Strategic Wellness Program planning

Take the time to plan Corporate Health Promotion Programs before they are started.

Strategic planning enables better use of all your resources. Include all the steps below when you plan a Wellness activity.
• Do your homework - Locate the science and research that support your initiatives. Look for similar Corporate Health Promotion Programs that already exist.
• Determine the specific health need(s) - Use these needs to target initiatives to problems that are an issue for your population.
• Organize a team - A team is a resource multiplier. Network and build as many partnerships as you can.
• Make a plan, but don’t start completely from scratch. Create a written plan for your Corporate Health Promotion Program. Look for every opportunity to take advantage of resources that already exist. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
• Select a focus - Choose one or two main target areas for Corporate Health Promotion Programs. Address all five stages of change in the target areas rather than trying to hit every possible Wellness topic.
• Determine your resources - What assets do you have? What assets will you need? How can you fill the gaps?
• Get Senior Management support - Think like Senior Management. Communicate the value of Wellness from Senior Management’s perspective.
• Start the activity- Be flexible. Be prepared for unexpected challenges.
• Market the activity - Keep your Wellness Program visible for Senior Management, line and medical personnel, Wellness Program members, and potential partners and volunteers.
• Collect and analyze outcomes - Outcomes indicate Wellness Program impact. Start with just a few outcomes – you don’t have to collect everything. Remember that it’s never too late to start measuring Wellness Program impact.
• Evaluate, improve and re-evaluate - Use member feedback and Wellness Program outcomes to determine Wellness Program impact. Identify areas in need of improvement. Use outcomes to determine if expended resources were worth the results.