Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion Trains Students for Emerging Field

Healthy employees are happy employees. It’s no wonder then that employers are increasingly implementing wellness programs. According to Healthy Alberta, employees of companies that have a workplace wellness program are likely to have: increased awareness and knowledge of ways to improve their health; a better (less stressful) workplace; increased protection from injury; improved health and well-being; higher morale and greater job satisfaction; increased productivity and effectiveness at work; reduced personal health care costs; and a more relaxed/flexible approach to health issues.

Helping promote the total well being of individuals and groups within corporate and community contexts are graduates of undertakings such as Centennial College’s Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion Program. As the first post-graduate wellness program of its sort in Canada, it has set the bar high for offerings that may follow it as it offers both the management and communication skills needed to become an effective manager of wellness and health promotion programs.

Firstly, the program presents a range of topics that are essential to professionals who will deal with people from all walks of life and who have a range of health issues, including: research methods in health studies, psycho-social and physical health issues, mental health, nutrition, assessing health risk factors, and more.

Secondly, it takes all of the health issues and places them into a corporate or community context as students learn program design and management, mental health management, program planning and health promotion theory, coaching as well as designing, implementing and evaluating effective health promotion strategies and programs, and managing programs in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.

Thirdly, there is a heavy emphasis on hands-on training. The most beneficial practical aspect is a field placement in the second semester. The placement totals two days a week, eight hours per day based on times that are mutually agreeable for both student and employer. Students must integrate and apply theories and skills that they acquired in their classes. In conjunction with their placements, students attend a two-hour class to complete applicable paperwork, get assistance if needed and to present their professional portfolios. At the end of their field placement, students present a final version of their professional portfolio, which incorporates their personal brand.

As a result of their training, grads bring a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to workplace wellness and community health promotion. They have the ability to utilize a variety of presentation techniques and strategies, develop a business case for wellness, and market and promote wellness programs.

Applicants to one of the most respected health and wellness programs in Ontario has to offer are required to have completed a college diploma, or university degree in any discipline. They also have to demonstrate English Proficiency.

Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion Program Focuses on Real Life Experiences

The benefits of attending a college program that offers a field placement can’t be stressed enough. This is an opportunity that is typically offered during the latter part of a program, once students are comfortable with the skills they have obtained. Students actually head into the field and work as “employees” for an organization with which a project coordinator helped to pair them. Not only is this a chance for students to apply their skills to the real world, but it also serves as a networking opportunity. Students who make a good impression during their placement stand a great chance of being hired on once they graduate.

One program at Centennial College that offers students this beneficial feature is the Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion Program. During the second of two semesters they spend in the offering, students attend a two-days-a-week field experience. For a total of 16 hours per week, students integrate and apply theories and skills learned in both semesters, work with real clients and answer to their employer. To compliment the placement in a classroom context, students attend a two-hour class during which they complete the applicable paperwork, get assistance if needed and present their professional portfolios. The students’ portfolios are personalized by incorporating their personal “brand”. In the class, they also partake in key activities and projects based on their placement experience and enjoy talks by invited guests.

Aside from the field placement experience, students are exposed to content that includes: program planning, program management, physical health, mental health management, nutrition, health promotion theory, organizational development, environmental health coaching, research and business skills. Faculty members who have experience in the field as well as knowledge of the current industry landscape present and guide students through these topics.

Thanks to the well-rounded knowledge offered in this program, students gain a diverse number of skills, including: assessing wellness needs of individuals, groups, organizations and communities; identifying risk factors that influence human behaviour, health and wellness and implement strategies that facilitate personal, organizational culture and community wellness; providing appropriate referral information to assist individuals, groups and organizations; advocating wellness concepts and philosophies in community and employment settings; examining the strategic approach to human resource management and more.

As graduates of the first of Canada’s post-graduate health and wellness programs, students may find career opportunities in corporate wellness, community health and promotion, no-for-profit sector and in entrepreneurship. Companies that are associated with Centennial College’s field placement component and, therefore, may hire grads include: the Canadian Breast Cancer Society, Dolce International (BMO Financial), Hallmark Canada the Ministry of Education, Peel Regional Police, Rogers Communication, Rouge Valley Health, The Cooperators, Toronto District School Board, Toronto Housing Corporation, York Region and more.

Building Careers in Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion

Workplace wellness includes any activity that is designed to promote or support physical and mental health in the workplace. It may include activities ranging from health education, weight management programs, on-site fitness programs, health coaching and counselling, or health fairs.

In today’s fast-paced life, obesity, stress, blood pressure and sore muscles have become common problem. The causes are numerous, ranging from stress at workplace, long job hours, unhealthy eating, no time for physical exercise and sedentary workplace settings. Such problems directly affect the bottom line of the organizations, resulting in increased employee absenteeism, disability and injury.

