Healthy workplace blueprint workshop set for Oct. 17 in Weatherford

Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Kathy Smith, 817-598-6168, Kathy.Smith@ag.tamu.edu

WEATHERFORD – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host a “Building a Healthy Workplace: A How-To Blueprint” workshop Oct. 17 in the Parker County Agricultural Service Center, 604 N. Main St., Weatherford.

The event will begin with registration at 9 a.m. followed by the program from 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. The fee is $60 by Oct. 5 and $110 after. It includes lunch, a work-site wellness guidebook and materials. Registration can be made at https://worksitewellness.tamu.edu/.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Ninfa Peña-Purcell, AgriLife Extension family and community health specialist in College Station. Purcell has more than 25 years of experience in helping build work-site wellness programs.

“Involving employees in work-site wellness programs makes sense,” said Kathy Smith, AgriLife Extension family and community health agent for Parker County. “We spend a significant amount of time on the job, and the work-site setting is a great place to reach employees with information that can help them make positive changes to help improve their health.”

Smith said the program is aimed at human resources and benefits, insurance and safety/risk management professionals. They can expect to learn how to improve employees’ health and produce measurable results, as well as get a blueprint for a wellness program that meets their group’s specific needs.

“Employees who are involved in work-site wellness programs are usually more productive and satisfied with their job,” Smith said. “Also, employers may notice reduced absenteeism.”

Other AgriLife Extension family and community health agents and counties involved include Lynette Babcock, Palo Pinto; Kelli Brown, Hood; Tanya Davis, Wise; Alinda Cox, Jack; and Andrea Degelia, Erath.

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