Health Promotion Program
Worklife Division
Health, Safety and Worklife Department

Ms. Leisha Ferguson
Health Promotion Manager
757-686-4093

Coast Guard Health Promotion Program

What is Health Promotion?  Health Promotion is the optimal relationship between the physical, mental, and social well-being of an individual.  Health Promotion can be seen as a goal and the process of getting there.  If you work towards making positive changes in the areas of your life you can control, you can have a better chance of living a life full of energy, vitality, and good health.  Wellness is simply taking the responsibility to take care of yourself.

The Coast Guard Health Promotion Program is a program to assist active duty members, reservists, auxiliary, civilian employees, and family members to make voluntary health behavior changes that help reduce health risks and improve quality of life.  The Coast Guard recognizes the benefits of a Health Promotion program and offers all beneficiaries the opportunities to lead healthy, happy, and productive lives at work and at home.  The Health Promotion Program elements include:

     Physical Fitness
     Tobacco Cessation
     Stress Management
     Nutrition and Weight Management
     Disease and Injury Reduction
     Alcohol and Drug Abuse
     AIDS/STD Education

The Coast Guard Health Promotion Manager is responsible for the management and development of the Regional Health Promotion Program (District 5; Base Portsmouth Area of Responsibility).  The Health Promotion Manager provides resources, training, and guidance to each Unit Health Promotion Coordinator so they are able to provide health promotion program opportunities to those attached to their unit.

The Unit Health Promotion Coordinator is a collateral duty responsibility for one member at each District 5 Coast Guard Unit.  The Unit Health Promotion Coordinator is trained by the Health Promotion Manager in health promotion principles and strategies.  The Health Promotion Coordinators are able to provide health promotion resources (videos, books, educational materials) as well as a variety of health promotion events (health fairs, sports days) and programs such as tobacco cessation or weight management.

WELLSOURCE HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENTS

How healthy are you?  Find out how old your body thinks it is because of the way you treat it!  If you eat well, exercise, and lead a healthful lifestyle, your body will think it is years younger than it really is!  The Wellsource assessment will give you your "health age" versus your "chronological age".  You will also find out what your health risks are based on your lifestyle choices and family history (heredity).  Wellsource is the Coast Guard's official health risk appraisal and is FREE to all military, reservist, family members, and civilians.

How does it work?  You simply fill out a questionnaire that asks you about your family history, eating habits, exercise habits, and general health promotion habits.  You also have an option for a fitness assessment (body fat, sit ups, push ups, mile and half run, flexibility).  The questionnaire is then given or sent to your District Health Promotion Manager for scanning.  Shortly, you will receive a 20-page booklet all about YOU!  This will include your health risk, what you are doing right with your lifestyle choices, and suggestions for improvement.  You also receive your "health age".  If an entire unit fills out questionnaires, a separate "unit report" will be given to the CO or OINC.  This report will give the top 10 Health Risks of the unit and recommendations for improvement.

Interested?  Contact your Regional Health Promotion Manager Leisha Ferguson or Jeanett Torrens.  Only you see the results. . . take the challenge!