Congressional Wellness Caucus Archives - Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota

Video: Alliance President on Wellness as a Business Strategy

June 27, 2012 by Brianna 2 Comments

Video: see Tom Mason's remarks to town hall attendees

Tom Mason, President of the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota

On April 30, 2012 more than 200 leaders in business, academia and local government gathered for a panel discussion among national experts in workplace health promotion moderated by Senator Amy Klobuchar. Hosted by the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota at Target’s headquarters in Minneapolis, the event highlighted HealthLead™ accreditation – the emerging standard in workplace health promotion – and Target’s award-winning culture of well-being.

The Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota is a group of Minnesota employers joined together to create fun, engaging and informative events and competitions to help Minnesotans get and stay healthy. Members of the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota are united in the common belief that when we work together and provide the right tools for prevention, we can help Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives.

Video: Target Advances Culture of Well-being With HealthLead™ Accreditation

June 26, 2012 by Brianna 1 Comment

The search for a definitive actuarial link between worksite wellness programs and reduced insurance risk may well emerge from HealthLead™, a rigorous new wellness accreditation program that last year was alpha-tested by Target. Select the videos below to hear remarks and answers from national experts on workplace health and well-being. This video was recorded when these experts convened on April 30, 2012 in an auditorium at Target’s national headquarters in Minneapolis with an audience of more than 200 leaders in business, public health and academia. Watch the town hall event on Vimeo.com.

An overview of the event:

Filed Under: Congressional Wellness Caucus

Photos: HealthLead™ Town Hall Target with Senator Klobuchar

May 5, 2012 by Brianna 2 Comments

On Monday, April 30th, Senator Amy Klobuchar and a panel of national experts in workplace health promotion today encouraged an audience of more than 200 leaders in business, academia and local government to work together to help Minnesotans adopt healthier lifestyles and reduce preventable chronic diseases. Hosted by the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota at Target Headquarters in Minneapolis, the event highlighted HealthLead™ accreditation – the emerging standard in workplace health promotion – and Target’s award-winning culture of well-being. See what they said.

“Wellness programs have made a major difference for employers large and small, across Minnesota”, said Senator Amy Klobuchar, co-chair of the Congressional Wellness Caucus. “We really have the opportunity to teach the rest of the country about what we’re doing, involve companies that felt they weren’t big enough to tackle this and give them models that they can use.”

“We’ve heard from employers throughout the state that their rising healthcare costs are unsustainable and they want to do something about it,” said Tom Mason, president of the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota. “HealthLead™ accreditation and Target’s culture of well-being highlight the practical next steps for employers of all sizes to get a handle on these costs.”

Filed Under: Alliance News, Congressional Wellness Caucus

Target Advances Culture of Well-Being With HealthLead™ Accreditation

May 1, 2012 by Brianna Leave a Comment

Target is among the first companies to achieve accreditation in US Healthiest’s HealthLead™ program, an emerging standard in workplace health promotion.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (far left) moderated the HealthLead™ discussion between panelists (from left to right) Jodee Kozlak, Jim Harter and Nick Baird at Target headquarters in Minneapolis.

A panel of national wellness experts convened on April 30 in an auditorium at Target’s national headquarters in Minneapolis to discuss the program for an audience of more than 200 leaders in business, public health and academia.

The event was hosted by the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota and moderated by Senator Amy Klobuchar, co-chair of the Congressional Wellness Caucus. Panelists included Nick Baird, M.D., CEO of US Healthiest; Jodee Kozlak, Target’s VP of Human Resources; and Jim Harter, Ph.D, chief scientist of Workplace Management and Well-being for Gallup’s workplace management practice.

Filed Under: Alliance News, Congressional Wellness Caucus, News Releases

Jim Harter, Ph.D, Chief Scientist in Workplace Management and Well-being for Gallup

April 30, 2012 by Brianna 2 Comments

Video: see Jim Harter's remarks on Wellbeing.

On April 30th, more than 200 leaders in business, academia and local government gathered for a panel discussion among national experts in workplace health promotion moderated by Senator Amy Klobuchar. Hosted by the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota at Target’s Minneapolis headquarters, the event highlighted HealthLead™ accreditation – the emerging standard in workplace health promotion – and Target’s award-winning culture of well-being.

Target has partnered with Jim Harter, Ph.D, chief scientist in Workplace Management and Well-being for Gallup and Gallup to advance its robust culture of health and well-being, with promising results.

“Over the last decade, Gallup has worked with hundreds of organizations to help leaders create engagement and enhance the well-being and performance of their workforce,” Harter says. “The most progressive organizations not only understand that they are in the business of boosting their employees’ well-being, but they also use this as a competitive advantage to recruit and retain employees. Target is taking the lead in embracing well-being as a strategy to improve team member lives while it improves performance.”

Filed Under: Congressional Wellness Caucus Tagged With: Town Hall Series

Jodee Kozlak, Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Target

April 30, 2012 by Brianna 2 Comments

Video: Jodee's remarks on Target's culture of well-being

The investment in employee well-being is a key strategy for Target and plays an integral role in its workplace culture and practices for team members in stores, distribution centers, headquarters and other locations. These initiatives led Target to become an alpha-test worksite in the development of HealthLead™ and earn a Silver accreditation in 2011.

