Marrakech’s Health and Wellness Program: Growing Healthier Together!

It seems like more now than ever before, there is an enormous amount of attention on health and wellness.  Every form of media has taken on the growing health epidemic in America in some way, focusing a great deal on obesity, heart health, nutrition and exercise.  While Marrakech has always acted proactively in regard to the health and safety of our consumers and employees, we had not yet taken on this larger, broader issue of health and wellness in any organized kind of way.  Many of the people with whom we work struggle daily with their weight or health conditions that we know can be alleviated with heightened awareness, education and changes in behavior. 

And so, Marrakech’s Health and Wellness Committee was born in July 2012, deriving mostly from the personal interest of a few employees.  A call was put out to all, and we now have 15 active volunteer members who are mainly direct care or management staff of Marrakech.  They are joined by the Wellness Director from our insurance broker, Creative Benefits Planning.  To join a working Committee like this is no small undertaking.  Everyone on the Committee has other jobs to do - BIG jobs to do - but have each made a commitment to making health and wellness an integral part of the Marrakech community.

For a Committee that is not yet a year old, we have managed to accomplish quite a bit and we are really proud of this. Here are just some of the things we have done or are currently planning to do:

·         Quarterly, a Health and Wellness newsletter, entitled The Well of Health, is distributed to staff throughout the organization via Marrakech email.  Printed copies are also available and staff is encouraged to share this with consumers who do not have access to Marrakech email.

·        The Committee instituted a Marrakech employee walking/running group that began on September 25, 2012 and meets at our main office every Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.  Employees at our satellite sites have been encouraged to start their own walking groups at dates and times that work best for them.

·         The Committee published a Healthy Living Calendar that featured one of our programs and a healthy recipe along with some nutrition facts for each month.  It included pictures of our consumers shopping for ingredients or making and eating the actual recipes. 

·        Between January and April 2013, Marrakech had its first employee weight loss challenge.  Thirty-nine people registered and weighed in.  Throughout the challenge, we offered monthly information sessions facilitated by a naturopathic doctor and a runner/athletic coach.  We also sent weekly articles and resources out to the group to help keep them motivated and to provide helpful information as they tried to change old habits. Participants were given free registration to our Spring 5K Walk/Run, which many participated in.

·         On April 3^rd, we had a “wear your sneakers to work” day to honor National Walking Day and encouraged group walks at our various sites.

·         April 22, 2013 kicked off a six-week walking/fitness challenge to encourage everyone to move a little more.  We provided trackers from the American Heart Association (AHA) and asked that people record their exercise on it each week for the six week period, through June 2, 2013.  Daily Healthy Living Tips and weekly articles (provided by the AHA) were distributed throughout the challenge.  Those who participated will be invited to a celebratory healthy lunch and prizes will be given to those who made the most progress and logged the most minutes over the six weeks.

·        Over the summer of 2013, a three-part series on nutrition and weight loss facilitated by a naturopathic physician will be offered free to employees and consumers. This may be accompanied by a new Team Weight Loss Challenge.

·         In October 2013, Marrakech will host our first Health Fair.  After surveying employees, the fair will focus on self care, nutrition and weight loss.

·        Marrakech recently applied to be considered a Fit Friendly site by the American Heart Association. 

On June 4, 2013, Marrakech was awarded the Large Employer Business of the Year Wellness Award from the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce’s Health Care Council for the work we have accomplished in this short period of time.

Changing habits and decades old learned behavior isn’t easy.  It will not happen overnight or simply because of one great campaign we implement. 

But when we hear that a staff person asked if there can be salad in addition to pizza at a meeting because of something they read from us; or an employee is excited to tell a Committee member that she has changed some of her eating and exercise habits because of the articles we sent out and feels so much better; or when several consumers and staff stop by the office from time to time to weigh themselves on the scale we have here because they are more aware and motivated now, then we know something is starting to happen.  We are moving in the right direction.

We understand that it is going to take a lot of time but we are committed to seeing this process through and helping our employees and consumers grow healthier together.

