Dakota County's Statewide Health Improvement Partnership and HealthSource Solutions is hosting four Worksite Wellness Collaborative meetings for 15 worksites between January–October 2021. Worksites include businesses in Dakota County looking to improve wellness in their organization. Typically preference is given to worksites employing between 25–500 employees.
Free tailored technical assistance is provided to help worksites achieve their goals.
New funding available for worksites
Recruitment for the next group of businesses (November 2021–October 2022) begins in August. For more information on how your worksite can be involved in policy, systems and environmental change related to mental well-being, healthy eating, physical activity, breastfeeding and lactation room support, tobacco cessation, and health equity, contact Alex Groten at
alexandra.groten@co.dakota.mn.us.
Partner with Dakota County and HealthSource Solutions to implement changes and receive startup funding to help continue your wellness initiatives. Applications will be accepted until all spots are filled and is determined by first-come, first-served basis.
Apply for Worksite Wellness
Ideal characteristics for a participating worksite:
- Has no wellness program in place or would like to enhance current program
- Employs between 25–500 employees
- Employs staff who are at higher risk for health disparities (older adults, low income or diverse workforce)
- Can provide company contact for this project (about 6 hours per month for a primary contact)
- Is looking to enhance workplace policy and environment
- Has interest in creating a sustainable wellness program
Worksite wellness is good for business
The collaborative worksite wellness model guides worksites new to wellness initiatives through the development and implementation of policy, systems and environmental changes. Throughout the collaboration, Dakota County and their partnering consultant, HealthSource Solutions, provide technical assistance to workplaces by advising them on best practices in workplace wellness.
Worksites choose from several different strategy areas, including:
- Mental well-being
- Lactation and breastfeeding support
- Tobacco cessation
- Healthy eating
- Physical activity
Foundational elements of wellness planning, like vision, leadership engagement, forming a wellness committee and creating a work plan all ensure the initiatives are sustainable in each environment.
Contracted participating worksites will receive:
- Resources for collaborative meetings, assessment tools and customized work plans
- Free personalized technical assistance from a worksite wellness consultant.
- Networking opportunities to learn what other organizations are doing.
- A $1,500 stipend for participating and making policy, system and environmental changes in at least one of the five mentioned areas.
- One registration fee to the Midwest Health Promotion Conference in St. Paul in the fall 2022.