A Culture of Wellness

Healthy Programs at Your Place of Worship

Faith-based organizations are natural centers for spiritual, emotional and physical wellness. Because of this, they are in a unique position to make a real difference in the health of their staff, volunteers and congregations by establishing a culture of wellness. That’s why Well-Ahead Louisiana encourages every faith-based organization to help make the healthy choice by becoming a WellSpot.

By implementing changes to improve the health of your employees and volunteers through our WellSpot Designation program, faith-based organizations can positively impact the health of your congregation and community. We provide the resources and tools you need to encourage healthy habits like physical activity, healthy eating, stress management and quitting tobacco. 

Pastor James Morrise at Rose Hill Church of Port Allen is one of the many faith leaders in Louisiana who has taken the lead in moving the health of his community forward. Learn more about how James implemented healthy changes at his church to become a WellSpot. Like James, change can begin with you—take the lead in your community today!

Want to implement or expand your worksite wellness program? Eligible WellSpots can receive up to $3,000 to make sustainable changes that support employee health and wellbeing at their worksite.


Level-up Your Faith-Based Organization

Faith-based organizations that meet certain benchmarks can be designated as a Level 1, 2 or 3 WellSpot, with Level 1 being the highest. 

Level 3

  • One organizational practice
  • Three additional benchmarks of choice

Level 2

  • Smoke-free policy
  • One organizational practice
  • Congregational wellness program
  • Six additional benchmarks of choice

Level 1

  • Tobacco-free policy
  • All benchmarks met

WellSpot Benchmarks for a Healthier Congregation

Well-Ahead is here to help faith-based organizations be leaders by becoming a WellSpot. When you implement these evidence-based benchmarks, you will improve the health of your staff, volunteers and congregation and move Louisiana’s health forward!


Our Partners


Citations:

1  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses—United States, 2000–2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2008;57(45):1226–8. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5745a3.htm

American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Control Report for Louisiana. Retrieved from: http://www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org/state-grades/louisiana/highlights.html

The Business Case For Breastfeeding. Published in 2008 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-home-work-and-public/breastfeeding-and-going-back-work/business-case

Adult Obesity Rates, State of Childhood Obesity, a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. https://stateofchildhoodobesity.org/adult-obesity/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Facts About Hypertension in the United States. https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Diabetes Quick Facts. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/quick-facts.html

Louisiana Department of Health. Diabetes Fact Sheet. http://ldh.la.gov/assets/oph/chronic/diabetes/DiabetesFacts_LA_Final_2015.pdf

Louisiana Department of Health. Environmental Public Health Tracking. http://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/2612

Partnership To Fight Chronic Disease. “What Is The Impact Of Chronic Disease On Louisiana?” Fact Sheet. https://www.fightchronicdisease.org/states/louisiana