Transcript Active Living Survey Ramsey County Managers and Supervisors

Active Living Survey
of Ramsey County
Managers and Supervisors
Conducted March-April 2010
Findings
Collaborative Effort
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ALRC!—Active Living Ramsey Communities!
Ramsey County Park and Recreation
Department
SHIP—Ramsey County Statewide Health
Improvement Program
Ramsey County Public Health Department
Background
The Board of Ramsey County Commissioners
passed a resolution directing the County Manager to
work with Senior Management Team to address how
Ramsey County can integrate Active Living
Principles* into the work of County departments.
August 2008
*Creating safe, convenient and affordable opportunities,
environments, and policies that help people integrate physical
activity into daily routines including all places where people live,
work, study and play
Original Evaluation Questions
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What is currently happening to implement
Active Living Principles in Ramsey County
Departments? (Gather examples from early
adopters)
What are the perceived opportunities?
What are the perceived challenges or
barriers?
Survey Development
Survey Purposes
1.
Establish a baseline of current practices
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2.
Inform the work of ALRC! Policy Teams
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3.
Internal—Infusion of “Active Living” principles into the work setting
to promote physical activity of employees
External—Infusion of “Active Living” principles into programs and
services to foster greater physical activity of clients, customers and
citizens
Infusion Team
Attitudes and Behaviors Team
Ramsey County as Model Employer Team
Increase managers’ and supervisors’ awareness of “Active
Living”
Survey Content organized by infusion strategies
Strategies to Infuse Change
Based on CDC’s Spectrum of Prevention*
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Inform and educate individuals
Facilitate peer support
Provide equipment and facilities
Collaborate with interested parties
Incorporate into practices and work rules
Establish guidelines and policies
*Adapted from Centers for Disease Control
Questions: INTERNAL
What does your work unit have related to
support physical activity of employees?
Questions asked about:
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Information and Education
Peer Support
Equipment, Facilities and Infrastructure
Collaboration and Interest
Practices and Work Rules
Guidelines or Policies
Questions: EXTERNAL
What does your work unit do to support active
living among clients, customers or citizens?
Questions asked about:
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Informing about PA Opportunities & Places
Supporting Physical Activity Behaviors
Educating Staff and Service Providers
Collaborating
Designing and Building Infrastructure
Changing Policies, Guidelines or Procedures
Philosophical Underpinning of Spectrum
of Prevention Strategies
Emphasis on
individual
responsibility
and choice
Shared
responsibility in
an environment
that supports
active living as a
way of life
The healthy
choice is the
easy choice
Emphasis on
practices,
guidelines
and policies
to promote
active living
Survey Procedure
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All Ramsey County department heads,
managers and supervisors (n=496) invited to
participate by County Manager
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On-line, anonymous survey
Two reminders sent
Good response rate
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52%
All Departments represented
Results to be Shared with
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ALRC! Teams
SHIP
Ramsey County Department Heads
Human Resources
New Worksite Wellness Committee
Minnesota Department of Health
Others
Findings
INTERNAL
Promoting physical activity and active living
of employees
Assets & Opportunities
Challenges
Insights
Assets & Opportunities
Build upon these to promote physical activity/active living
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Interest--Existing interest in physical activity
at work
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Efforts underway--Promotion efforts
underway in some departments
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Facilities Available--Exercise facilities
available at some locations
Assets & Opportunities
Existing interest in physical activity at work
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60% of managers and supervisors have
interested employees
37% perceive support from upper management
44% rate the degree of management support as
“moderate” to “high”
Some work units currently have Champions
(15%) and/or Wellness Committees (15%)
Assets & Opportunities
Promotion efforts underway in some departments
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Some work units have conducted challenges
(8%) or offered incentives (5%)
27% have classes available before or after
work or at lunchtime
38% report the use of email or other internal
communication to inform employees
65% have regular breaks when physical active
is possible
Assets & Opportunities
Facilities for physical activity available at some locations
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92% identified one or more existing “facilities”
for physical activity
Equipment, Facilities & Infrastructure
An asset, not a barrier!