Throughout the month of June, Marrakech’s Health and Wellness Committee will be highlighted on our Facebook page.  We kicked this off by posting a picture of some of the committee members who were able to attend the Health Care Council’s award breakfast on the 4^th.  Check out our Facebook page (and “Like” us if you haven’t already, www.facebook.com/MarrakechIncCT) to see what else the Health and Wellness Committee will be up to this month! 

For more information on our Health and Wellness programs, please feel free to email us at healthandwellness@marrakechinc.org or call Jill Cretella at (203) 389-2970, extension 1101.

Why should you give to Marrakech this year?

This is the time of year when you have likely received countless annual appeals and season’s greetings from various nonprofit organizations across the state.  And as you decide where to donate your hard earned dollars, we thought you should know a little more about how our funding works and why donating to Marrakech is a worthy cause.

Yes, Marrakech does receive state funds for most of the services we provide.  But state funds are only meant to cover the core services included in each contract, not necessarily the things that contribute to an individual’s quality of life.  While we do receive funds to provide the staff support needed for consumers, their associated state-funded budgets do not guarantee food in their cupboards or funds for recreation on the weekend.  With your gift, Marrakech can provide fuel assistance, deposits for new apartments, food, clothing and furniture to the people we serve. We can also provide regular low-cost or free recreation activities that allow consumers to socialize and develop a sense of belonging among peers and with other members of their communities.

In many cases, people come to us with nothing. We need to give them everything from the bed they are sleeping on to the pots and pans they use to make dinner each night.  We do it because it makes their lives better, which means it gives them the chance to be even more successful on their quests for independence. 

It is important, some may say most important, to provide these “extras” because when you really think about it, they are not extras at all.  They are needs.  These needs are likely to become even more dire as additional state budget cuts loom overhead. Now, more than ever, we are relying on donors like you to help us carry out our mission and enhance the lives of the people we serve.  We ask that you please consider Marrakech in your end of the year plan for making charitable contributions.  You can visit our website, www.marrakechinc.org, to find out more on how to do this.

We sincerely appreciate everyone who has been part of our Marrakech family, past and present.  We could not do what we do without your support.  We wish you all the happiest of holiday seasons and a wonderful new year!

Supporting Marrakech 10 Ways in 10 Days Challenge!

As 2012 comes to an end, Marrakech is asking that our friends, families and local communities come together to support our mission and the people we serve.  How can you support us, you ask?  Well, we have come up with 10 ways you can support us over the next 10 business days.

Starting December 17^th through December 31^st, we will be announcing a different way each business day that you can support Marrakech’s mission. These announcements will be coming via Facebook, Twitter and our email newsletters.  What types of things might we be asking you to do?  Good question!  They will range from patronizing our social enterprises to donating food or other items to engaging a little more in our social media and of course, contributing to our annual fund. No matter what, we know there is at least one way each of you can easily participate in this challenge.  And we really hope you do!

What we do know is that the Supporting Marrakech 10 Ways in 10 Days Challenge will help you get to know us a little better as an organization.  We appreciate you being part of our caring community and look forward to another year of working together to enhance the lives of the people we serve.

From our Marrakech family to yours, we wish you the happiest of holiday seasons and a wonderful new year!

Join Team Leah!!!!

Get your walking shoes ready and join TEAM LEAH at the NDSCC/Connecticut Down Syndrome CongressBuddy Walk, this September 24, 2011 at the
Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, CT.

Help raise money for, and awareness of Down Syndrome!
By walking together we can help create a world where a girl like me can dream of a life unfettered and full, freeto become a valued member of a welcoming society.So, call the number below for info on how you can become a member of TEAM LEAH so you can get to stepping’!

Support Team Leah on September 24, 2011, 1 PM
For details call: Lisa Spruill 203-687-0479 or Stevie Stevenson 203-654-5265

NDSCC/Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress Buddy Walk
Hammonasset State Park
Or email leeky313@aol.com