About Washington Wellness
Our Mission
To engage state employees, retirees, and their families in their own health and wellness through self-management, resources, and a supportive environment.
Our Vision
Creating a "culture of health" where all state employees, retirees, and their families actively engage in lifestyle behaviors that improve and sustain vitality for work and life.
Our History
In January 2006, Governor Gregoire directed Steve Hill, Health Care Authority Administrator, and Mary Selecky, Secretary of Health, to launch Washington Wellness, a statewide wellness initiative to improve the health of Washington State employees, retirees, and their family members. To carry out this ambitious directive, Washington Wellness was fully staffed in January 2007 and resides within the Health Care Authority. Wellness coordinators have been designated by state agencies and higher education institutions to implement wellness activities in their own organizations.
Washington Wellness is supported by two advisory committees: The Health and Productivity Committee and the Wellness Coordinator Advisory Committee. The Health and Productivity Committee is led by the Secretary of Health and the Health Care Authority Administrator with Governor appointees from cabinet level agencies, a union representative, and outside expertise. They provide guidance from the senior leadership perspective. The Wellness Coordinator Advisory Committee consists of wellness coordinators representing a variety of agencies and higher education institutions. This group advises Washington Wellness staff on projects that are carried out by wellness coordinators. In order to support these advisory committees and all Washington State wellness coordinators, Washington Wellness maintains the Washington Wellness Resource Center.
Washington Wellness also helps supports the work of the Washington Health Foundation, tasked with improving the health of all Washington state residents.
Our Goals
Our goal is to make healthy choices easier for state employees, retirees, and their families. Most of our work is behind the scenes, helping to change state worksite policies and working with state agency senior leaders and wellness coordinators to affect change at the agency level.
The long-term outcomes for Washington Wellness are:
- measurable reduction in health risks
- measurable increase in productivity
- positive impact on medical costs
- positive return on investment
To achieve these long-term outcomes, Washington Wellness has been tasked with addressing these behavior change goals:
- completion of health risk assessments
- increased physical activity
- improved food selection
- increased completion of preventive care measures
- reduced tobacco use
Governor Gregoire Creates Washington Wellness
"Washington Wellness will help us work together to improve the health of Washington's employees, retirees, and their families.
Government must play a leadership role to promote prevention and wellness. I believe Washington is especially well-suited to serve as a model by promoting healthy behavior among our own employees and retirees. We not only improve the health of state employees and retirees, but also enhance their ability to serve state citizens.
I encourage all state employees, retirees, and their families to participate in health and fitness programs and track their individual progress. Together we can make Washington the healthiest state in the nation."
Governor Chris Gregoire