The City of Lilburn has been awarded a 2015 Georgia Municipal Association/Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System Health Promotion Grant in the amount of $1,500.
This is the third year the city has received a wellness grant. In order to be a grant recipient, the city must comply with certain training, education and reporting requirements.
Wellness grant funds are used to supplement the City’s budget for employee wellness incentives and events. The main event held each year is the Annual Employee Health Fair. Vendors come on-site to provide health and nutrition educational information, as well as provide on-site services such as flu shots, biometric screenings, allergy screenings, and vision screenings.
Various other educational programs are offered throughout the year such as CPR first aid training, stress management, and how to get better sleep. Employees earn points for each wellness activity they participate in. As employees achieve certain milestones in their wellness plan, they receive rewards or incentives for their accomplishments.
“Having a wellness program not only provides employees with tools they need to live a healthier lifestyle, it also helps to reduce the cost of medical premiums for the city and employees,” Human Resources Director Lynn Smith said.
Workplace health promotion and wellness programs save health care dollars and improve employee health and productivity, according to Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Executive Director Lamar Norton.
“Local Government Risk Management Services-Health Promotion Services along with GMA is committed to helping local governments engage in building comprehensive health promotion and wellness programs,” Norton said.