 
  • If you can, have the room be close to a sink of some kind, like near a breakroom. 
  • If people in the office are uncomfortable at first about the room, keeping things light-hearted is important.
*Special thanks to the University of Scranton Center for Health Education & Wellness for their contributions.