Practicing What We Preach: Caregiver Capacity a Priority at Wellpoint Care Network
At Wellpoint Care Network, wellness is the point of all we do.
In fact, wellness is one of the many reasons that Caregiver Capacity is one of our Seven Essential Ingredients of Trauma Informed Care.
Caregiver Capacity is the belief that if someone is going to effectively work with traumatized people, they also need to take care of themselves.
It’s the realization that if you do not care for yourself, you can become overwhelmed. It prioritizes doing things that bring pleasure and relaxation. If you don’t, then you are not your best self for the children in your care.
While we teach this idea to the families we support, foster parents, partners and community members, we must also practice what we preach and realize that as employees working with children and families, we are also caregivers.
In support of employee well-being efforts, Wellpoint Care Network offers wellness activities that address that Caregiver Capacity ingredient and encourage positive mental health, such as art therapy classes, Lunch ‘n’ Learns, a Wellness Reimbursement program, Employee Assistance Program and access to the Calm App.
“We do this because we care about our employees,” said Sonja Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer. “Human service work can be stressful and demanding, but also very rewarding. It’s work that can change lives. These initiatives offer our employees the time they need to relax and decompress.”
Another desirable benefit Wellpoint Care Network offers is called ‘Summer Fun Fridays.’
“It’s an opportunity for every employee, no matter their position or department, to have Friday afternoons off in the summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day,” said Williams. “So, about four hours on a Friday to just take off work and enjoy themselves — go for a walk, spend time with their kids, whatever they want to do in order to decompress and rejuvenate themselves from a long, hard work week.”
“It’s all about employee well-being,” added Pam Johnson, Director of People Operations. “We want to give employees the space to prioritize self-care to reduce burnout. We believe this is one way to boost employee morale and enhance work-life balance for overall physical and mental well-being.”
Employees have indicated they use the time to volunteer, get a massage or pedicure, go for a hike, and much more.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to get some more time with the family,” said John Meyer, Director of Information Technology. “The extra time also allows me to get housework done so I can fully enjoy the weekend.”
“I am thankful for Summer Fun Fridays because it helps reduce stress at the end of a long work week,” said Diamond Thompson, Campus Services Manager. “It also gives me the opportunity to balance my personal life and work life to achieve short- and long-term goals.”
At Wellpoint Care Network, our employees are the most important part of our ability to serve the community and to help children and families thrive. To learn about available job opportunities and to join our team, click here.
