Less obvious benefits can include reduced rate of absenteeism and over all improved morale. Less obvious, but also important, is the ROI (return on investment) invested in a successful wellness program. Data shows the return can, in some cases, range from a 3:1 to 5:1 ratio of dollars saved for each dollar spent.
Then, too, are the tertiary benefits on the part of students in a culture where the faculty and staff are generally healthier, happier, and more energized to teach. Your wellness program can be extended to families of faculty and staff and to students as well. This effort can include exercise as well as healthier diets offered in the school cafeteria, which can positively influence learning.
Sobering data from the nonprofit organization Wellness Council of America (WELCOA):
- 800,000 deaths will occur from unhealthy lifestyles (smoking, drinking, poor nutrition, inactivity)
- Chronic disease attributed to these unhealthy lifestyles accounts for 70% of our nation’s cost of health care
- 50% of premature deaths are related to modifiable lifestyle change
- Only 1% of total expenditures are targeted to prevention.
A wellness program can be a winning proposition for your faculty and staff, families, students, and your school. The primary focus in the creation of this plan is your faculty and staff; and how/when they are more physically, mentally and emotionally fit, they will be more capable of providing a better educational experience for students. However, a highlight that cannot be ignored is your school might actually save on the cost of health care!
Contact ISM for information on establishing a wellness program in your school. Call Martin Kelly at 302-656-4944, or e-mail him at martin@isminc.com.
