Upcoming training sessions in Grand Junction will help employers develop and implement worksite wellness programs.

A session titled “Build a Foundation of Wellness” is set for 1:30 Nov. 9 at the Commons of Hilltop, 625 27 1/2 Road.

Representatives from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will teach participating employers how to establish a successful foundation for worksite wellness programs. The session will offer guidelines for building a wellness team and explain the importance of properly branding wellness programs.

A separate training session titled “Purposeful Planning” is set for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 27 at the Commons of Hilltop.

That session will teach participants about the specific design and planning needed to develop a wellness program.

The Grand Junction sessions are part of a statewide series of trainings designed to help employers promote a healthier work force.

Studies have shown that worksite wellness programs can help to minimize injuries and limit long-term disabilities while reducing health care costs. In addition, wellness programs have been shown to reduce employee absenteeism while increasing productivity.

The CDPHE recently partnered with LiveWell Colorado to study worksite wellness programs in the state. Published this summer, the LiveWell Colorado Worksite Wellness Blueprint offers an overview of wellness programs in place, identifies best practices and sets priorities to promote worksite wellness.

For more information about worksite wellness programs, log on to the website located at www.livewellcolorado.org.