Filed Under: Congressional Wellness Caucus Tagged With: Town Hall Series

Nick Baird, M.D., CEO of US Healthiest, Showcases HealthLead™

April 30, 2012 by Brianna 2 Comments

Video: see Nick Baird's remarks at the town hall event

On April 30th, more than 200 leaders in business, academia and local government gathered for a panel discussion among national experts in workplace health promotion moderated by Senator Amy Klobuchar. Hosted by the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota at Target headquarters in Minneapolis, the event highlighted HealthLead™ accreditation – the emerging standard in workplace health promotion – and Target’s award-winning culture of well-being.

The event showcased a new tool for advancing workplace well-being: HealthLead™, a rigorous accreditation program developed by US Healthiest for employer-driven health and well-being programs. HealthLead™-accredited employers large and small are curbing the rising costs of health care, improving productivity and attracting more top talent thanks to their investment in employee health. The accreditation process includes an online assessment and site visit by a HealthLead™ accreditation team to audit the organization’s well-being programs against established standards and promising practices. US Healthiest recently completed alpha and beta testing of HealthLead™ and will launch the accreditation program nationally in June.

Filed Under: Congressional Wellness Caucus Tagged With: Town Hall Series

Senator Amy Klobuchar, co-chair of the Congressional Wellness Caucus

April 30, 2012 by Brianna 8 Comments

Video: see Senator Klobuchar's remarks

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is co-chair of the Congressional Wellness Caucus, which launched in June of 2011.

The Caucus is designed to publicize how investing in workplace wellness reduces healthcare-related costs and enhances worker productivity. It investigates and shares the best practices, resources and research to help employers find the most effective ways to support employee health and wellness. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-Minnesota) and Congressman Ron Kind (D-Wisconsin) join Senator Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) in co-chairing this bipartisan and bicameral caucus.

On April 30th, Senator Klobuchar moderated a panel discussion among national experts in workplace health promotion. Hosted by the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota at Target’s headquarters in Minneapolis, the event attracted more than 200 leaders in business, academia and local government. Discussion highlighted HealthLead™ accreditation – the emerging standard in workplace health promotion – and Target’s award-winning culture of well-being.

“Wellness programs have made a major difference for employers large and small, across Minnesota,” Senator Klobuchar said. “We really have the opportunity to teach the rest of the country about what we’re doing, involve companies that felt they weren’t big enough to tackle this and give them models that they can use.”

Filed Under: Congressional Wellness Caucus Tagged With: Town Hall Series

Video: Congressional Wellness Caucus Announcement

June 22, 2011 by Alliance Leave a Comment

The creation of the federal Congressional Wellness Caucus was announced on June 13, 2011. View a simple video recording of the entire announcement news conference below and stay tuned for more news and activities on the Minnesota businesses, congressional and community leaders in the area of workplace wellness in the coming months.

Congressional Wellness Caucus Announcement from The Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota on Vimeo.

This bipartisan, bicameral caucus will investigate and share the best practices, resources and research to help employers find the most effective ways to support employee health and wellness. The caucus will be co-chaired by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-Minnesota) and Congressman Ron Kind (D-Wisconsin).

See a clip from KARE 11 news coverage and check out a Star Tribune opinion editorial by Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Paulsen regarding the Caucus.

Filed Under: Congressional Wellness Caucus

In Pictures: Announcing the Congressional Wellness Caucus

June 14, 2011 by Alliance Leave a Comment

Below are a series of photos taken during the Congressional Wellness Caucus announcement on June 13, 2011 at Apogee Enterprises. View a clip from KARE 11 Television news coverage of the announcement.

Representative Erik Paulsen (MN-03) and Senator Amy Klobuchar at the news conference announcement.

Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Erik Paulsen (MN-03) at the news conference announcement.

Apogee Enterprises CEO Russ Huffer speaking at the news conference announcement.

Minnesota Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger speaking at the news conference announcement.

Senator Klobuchar and Representative Paulsen with Russ Huffer, CEO of Apogee Enterprises.

Highlights from Apogee Enterprises health and wellness initiatives, such as a health assessment, on-site biometric screenings, weight loss contests and physical activity challenges with incentives and healthy nutrition choices in and around the office.

Senator and Representative with Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Ehlinger.

Senator and Representative with Commissioner Ehlinger and Minnesota Department of Health staff members.

Senator Klobuchar and Representative Paulsen with Chief Prevention Officer Doctor Marc Manley of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

Senator Klobuchar and Representative Paulsen with Randy Kehr, President of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of COmmerce and Ellen Kehr, Freeborn County Statewide Health Improvement Program Coordinator.

Senator Klobuchar, President of the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota Tom Mason, Congressman Erik Paulsen.

Senator Amy Klobuchar, State Senator Terri Bonoff, TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Director of Government Affairs Judy Johnson, Congressman Erik Paulsen.

Senator Klobuchar, Litchfield Chamber of Commerce President Dee Schutte, Representative Erik Paulsen.

Senator Klobuchar, Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce President Ruthe Batulis, Representative Erik Paulsen.

Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce President Todd Klingel, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Representative Erik Paulsen

Senator Klobuchar and Representative Paulsen with Medical Director Dr. Kevin Ronneberg of Medica, a member of the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota.

Senator Klobuchar and Representative Paulsen with UnitedHealth Group’s Leslie Kupchella, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Pamela Ross, Social Responsibility Community Affairs Manager. UnitedHealth Group is a member of the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota.

Senator Klobuchar and Representative Paulsen with Helen Rubenstein of the Public Health Law Center at William Mitchell College of Law.

Senator Klobuchar and Representative Paulsen with American Diabetes Association's Jenni Hargraves, Executive Director Serving Minnesota and North Dakota.

Filed Under: Congressional Wellness Caucus