Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long Kicks Off Annual Health Challenge
The wellness challenge encourages corporations, individuals and organizations to make an impact on their communities' physical, mental and emotional health by enacting changes in policies, systems and environments.
DOVER, Del., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A healthier Delaware in all aspects. That's the goal Dr. Bethany Hall-Long, Delaware's 26 Lt. Governor, set out when taking over the Lt. Governor's Challenge. The Challenge, which spans the course of 2 months, urges companies and individuals to showcase their efforts in creating initiatives to help improve the health of Delaware citizens.
"Physical, emotional and mental health make up the foundation for quality living," said Lt. Governor Hall-Long, "This challenge serves to motivate the institutions within Delaware to enact changes in their policies, systems and environments to impact healthy living."
Candidates are nominated in one of four categories: emotional well-being, healthy living, chronic disease management and prevention, and mother and child health. "We choose the winners based on whomever is making the biggest health change to Delaware," said Hall-Long.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN DELAWARE
Winners from the 2019 Challenge included Impact Delaware Tobacco Prevention Coalition (IMPACT) for its advocacy work around the Clean Indoor Air Act that helped reduce tobacco access to youth; and Incyte, a global biopharmaceutical company based in Wilmington, for rolling out wellness programs and health initiatives to its employees, such as office-based fitness classes, mindfulness webinars and healthy food choices.
"Through our benefit programs and wellness initiatives, we've seen significant improvements in the overall health of our employees, which has translated to a reduction in our premium rates," said Paula Swain, EVP and Head of Human Resources at Incyte, "We're continuing to develop and enhance our wellness programs. This isn't a one-and-done for us."
Candidates can nominate themselves or a group or organization. According to the Lt. Governor, "The goal of the Lt. Governor's Challenge is health, because even one person making a difference moves us toward a stronger and healthier Delaware."
Nominations for the Lt. Governor's Challenge are open now and run through March 20. Winners will be recognized May 19 at the Lt. Governor's Challenge Wellness Leadership Award Event.
SOURCE Lt. Governor's Office
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