Countywide Fitness Challenge

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

In an effort to encourage employees to take steps to improve their overall health and reduce health risks, the Los Angeles County Department of Human Resources (DHR) designed and launched a new wellness initiative, the “Countywide Fitness Challenge,” in June 2010. The “Countywide Fitness Challenge” (CFC) is a wellness program designed to improve employee health over time, thereby improving productivity and attendance, and lowering the incidence of illness due to poor health and lifestyle choices. This was a major addition to the existing wellness program and targeted all county employees and their families. Each year, weekend events are held in an effort to increase physical activity among employees and family members. These events are created by utilizing collaborative partnerships with Los Angeles County Departments of Parks and Recreation, Public Health, Public Social Services, and Probation; American Cancer Society (ACS); American Heart Association (AHA); and all County-sponsored medical plans including: Anthem Blue Cross, CIGNA, Delta Dental, Kaiser Permanente (Kaiser), and United HealthCare (UHC). A Parks and Recreation campaign, “Play for Life!,” which encourages people to get outdoors and be active at one of the 145 Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation facilities, is a focal point of the program. In 2013, CFC health and fitness events were held at different parks and recreation facilities throughout the county. The health plan providers agreed to host the different events at Los Angeles County park facilities and featured biometric screenings and activities such as hiking, swim safety, boot camps, yoga, kayaking, pedal boating, softball scrimmages, and walking. In addition, a weight loss contest was held and online physical activity tracker programs were deployed.