Wellness Plans : Establish a Health Promotion Program Committee.

A vital first step in organizing your organization’s wellness program is the formation of a wellness committee.  The focus of the wellness committee is to plan, promote, and implement the wellness program.

The committee establishes continuity, motivation, and wide ownership of the wellness program as well as provides an excellent automobile for communication.

So who ought to be on the committee? Consider appointing the following people /departments to your committee –

• upper management within your organization

• Union representatives

• Human resources  department

• Worker assistance program

• Information technology

• Communications

• Health and safety department

• Employees interested in wellness

Building a successful health promotion program requires staff time in addition to money. Some bigger corporations may spend 20 hours per week for three to six months preparing all the steps before launching a health promotion program.

Anywhere from 4 to 10 individuals  meeting monthly equals a wellness committee. A mission statement for the committee must be created by the second meeting. This way, everyone knows what the committee is working toward.

Once a health promotion program has been established, the committee’s size and meeting schedule may change. Still, no fewer than 4 members ought to meet at least quarterly so the group – and the health promotion program – does not fade away.