STAFF WELLNESS

STAFF WELLNESS

We have suggested a variety of activities, games, and ideas designed to promote the health and wellness of the children in your afterschool program. In this section, we want to stress that the health and wellness of your organization’s staff is essential and vital to the implementation of this program for the children. Afterschool staff spend a significant amount of time with children in their program. Consequently, they have many opportunities to serve as positive role models in this endeavor. Staff members themselves need encouragement in making fitness and nutrition choices that promote their own good health. Health information screenings, on-site fitness and healthy eating programs enable and support staff members to make healthy choices a priority for themselves as well as for the children.

This section provides some ideas on how to start a staff wellness program within your organization. There are many ways to begin. Some suggestions require more time and energy than others. The basic idea is to seek out simple motivational strategies and local (community) resources to support staff wellness goals.