In order to promote total wellness and health of employees, organizations implement wellness programs. And the benefits are quite substantial. Such programs not only ensure good health of the employees but have a significant effect on their morale. This also enhances the company reputation and goodwill.

Careers in Workplace Wellness

Already people have become more health conscious nowadays. Introduction of workplace wellness programs has further resulted in the rise in demand for professionals who can design, develop and implement programs to promote total well-being of individuals within corporate and community contexts.

Employers are keen on hiring qualified and experienced individuals who

• Are skilled in handling physical and psycho-social health issues
• Can bring a holistic approach to workplace wellness and community health promotion
• Can assess health risk factors
• Possess essential wellness program management and communication skills
• Can provide wellness coaching to individuals and groups

The demand for health and wellness management professionals is expected to increase further in coming years, as more and more organizations plan to begin with workplace health management programs.

Education and Training

Although employment prospects in this field are bright but the job market is fiercely competitive. Individuals with specialized college education in this discipline have better chances of finding decent paying jobs than those without any specialized education. A workplace wellness and health promotion program can provide interested individuals with the knowledge and skills needs to build rewarding careers in this field.

It’s a one-year graduate certification program focuses on assessing health risk factors, developing strategies to promote individual and organizational well-being, providing wellness coaching, analyzing trends and issues in political, economic and social environment and delivering effective contemporary wellness programs.

It runs for two semesters and cover a wide range of subjects, including Program Planning, Research Methods in Health Studies, Health Promotion Theory, Mental Health Management, Coaching and Communication Skills, Health and Wellness Concepts, Environmental Health and Health Promotion and Organizational Development.

Selecting the Right Program

Numerous colleges in Canada offer postgraduate health and wellness programs. Unfortunately, not all colleges offer practical hands-on experience, which is much required to seek employment in this field. Centennial College’s program in workplace wellness and health promotion incorporates an industry field placement in the second semester, providing valuable and relevant work experience and networking opportunities to students.

It is country’s first post-graduate wellness program with a national and international reputation. Additionally, it offers strong employment prospects and opens doors to numerous career opportunities in corporate, community and institutional wellness.

Studying Workplace Wellness and Corporate Health Promotion in Canada

Employers have begun to recognize the benefits that workplace wellness brings to their employees and ultimately their (company’s) bottom line. This means they are looking to establish a health and wellness promotion system within the company premises that has a direct impact on the well being of their employees.

This can be translated into an increased demand for wellness and health promotion management experts. Although the career prospects are bright in this field are expected to grow further in the coming years but competition in the job market is fiercer than ever. If you’re looking to build a career in workplace wellness and health promotion, they you must have a specialized, holistic and comprehensive understanding in health and workplace wellness related concepts. You will also require excellent skills in workplace coaching, health promotion strategy designing and implementation and mental health management.

Health Promotion and Wellness Education in Canada

A workplace health and wellness programs integrates the art and science of employee wellness with business management concepts. It’s a mulch-disciplinary program that aims to provide you with an understanding of physical and psycho-social health and wellness concepts, within a corporate and community context. As a student of this program, you will acquire essential knowledge and skills in wellness program planning, program management, nutrition, mental health management, organizational development, wellness coaching and business management.

A wellness and health promotion program is a graduate certification program that typically runs for one year. The first semester aims to provide you with theoretical understanding of research methods in health studies, health and wellness concepts, health promotion theory, mental health management, program planning, and coaching and communication skills. In the second semester, the focus is on providing students with hands-on experience through an industry field placement. At this point of time, you learn to draw connection between health promotion and organizational development, and strengthen your understanding by putting your learning into practice. In addition, you gain relevant industry contacts that can be used as references in future.

Enrolling in a Health and Wellness Promotion Program

You need to be a graduate and proficient in English language, in order to apply for this program. The program accepts students from diverse academic backgrounds. So, all you need to do is send your completed application form to the college, along with a copy of your college diploma or university degree certificate and a proof of English proficiency.

You will also require undergoing an annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening, completing a recognized course in CPR (Health Care Provider Level) and a recognized course in Standard First Aid to become eligible for a field placement.

Choosing the Right College

Centennial College’s one-year graduate certification program in workplace wellness and health promotion offers excellent employment prospects to students. Although how and where you get placed totally depends on your knowledge and skills but the college’s partnership with companies gives you an easy access to employment opportunities. It opens doors to a variety of career options in the areas of corporate wellness, community health, and health promotion consultancy, environmental health coaching as well as wellness entrepreneurship.

Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion Program Caters to Needs to Graduate Students

If you have previously completed a post-secondary education and are looking to switch careers, there is no reason you should have to complete a full-length program to do so. Luckily, post-secondary institutions like Toronto’s Centennial College offer graduate certificate programs. These undertakings are known for their compressed delivery of program content, which helps students to enter the field, in some cases, in a matter of months. These graduate certificate offerings range in topics.

For those interested in graduate health and wellness programs, Centennial College offers its two-semester Workplace Wellness and Promotion offering. It is actually the country’s first post-graduate wellness program. As such, it enjoys a national and international reputation that is recognized by leading employers. The approach Centennial College takes to facilitating the program can be broken down into a few components.

At its most fundamental level, the offering teaches students to promote the importance of total well being to groups and people in both corporate and community contexts. To do so effectively, courses cover topics such as: program planning, program design, program management, physical and psychosocial health issues, mental health management, nutrition, health promotion theory, organizational development, environmental health coaching, research and business skills. This allows students, when they graduate, to offer a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to workplace wellness and community health promotion. Additionally, the Health Promotion Program emphasizes assessing health risk factors.

These topics are taught in an interactive manner that includes a second-semester field placement, which is completed two days a week, for a total of 16 hours per week. In this placement, students integrate and apply theories and skills learned in both semesters. There is also a two-hour class for students to complete the applicable paperwork, to get assistance if needed and to present their professional portfolios. Students present the final version of their professional portfolio, which will incorporate their personal “brand” as well as key activities and projects of their placement experience along with career and contact information to classmates and invited guests. Among the places at which students can complete their placements are respected organizations such as: Scotiabank, Sun Life Financial, Telus, Toronto Police Services, Ministry of Education, Health & Stroke Foundation, City of Hamilton and more.

For those returning to school, Centennial College’s approach to preparing students for this field is beneficial, as evidenced by 2009 graduate Amy Langer’s views. “Returning to [this program] … after 25 years experience as a nurse, was the perfect choice for me,” she says. It gave me the skills to take my career to the next level, with formal training in how to integrate wellness, health promotion and program planning. I am now armed with the tools to introduce and deliver wellness programming/ teaching into any organization.”

Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion Programs in Canada

A graduate certificate program in workplace wellness and health promotion prepares students for careers in corporate wellness, community health and promotion, and private practice. It helps them develop an understanding and skills in

• Wellness program design and management
• Psycho-social and physical health issues analysis
• Mental health management
• Nutrition management
• Wellness and health program planning

The course focuses on helping students learn to bring a holistic and mulch-disciplinary approach to workplace wellness and community health promotion. Upon course completion, they are capable of providing wellness coaching to employees at an organization, designing and implementing health promotion and wellness programs and building strategies to promote health at workplace.

In addition, they also learn to implement and manage programs in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. They also acquire essential communication skills needed to become effective wellness and health promotion managers in the corporate world.

Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion Programs in Canada

Centennial College’s one-year, certificate program in workplace wellness and health promotion program is Canada’s first postgraduate wellness program with a respected national and international reputation. The program is recognized by leading employers in the country.

The wellness and health promotion program covers a wide range of subjects through two semesters. The general multi-disciplinary and specific subjects help them build a strong theoretical foundation in health and wellness concepts at workplace. They study health promotion theory and understand how to integrate wellness, program planning and health promotion.

The one-year program focuses on helping students learn to assess health risk factors, develop health and wellness plans and strategies and promote individual and organizational well being. The program also incorporates an intensive field placement which provides students with valuable and relevant work experience and excellent networking opportunities.

Career Prospects

The graduates of health and wellness programs can find employment as wellness coordinators, health promotion consultants or program managers in almost all industry verticals. However, major employers include hospitals, healthcare institutions, community care centres, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, manpower service companies, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health, regional public health departments, regional police departments, colleges and universities and companies with national and international business operations.

The career prospects in community health promotion and workplace wellness seem bright. It is an emerging field. However, to build a rewarding career, individuals need to have a strong understanding in corporate wellness and excellent business and communication skills. A formal education and training in health and wellness is the only way to seek employment in this field.

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for this program, students will need to submit a college diploma or university degree in any discipline and a proof of English proficiency. After admission and before completing the program, they are also required to complete an annual clear police check with vulnerable screening, a recognized course in CPR and a recognized course in Standard First Aid.

The applications can be submitted online, by mail as well as in person. International students can also apply directly to the college. Individuals who have been laid off or are in need of training can also apply for this course through the Second Career Strategy.