This category had the highest rate of positive
responses
 Accessible stairs (60%)
 Nearby trails or walking routes (56%)
 Worksite accessible by multimodal transportation
(bikes, walking, public transportation) (43%)
 Indoor space available for exercise (34%)
 Bike facilities (racks 29%, lockers or in door parking
32%)
 Shower or changing area (29%)
Types of equipment and facilities available
at some sites
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Walking workstations
Treadmills
Weights
Exercise bikes
Employee donated equipment
Loaner bikes
Gym
Showers
Challenges & Barriers
Reduce these to enable positive forces
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Perceptions
Awareness
Knowledge
Opposing views
Resources
What challenges do you face making your worksite
more “physical activity friendly”?
Limited space
44%
Types of work done by employees
39%
Lack of employee interest
27%
Limitations of current policy or practice
25%
Getting management support
25%
Location of work
22%
Lack knowledge of “active living”
16%
Other (heavy workload, limited time)
15%
None
10%
Perceptions—a challenge
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60% of managers and supervisors indicate that
employees in their work unit are interested in
physical activity promotion
But, 63% do not believe they have management
support for physical activity promotion of their
employees
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“This is the first I’ve heard that the County is interested in
employees physical activity.”
57% indicate that it is “very” to “extremely important”
that Ramsey County enables them, personally, to
incorporate physical activity into their daily routine
Perceived Management Support for Active
Living
The degree of management support for
integration of Active Living in their work unit
was rated as:
none
 some
 moderate
 high
 very high
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17%
33%
26%
18%
6%
Awareness—a challenge
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Many managers and supervisors are not
aware of strategies related to active living or
physical activity promotion for employees
Percent that checked doing “nothing” for:
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Peer Support (55%)
Guidelines or Policies (53%)
Information and Education (39%)
Collaboration and Interest (32%)
Practices and Work Rules (27%)
Knowledge—a challenge
Describe the stage your work unit is at with regard to
incorporating active living strategies.
Just learning about it
56%
Have begun exploring the topic
14%
Developing or have plans for changes
5%
Have made changes that impact employees
12%
Have made changes that impact clients, customers,
citizens
1.6%
Have made changes that impact both
1.6%
Not interested at this point
10%
Opposing Views—a challenge
(Themes expressed by a few)
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Not needed
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Not our job/not our responsibility
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“Most staff already have workout routines outside of work”
“Staff exercise on own time”
“Job is already physically demanding”
“How much is work going to control individual lifestyle?”
“Go live your life as you see fit”
“Don’t expect government to take care of you.”
Public perception
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“Our obligation is to taxpayers to use tax dollars wisely”
“Public perception of people getting paid to work out”
“Continued fear that we as public employees will look like
slackers”
Resources—a challenge
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Hygiene—need a place to clean up, dress
Risk management—concerns regarding inoffice exercise equipment
Implementation costs—funds dedicated to
the cause; funds for equipment and space
Staff schedules—flexing not possible, 24/7
staff, set clinic hours
Dual use space—can only use if no meeting
Maintenance—responsibility for upkeep
Insights: Promoting Physical Activity and
Active Living for Employees
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There are several identifiable assets and opportunities to build upon.
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Equipment, Facilities, and Infrastructure is not the biggest barrier!
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A majority of managers and supervisors believe Ramsey County should
support being physically active, but many do not see promoting “active
living” of employees as a part of their work responsibilities.
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There is limited understanding of “active living” and how strategies can
be utilized to infuse it into the work setting.
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“Active Living” is a new concept for many RC Managers and
Supervisors.
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Building technical knowledge and changing attitudes and perceptions
will be important for integrating Active Living Principles into the work of
County departments as directed.
Information and Education for Employee
Physical Activity
Email
Health Fair
Posters
Mini-sessions
Resource Ctr
Maps
Nothing
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors
70
Peer Support for Employee Physical
Activity
Classes
Walking Groups
Challenges
Stretch Breaks
Incentives
Nothing
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors
70
Equipment and Facilities for Employee
Physical Activity
Stairs
Trails/Routes
Public Transit
Indoor Space
Bike Security
Exercise Equip
Shower
Bike Rack
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors
70
Calloraboration and Interest for Employee
Physical Activity
Employee Interest
Upper Mgmt
A Champion
Employee Planning
Wellness Committee
Cross Dept
Nothing
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors
70
Practices and Work Rules for Employee
Physical Activity
Regular Breaks
Flexible Scheduling
Meeting Stretch Breaks
Organized Exer. Breaks
Dept Initiated Str.
