Durango Area Wellness Network (DAWN)
The Durango Area Wellness Network is dedicated to bringing quality and best-practices employee wellness programs to all interested La Plata County businesses. The Durango Area Wellness Network supports ongoing trainings and resources for the Wellness Mentoring program. Please look on the HLLP calendar or the Events page for upcoming events.
In 2007 and 2008, the Durango Area Wellness Network organized and sponsored the following activities:
- Presented 2nd annual Southwest Colorado Worksite Wellness Conference at Fort Lewis College (2007)
- Distributed a survey to local businesses to find out if, and how, worksite and employee wellness are being implemented (2007)
- Chose two La Plata County businesses to help them with their start up and implementation of a worksite wellness program (2007)
- Established the Durango Area Wellness Network (DAWN) to support and encourage worksite wellness programs in La Plata County – open to any business interested in employee wellness (2007)
- Presented a Wellness Mentor Training workshop for all regional businesses (2008)
- Participated in Durango Bike to Work Week festivities (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
- Presented 3rd annual Southwest Colorado Worksite Wellness Conference at Fort Lewis College (2008)
- Offered worksite wellness mini-grants to local businesses, up to $2500, to start and implement employee wellness programs (2008 – 2010)
- Offer a “wellness library” with books, CD’s and DVD’s on wellness to local businesses, distributed through DAWN
- Provide worksite wellness resources and expertise to any La Plata County business interested in starting and/or expanding their WW program
- Will be distributing a “culture of wellness” survey throughout the business community to measure the extent of worksite wellness culture within each business (2009)
- The Art of Implementing a Great Worksite Wellness Program in a Small Business Setting
At last week’s Colorado Culture of Health Conference, a variety of tools and resources were offered to attendees and participants. One such resource is the Colorado Worksite Wellness Task Force’s training programs.
The series of trainings, offered this fall and winter, is a step-by-step approach designed to help organizations develop sustainable wellness programs based on the state of Colorado’s worksite wellness framework.
Worksite wellness programs have been shown to elevate employee productivity, reduce absenteeism and increase morale among employees. In addition, when employers promote workplace health and offer employees preventative benefits, they can minimize injuries, limit long-term disability and significantly reduce health care costs.
- Summit County has its next training session, Purposeful Planning, March 2011, at The County Commons (37 County Road 1005, Frisco, Colo., 80443); for more information go here.
DAWN is facilitated by an Advisory Board made up of the following members:
Amita Nathwani - Healthy Lifestyle La Plata Director
Carmen Ritz - Mercy Regional Medical Center
Eileen Wasserbach - Southern Ute Community Action Program
Linda Herz - Durango School District 9R
Bob Liscomb - Mercy Regional Medical Center
Jaynee Fontecchio-Spradling - La Plata County Community Health Capacity Project
Denise Galley - Community at Large Member
Nancy Folsom - Community at Large Member
For more information on any of the above activities or if your business is interested in starting a Worksite Wellness program please contact the DAWN Advisory Board Chair: Amita Nathwani at amita@ayurvedamedgroup.com