Well Off
Southeastern receives state designation for student, employee and community health and wellness initiatives
Monday, April 27, 2015
Southeastern's efforts to enhance the health and wellness of its students, employees and community are being noticed. The university recently became the first in the state to receive the Level Two WellSpot designation from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals' Well-Ahead Louisiana initiative.
Well-Ahead Louisiana is an endeavor of DHH aimed at improving the general health and wellness of Louisiana citizens.
"Becoming the first university designated as a Level Two WellSpot shows Southeastern Louisiana University is a leader within Louisiana's higher education community," said J.T. Lane, DHH assistant secretary for public health. "Small, but very significant, steps such as promoting physical activity and healthy eating can add up to enormously positive outcomes for students, faculty, staff, their families and the surrounding community."
Southeastern's Level Two designation resulted from meeting Well-Ahead initiative requirements such as the implementation of the 5-2-1-0 program, which provides a simple, memorable formula to help participants stay healthy. Partners in the 5-2-1-0 program focus on the importance of eating at least five fruits and vegetables, using no more than two hours of digital screen time, getting at least one hour of physical activity and not drinking any sweetened beverages every day.
The university also completed all five steps in the Louisiana Business Group on Health Worksite Wellness Toolkit. These steps include submitting documentation of support from the organization's leadership, selecting a designated program leader, conducting a worksite assessment, creating an implementation plan and establishing a worksite wellness committee.
Southeastern's health and wellness facilities and programs like the Rec Center, University Health Center and Tobacco-Free Campus also contributed to the university's ability to gain this designation.
"We're proud to be the first university in Louisiana to receive this designation," said Ralph Wood, assistant dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and chair of the university's Employee Wellness Committee. "Our goal is to provide as healthy an environment as possible for our staff, as well as for our students. This is but a first step in our approach."
