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Health*Matters

New for 2009:
Health*Matters Fall 2009 Programs
Health Assessments and Health Calculators

UC Berkeley Living Well
Wellness Wheel, calendar, mission and more



Recipient of a 2009
California
Fit Business
Silver Award

Health*Matters is UC Berkeley's wellness program for faculty and staff. Working in partnership with several campus departments, Health*Matters' mission is to prevent work-related injury and illness, to provide tools and resources to improve the health and well-being of faculty, staff and their families, and to foster a healthy campus environment.



Assess your health with Staywell or Kaiser tools, Know Your Numbers and more.




"Wellness is a way of living -- eating a healthy diet, being physically active everyday and managing your health."
UC Berkeley Wellness Letter

Leading a Healthy Lifestyle

  

"The Eat Smart, Get Fit class is possibly one of the single most rewarding programs that the University has to offer its staff." Campus Supervisor

Eating Well
  • Leading a Healthy Lifestyle is a 50-minute workshop on a heart healthy diet to lower your blood cholesterol through a healthy lifestyle. Learn simple but essential changes to incorporate the right mix of fats and fiber into your daily eating habits and food preparation.
    Enroll at the UCB Learning Center. Login to Blu and go to the Self Service section.

  • Eat Smart, Get Fit is a behavior change class, taught by a registered dietitian and fitness instructor. Learn how to incorporate a healthy diet and physical activity into your life to lead a healthy lifestyle, maintain or manage your weight and/or address a medical condition requiring dietary change or exercise. Class includes nutrition and fitness assessments, weekly group workout, online nutrition program, and a quality pedometer. $30 fee.
    Enroll at the UCB Learning Center. Login to Blu and go to the Self Service section.

  • Eat Well Berkeley
    See Eat Well Berkeley Catering Program
    See Eat Well Berkeley Campus Snack Vending
    See Eat Well Berkeley participating restaurants with the City of Berkeley.

  • Healthy Meetings Page
    Find the UC Berkeley Guide to Healthy Meetings and Events, a tool for event planners to use with menu planning, caterers with Eat Well Berkeley menu items, shopping lists, resources for activity breaks, and a list of food banks or shelters for donating leftovers.

  • Nutrition Resources
    Find an extensive referral list to nutrition websites addressing a healthy diet, weight maintenance and specific topics such as cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, vegetarianism and more.

  • The Local
    Buy fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables on campus at The Local, a UCB student cooperative-run produce stand, every Monday (new day for Fall 2009), 11-3, on Sproul Plaza in front of the MLK Student Union.
  

"Walking for 10-15 minutes during my afternoon break time recharges my energy just when I need it!" Computer Resource Specialist

Getting Active

  • Cal Walks - campus walking resources

  • Health*Matters Walking Group
    Walking on campus is convenient, free and a simple way to fit 30-40 minutes of walking into your work day. Meets every MWF, 12:10 pm at the Campanile.

  • Step Up to Fitness Pedometer Program
    Pedometers provide daily motivation to lead a more active lifestyle. Accusplit pedometers are available at cost, $7 at the Step Up to Fitness workshop or by contacting Health*Matters.

  • Step Up to Fitness
    A 50-minute workshop to find out how you can fit fitness into your day by walking 10,000 steps wearing a pedomter. Also learn strength and stretching exercises to round out your fitness routine and receive an exercise band. Scheduled for the fourth Tuesday each month.
    Enroll at the UCB Learning Center. Login to Blu and go to the Self Service section.

    This full workshop or the 15-minute pedometer orientation are both available for departments, work groups, or health and safety fairs.

  • Recreational Sports
    Exercise classes, personal trainers, massage services, low-cost memberships with access to campus facilities, and the WorkFIT Program, an on-site strength training and flexibility circuit training for departments. See the website to watch a 2-minute video about WorkFIT or call (510) 643-7158.

  • Free 30 Day Trial Membership to Recreational Sports
    From group exercise, personal training, massage and lots more, explore all Cal Rec Sports has to offer with a free, 30-day trial membership for faculty and staff, available anytime in 2008 with one trial membership per person per year. Register at the Cal Rec Club membership desk at RSF with your Cal ID, campus email and phone number. Call or email for more information at 642.7796 or crcinfo@berkeley.edu. Offer available to new members only.

  • RSF Locker Room Only Memberships
    Rec Sports has Locker Room Only memberships for $15 per month. Commuters arriving to campus by bike or foot can now use the RSF locker room to tidy up before going to work. Includes use of day lockers, showers and towels. Secure bicycle parking available at the RSF. Sign up in person at the RSF membership desk.