Health and wellness starts with habits eventually forming into a lifestyle

It’s the same goal every year and the most common New Year’s resolution. A healthy lifestyleis a hard feat for many, with bad eating habits and no habits of exercising regularly. Ads and promotions of healthy living can be seen in schools, the workplace, and on TV ads, especially around this time of the year. Companies care that their employees are healthy, to have a more productive work environment, and to have happy and healthy individuals in their organizations.

Human Resources and the Health and Safety Committee are not the only ones promoting healthy lifestyles in the office. Another advocate for living a healthy life is a group of individuals in the workplace wellness team. They can be found promoting health and wellness and planning programs that encourages healthy development for employees and their families. If you’re interested in knowing more about healthier lifestyles, take a career in this field, and enroll in health and wellness programs at your local community college.

The Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion (1213) program is created at Centennial College due to the demands of the public for healthy choices. The healthy trend is more than the fad diets and unrealistic regimes advertised by some companies, claiming hard-to-believe results. Losing weight takes time and a lot of effort, while eating a balanced diet will take perseverance and practice. Workers in the workplace wellness and health committees will ensure that people are on the right track.

Professionals promoting health and wellness are not only found in huge organizations, but in different industries as well. There are workers in hospitals, government agencies, and public services that require health promotion. Centennial addresses the need for their students to be prepared in working in various environments, by setting a good foundation of this healthcare program. In one year, students will learn and apply their knowledge in real-life cases and field placement. Here are some of the exciting courses they will complete:

• An overview of health and wellness concepts will be studied, including the individual needs and community and corporate perspectives. Students will apply their knowledge through a Health Fair, which is organized specifically for these students, where they will educate their college community about current health trends and issues.
• Program planning is one of the most important tasks in the profession. This course is designed to give students the basic principles and skills in planning and implementing programs that will make positive changes to the mental and physical health of employees.
• A total of 45 hours of training in coaching and communication will help students develop the right approach to motivate others in living healthier. Students will assess real clients in a workplace or community setting, providing them with tools to create appropriate programs.

The Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion program helps organizations and the community as a whole to live with better lifestyle choices through healthy eating habits, exercise, and having good mental health. Centennial’s way of teaching provides the foundations which progresses into a more in=depth learning and practical experience through assignments and interactive classes. The final semester also consists of a field placement which serves as a capstone course for all of the knowledge and skilled learned in earlier semesters.

Building a Career in Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion in Canada

Workplace wellness and health promotion is a major trend which is increasingly seen as an important component of employee benefits. Employers are keen on implementing strategies to address employee health issues at the worksite. As employee health directly impacts work behaviour and productivity, wellness and health promotion helps employers create a culture of health and retain their best people.

Organizations, nowadays, are looking to hire professionals who can help promote the total well-being of individuals and groups within corporate and community contexts. The professionals are expected to bring a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to workplace wellness and community health promotion.

This has opened doors to numerous career opportunities for professionals in the areas of corporate wellness, community health and promotion. However, those who are considering building rewarding careers in this field need to be well prepared and must possess thorough understanding in health and wellness concepts, nutrition and lifestyles, and health promotion and organizational development. They also need to possess strong business, communication and interpersonal skills in order to effectively communicate with the employees.

Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion Programs

The one-year postgraduate health and wellness programs are designed to prepare students for building a rewarding career in this field. Students gain understanding and necessary skills in

• Program design and management
• Psycho-social and physical health issues
• Mental health management
• Nutrition
• Program planning
• Health promotion
  
  

The students are taught to bring a holistic and multi disciplinary approach to workplace wellness and community health promotion.

Well and Health Promotion Program Details

Centennial College’s health promotion program covers a wide range of subjects including

• Program planning
• Research methods in health studies
• Health promotion
• Health and wellness concepts
• Coaching and communication skills
• Mental health management
• Professional skills development
• Environmental health
• Health promotion and organizational development
  
  

The program combines in-class learning and a placement component, allowing students to put their learning into practice and gain relevant experience. The field placement also offers them excellent networking opportunities.

Program Benefits

The graduates of this program are able to

• Assess wellness needs of individuals, groups and communities
• Design, implement, evaluate and manage effective intervention strategies and wellness programs
• Identify risk factors that influence human behaviour and physical health
• Advocate wellness concepts and philosophies in corporate and community settings
• Examine strategic approach to human resource management
  
  

They can work in diverse areas, including but not limited to, corporate employee wellness, community health promotion and not-for-profits organizations as wellness coordinators, health promotion consultants or program managers. They can also choose to work as wellness entrepreneurs.

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for this program, students will need:

• College diploma or university degree in any discipline
• A proof of English proficiency
  
  

After admission, they will require:

• Annual clear police check with vulnerable screening
• Successful completion and annual renewal of a recognized course in CPR