The Governor’s Awards for Wellness Innovation

 

Questions and Answers

 

Who may apply for an award?
Worksites, schools, healthcare organizations, city or town governments, community-based and faith-based organizations, organized labor, state agencies and media all may apply.  Only one organization will be recognized in each of the eight settings.

Within an organization, anyone affiliated with the organization can apply for an award on behalf of the organization.  However, in order to fill out the application completely and accurately, it is recommended that the person closest to the program or policy (the person who developed or ran it) should fill out the application.

 

How can my organization apply for an award?
To apply, please fill out the online application.

 

How many wellness areas do applicants need to address?
Applicants need only address one wellness area through their programs / policies to apply.  The wellness areas are:

• Tobacco Control
• Seatbelt Use
• Healthy Weight
• Physical Activity
• Nutrition

How many awards will be given out?
Up to eight awards will be given out each year—one in each of the eight settings.  The review committee reserves the right not to give out an award in a setting.

 

Can I apply for recognition for something my organization has done in the past or does it have to be a new program or policy?
Policies and programs have to have been implemented within the last two years to be eligible.

 

Can a person receive an award?
Awards will be given to organizations, rather than individuals.

 

When will awards be awarded?
Awardees will be notified in September 2008.  The awards ceremony will be in October 2008.

 

Can after-school programs apply?
Yes.  After-school programs may apply as either a school program or a community-based program.  Applicants should choose the channel that they think is most appropriate given the focus of the program.

 

How will applications be judged?
Applications will be reviewed and scored by a panel of reviewers, including representatives from the Governor’s Office, program managers from Rhode Island Department of Health’s Tobacco Control, Injury Prevention, and Healthy Weight programs, representatives from the Wellness Issue Group, and experts from school, community, healthcare, and worksite settings.

Please note that high-scoring applications will include specific program descriptions and question responses and will emphasize a creative, innovative program or policy.  Applications will be judged according to the following scale:

• How well program description is organized including need, development, implementation and funding 20% 
• How creative, original and resourceful the program / policy is  50%
• How well the program / policy reached out to the target audience  10%
• How well the program / policy worked 10%
• How well the program / policy can be sustained 10%

Applications will be judged based solely on the information submitted in the application. 

 

My organization is running a wellness program for employees.  Should we apply as a worksite or another type of organizations?
Organizations that have created an innovative program for their employees should apply as worksites—even if they are a health care organization, state agency, community-based and faith-based organization, organized labor organization, school, city and town government, or media.  However, if the program is for their members, consumers, clients or students, then each organization should apply in the channel appropriate to its type of organization.

 

Can an organization apply more than once?
In most cases, no.  This ensures that each organization puts forward its best program or policy for consideration. The only exception to this rule is when an organization is applying for awards for two different programs in two different settings.  This specifically applies when an organization applies as a worksite and as another type of organization. 

 

Can an organization that has applied for an award previously apply again?
Organizations that have been recognized with an award or honorable mention for a particular program or policy should not apply again with the same program or policy.  Organizations that applied previously and were not recognized with an award may apply again with either the same program or policy or a different one, as long as the wellness program or policy was implemented within the past two years. 

 

When can I submit an application?
Applications can be submitted from June 1, 2008 through August 31, 2008. ALL applications must be received by midnight (11:59pm EST) on Sunday, August 31, 2008.

 

Have a question?  Submit it here and the answer will be posted online.