  • Fitness resources
    Find a campus exercise guide, tools for getting started and referrals to fitness websites with interactive tracking programs. Be sure to check if your health plan offers an incentive or reward program for fitness.
  


"I would like to say how supported I felt by the University, my supervisor and the entire office in 'expressing milk' after returning to work." Administrative Assistant

Breastfeeding Support Program

  • Breast pumps (Purely Yours personal electric pump) for sale at cost to faculty, staff and students and their spouses/domestic partners.

  • Lactation rooms on campus with hospital-grade electric breast pumps are available to faculty, staff and students needing a private space for pumping

  • Breastfeeding Your Baby/Return to Work is a three-hour class taught by a lactation consultant. This class covers breastfeeding basics, problem solving and return-to-work planning. It is offered four times a year.
    Enroll at the UCB Learning Center
    Login to Blu and go to the Self Service section.
  


 

Supervising Tools

Health*Matters provides tools and resources to help managers and supervisors create a healthy work environment.

  • Promoting a Safe and Healthy Work Environment for Managers and Supervisors is a 3-hour class co-facilitated by UHS and EH&S. It covers health and safety responsibilities for supervisors, campus resources and prevention planning. This class is currently part of the Supervisor Development Lab or can be scheduled by departments. Call 643-4646 to make arrangements.

  • Supporting Wellness at Work
    A how-to guide for managers and supervisors who are uniquely positioned to help create a healthy work environment and to support staff in achieving and maintaining healthier lifestyles.

  • Healthy Office Program
    Tips for supervisors, fact sheets to share with staff and a campus resource guide on wellness, computer ergonomics, back health, stress, and personal safety.

  • Department Training
    Available on exercise and fitness, health and safety for supervisors or other topics available from Faculty & Staff Services.
  



"Effective behavior change requires that we do our best as individuals, but also that we work together to create more healthful and supportive social environments."
S. Leonard Syme, Professor Emeritus, UC Berkeley, School of Public Health

Contributing to a Healthy Campus Community

Health*Matters is working to foster a healthier work environment through policies, programs and advocacy. Some examples of initiatives include:

  • The Campus Nutrition and Physical Activity Work Group is a collaborative effort of faculty, staff and students, initiated in 2005, to address policies, environmental improvements and advocacy on campus food and physical activity. Accomplishments include the healthier vending choices and the UC Berkeley Guide to Healthy Meetings and Events.

  • Cal for the Cure
    An annual campus walk during October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month to honor and support campus members touched by breast cancer and website referrals to breast cancer resources and early detection education.

  • The Department Wellness Network fosters a culture of wellness and team building within departments through the role of a Department Wellness Coordinator to facilitate communication and specific programs delivered in the department. Contact Kristl Buluran at 643-9082 if your department is interested in participating.

Health*Matters Mission
Health*Matters is the wellness program for faculty and staff. Through partnership with several campus departments, Health*Matters strives to build a healthy campus community and work environment that supports the health and well-being of faculty, staff and their families. This is accomplished through the delivery of programs and services designed to prevent work-related injury and illness, encourage healthy lifestyles, and foster a healthy work environment.

Through programs, planning and policy development, Health*Matters serves the University by:

  • improving employee health and well-being, thereby contributing to containment of illness and injury and workers' compensation costs incurred by the University;
  • positively impacting employee morale, job satisfaction, and productivity;
  • encouraging and supporting a healthy organization philosophy as integral to the University's mission of teaching, research, and public service.
  • contributing to employee recruitment and retention.

Our Campus Partners
Health*Matters has been based on a collaborative, cost-effective model since 1989. Through partnerships with other campus departments, Health*Matters functions as a coalition to address campus priorities, provide resources for program delivery and ensure the quality of the programs. The coalition of campus departments includes: Environment, Health & Safety, Human Resources: Benefits/Health Care Facilitator Program, Physical Education Program, Recreational Sports, UC Police: Office of Emergency Preparedness, and University Health Services: CARE Services, Ergonomics@Work, Occupational Health Clinic, Work/Life Program, and Disability Management Services.

Health*Matters is pleased to be a participant in the Healthy Monday Campaign, a project of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Contact Information:
Phone: (510) 643-4646
Fax: (510) 642-7411
Mailing Address: Health*Matters, University Health Services, 2222 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94720-4300

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