Dean Health Plan by Medica grants Waupun Schools with Wellness Grant
July 20, 2023
Dean Health Plan Staff
MADISON (July 20, 2023) — The past two years have been tough on school staff. Burnout is a real concern. This year, staff at Waupun Junior/Senior High School have a new option to reenergize and regroup. Using a wellness grant from Dean Health Plan by Medica, the district created a relaxation sanctuary called Zen Den. The space, modeled after a similar space in Rock River Intermediate School, provides staff with massage chairs, relaxing sounds, scents, and lights, and is decorated to inspire a sense of calm.
Dean Health Plan by Medica started awarding wellness grants to client employer groups in 2022 to encourage and support wellness programs for employees.
The school district submitted a grant proposal to create Zen Den, after the success of a similar space piloted at the Intermediate School. “The Waupun Area School District values the health and wellness of its employees,” said Jackie Tenpas, District Wellness Coordinator. “We have had a wellness committee/program for more than 30 years. We are striving to keep the ‘glass-half-full philosophy’ as a priority for our staff.”
The Junior/Senior high school’s more than 150 staff members represent more than half of the district’s employees. Professional development for district employees can include both traditional professional education, as well as personal education like a wellness in-service.
The wellness program offers after-school yoga and fitness classes, full access to two district fitness centers, monthly challenges with gift-card incentives, biometric/personal wellness plan screenings, and bringing in speakers on a variety of wellness topics.
Dean Health Plan is a full-service health insurance company serving 500,000 members in Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, and Oklahoma. Products include HMO and freedom-of-choice insurance plans for commercial and individual customers, Medicare and Medicaid programs, and third-party administrator services. Established in 1983, Dean Health Plan is in a strategic relationship with Minnesota-based health plan Medica and SSM Health, an integrated health system headquartered in St. Louis. For more information, visit deancare.com
