NCSU recognizes that schools are not only places of learning, but they are also worksites. Supporting all aspects of employees’ health helps protect students as well as school staff, and by doing so, supports student health and academic success. Healthy school employees—including teachers, administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodial staff, and contractors—are more productive and less likely to be absent. Our employees serve as powerful role models for our students. Schools can create work environments which support healthy eating and adopt active lifestyles. NCSU has developed partnerships among school districts and health insurance providers. These providers offer resources, including personalized health assessments and flu vaccinations. Employee wellness programs and healthy work environments are supported through the following programs:
Employee Assistance Program: All Employees are eligible for assistance with life challenges through our partnership with https://www.investeap.org/. Invest EAP is a Vermont-based public and private non-profit collaborative that has offered comprehensive employee assistance services since 1986. They promote the health and wellbeing of organizations, employees, and family members served. Invest EAP provides short-term counseling and referral, management consultation, training and resource information for all NCSU employees and their household members. NCSU also offers support directly through the Human Resources Department which can be accessed here: https://sites.google.com/a/ncsuvt.org/human-resources/benefits
The Path to Wellness: The Vermont Education Health Initiative (VEHI) is offered to employees connected with NCSU through a Vermont-based risk management firm in order to enhance health for our educators, and ultimately, students and families. Planned Action Toward Health (PATH) is the ongoing program which offers member school employees and Vermont teacher retirees a wide range of cost-effective, best practice elements to support them in living their best lives at home, at work, and in the local communities. The VEHI PATH program is coordinated by VEHI in conjunction with leaders from each school to create and sustain safe and healthy work environments. In creating a healthier and safer place to work, every member school has a designated wellness leader and every supervisory union has a designated wellness champion. The building leaders are responsible for serving as the go-to resource and wellness spokespersons for staff, promoting a culture of health and safety, supporting employee wellness events, sharing information about VEHI programs, and applying for wellness institutes and resource grants when available. The VEHI PATH team provides professional development, district-based aggregate health data, cultural assessments, marketing materials, on-site technical assistance and intensive summer institutes for designated wellness leaders and champions. Who is my building leader? To find a building leader, e-mail amy@vsbit.org or contact the principal of that building. http://www.vehi.org/wellness-program/
Medical (Physical and Mental) and Dental Health Plans: The Vermont Education Health Initiative (VEHI) is a non-profit member-owned trust providing member school districts and their employees’ access to high quality and affordable health and dental programs through VT Blue Cross Blue Shield. For more information contact our Human Resource Director at 802-334-5847 Extension 2011, or visit http://www.vehi.org/benefits/