Toolkits & Resources

Step one in developing a worksite wellness program is to do an assessment of the current health status of the target population. "Studies show that when a health promotion program is unfocused, it has little long-term impact. So choosing the right kind of program is vital to its success, impact on employee health, return on investment, and ability of the program to be sustained." (Building a Healthy Worksite, pg 11)

Once the assessment is finished, a program plan is developed based on the needs shown in the assessment. Once the plan is developed it is implemented into the workplace and then evaluated to measure its success. Below is a pictorial diagram of this process developed by the CDC. A more detailed description of this process can be found on their website about the Workplace Health Model.

The tools listed below are to help you start developing an overall wellness program. Help about specific topics can be found in subsequent sections.

  • The HEAL Program has created a Worksite Wellness toolkit with basic information to help make worksite wellness part of work place.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created a checklist with recommendations to help you analyze your insurance benefits around heart disease and stroke and will guide you to negotiate for the benefits that would be beneficial for your employees. It is best to complete this checklist with the help of the person who purchases insurance, a health insurance company representative, and the director or CEO of the company.
  • The Utah Department of Health through the Bureau of Health Promotion has created a worksite wellness toolkit entitled, "Building a Healthy Worksite A Guide to Lower Health Care Costs and More Productive Employees."
  • Wellness Councils of America provide many free resources to people interested in worksite wellness. They have examples of Employee Needs Assessments (ENAs), instructions on how to start a wellness council, and much more. Visit Welcoa for more information and to view their resources.
  • University of Utah's Nutrition Clinic. For more nutrition resources available for employers including presentations, classes, and health screenings, we encourage you to check out the University of Utah's Nutrition Services website.
  • The Million Hearts Association has created a website with step-by-step instructions that can help with improving and creating Wellness plans. It has specific areas that you can create that fits exactly what you company needs.
  • The Oregon Health Department has created examples of worksite wellness campaigns that can be used throughout the year.
  • The Georgia Department of Public Health has created a great toolkit called Work Healthy Georgia that can be applied to businesses in Utah.
  • Work Well Texas provides steps and guidance on how businesses can implement a wellness policy.
  • Assessing a worksite is key to developing a focused health promotion program. The New York Department of Health's Heart Check is a great example of a heart healthy assessment.
  • The National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity has developed a Healthy Meeting Toolkit. This comprehensive toolkit also contains tips related to physical activity and tobacco policies.