Grants for Small Business Wellness Programs
Federal Grants to Small Businesses for Comprehensive Wellness Programs
Health care reform takes many steps to improve our health and prevent problems. One is to work with employers to help people get healthier.
Unfortunately, many small businesses can't afford to set up wellness programs on their own. To help, $200 million is available for small businesses to create comprehensive wellness programs for employees. According to the Department of Health and Human Services website, this program is still under development and not expected to be released until 2014.
To qualify businesses must:
- Have no more than 100 employees who work 25 hours or more per week
- Not have a wellness program
- Use the grant for a comprehensive wellness program
A comprehensive program is one that:
- Helps you learn more about your health and how to stay healthy
- Encourages you to participate
- Helps you change your behavior through counseling, seminars, online programs and helpful materials
- Encourages you to eat healthy, get more exercise and improve your mental health
National Healthy Worksite Program
The National Healthy Worksite Program is designed to assist employers with fewer than 1,000 employees implement science and practice-based prevention and wellness strategies that will lead to specific, measureable health outcomes to reduce chronic disease rates. For most employers, chronic diseases—such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, obesity, arthritis and diabetes—are among the most prevalent, costly, and preventable of all health problems. The National Healthy Worksite Program seeks to maintain good health through prevention, reduce chronic illness and disability, and improve productivity outcomes that contribute to employers’ competitiveness.
Applications for these grants were due in February 2012. It is unknown if additional grants will be released in 2013. For more information from the CDC, click here