Other
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors
Guidelines and Policies for Employee
Physical Activity
Flex Time Policy
H&W Guidelines
Encourage PA
Nothing
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors
70
Questions: EXTERNAL
What does your work unit do to support active
living among clients, customers or citizens?
Questions asked about:
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Informing about PA Opportunities & Places
Supporting Physical Activity Behaviors
Educating Staff and Service Providers
Collaborating
Designing and Building Infrastructure
Changing Policies, Guidelines or Procedures
Ways Ramsey County Serves the Public
Direct face-to-face contact at RC facilities
65%
Collaborative work with other organizations
43%
Individual service in home or community
32%
Provide resources or facilities used by the
public
Service at other organization or business
23%
Planning or policy development work
15%
Design, build, or maintain infrastructure
14%
Reach through media, publications, events
11%
20%
Findings
EXTERNAL
Promoting physical activity and active living of
clients, customers & citizens
Assets & Opportunities
Challenges
Insights
Assets and Opportunities
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Encouraging physical activity and providing
facilities and infrastructure is core to the work
of some departments (e.g. Parks &
Recreation, Public Health, Public Works)
65% of work units have direct contact with
Ramsey County citizens as client and
customers of their services & programs
43% of work units could influence other
organizations through collaboration
Assets and Opportunities
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Several managers and supervisors described
positive examples of promoting physical
activity and active living of clients, customers
and citizens
Positive examples cross the whole spectrum
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Informing and counseling individuals
Incorporating into programs
Designing and building infrastructure
Changing practices and policies
Challenges & Barriers
Reduce these to enable positive forces
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Awareness
Knowledge
Resources
Challenges & Barriers
Reduce these to enable positive forces
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Awareness—The majority of managers and
supervisors didn’t identify ways they currently
are or could impact physical activity of
Ramsey County citizens.
Knowledge—Understanding how active living
promotion can be infused into the on-going
work is lacking.
Current practices and assumptions—Some
mentioned rules that undermine supporting
physical activity of clients.
Awareness & Knowledge—challenges
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Many managers and supervisors are not
aware of how their work unit could promote
active living or physical activity of clients,
customers or citizens
Percent that checked doing “nothing”:
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Changing policies and procedures (80%)
Educating staff and providers (79%)
Collaboration with others (78%)
Informing about physical activity (72%)
Supporting physical activity behaviors (67%)
Designing and building infrastructure (65%)
Informing clients, customers & citizens about
Physical Activity Opportunities & Places
14
Print materials
11
Ed & Counsel
9
Programs
Web-based
3
Mass media
3
72
Nothing
0
20
40
60
Percent of Managers & Supervisors
80
Supporting Physical Activity Behaviors
of clients, customers and citizens
16
Reco mmend
11
In P ro grams
Other A gencies
8
B ro chures/Signs
8
6
Spo nso r Events
Co nnect P eers
4
Reco rd System
4
67
No thing
0
20
40
60
Percent of Managers & Supervisors
80
Educating Staff and Service Providers
of clients, customers and citizens
Train How -To
7
Train About AL
6
Referral System
5
Fund Conferences
3
Inform Contractors
2
79
Nothing
0
20
40
60
Percent of Managers & Supervisors
80
Collaborating to Support Active Living of
clients, customers & citizens
10
Other RC Depts
Community Groups
9
Clients promote AL
7
Dept rep on ALRC
6
4
Convene Groups to plan
2
Citizens on ALRC
78
Nothing
0
20
40
60
Percent of Managers & Supervisors
80
Designing and Building Infrastructure to
Support Active Living
16
B ike P arking
15
A ccess to Stairs
13
A ctive Transpo rtatio n
10
Sidewalks, Trails, P arks
9
P lanning & Develo pment
5
A dvo cate Changes
3
P A in Waiting A reas
65
No thing
0
20
40
60
Percent of Managers & Supervisors
80
Changing Policies, Guidelines or
Procedures to Support Active Living
Assess Current
7
Plan Env/Sys Change
7
Explore Procedure Changes
6
Advocate for Policy Change
6
4
Recommend Rule/Law s Changes
2
Require in Vendor Contracts
80
Nothing
0
20
40
60
80
Peercent of Managers & Supervisors