BLUE ZONES PROJECT OSKALOOSA ANNOUNCES CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES AS BLUE ZONES WORKSITE

Oskaloosa, Iowa — June 23, 2015 — Crisis Intervention Services (CIS) in Oskaloosa has earned Blue Zones Worksite® designation. CIS completed the necessary items in the Blue Zones Worksite pledge, including training leaders to encourage the use of walking or standing meetings, adopting a formal policy that supports employee volunteer activities (both during work and outside of work hours), and supporting their employee-led well-being advisory committee, Thrive.

CIS completed designation criteria in the areas of leadership, purpose, habitat and physical environment, engagement and creation of social networks, policies and benefits, and well-being solutions. Other changes include a designated space for breastfeeding, social and fitness activities and a weekly yoga session on trauma-informed yoga to support staff members who work with victims of sexual and domestic violence.

“Participating in Blue Zones Project has been wonderful for CIS. We have implemented Walking Moais, Potluck Moais, and partner lunches with individuals from different sections of our agency,” said CIS Volunteer Coordinator, Cassie Cumings-Peterson. Through these activitives, we’ve grown closer as a staff and shared ideas for living healthier and happier lives,”

Blue Zones has helped us emphasize the importance of strong emotional, mental, and physical health at work and at home. We are proud to become a Blue Zones Worksite and hope other agencies and businesses will join us in making Oskaloosa a fabulous community in which to live.”

The worksite celebrated this achievement with a ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration at their Oskaloosa office on Tuesday, June 23.

Brought to Iowa through an innovative sponsorship by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, in collaboration with Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWAY) and Blue Zones® , Blue Zones Project® is a community-by-community well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to environment, policy and social networks.

Oskaloosa is one of 15 Blue Zones Project demonstration sites in Iowa. These communities are receiving assistance from experts to develop and implement a blueprint for making permanent environmental, social and policy changes that transition people into healthier behaviors that can lead to longer, happier lives.

For more information about how to become a Blue Zones Worksite, contact the Blue Zones Project team at 641-670-7777 or visit www.bluezonesproject.com.