South Carolina partners with YMCAs to promote state employee health

South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced that through a partnership with the S.C. Hospital Association and S.C. Alliance of YMCAs, state employees will be eligible for special membership rates.

"Research indicates that getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day lowers an individual's risk of heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and high blood pressure," Gov. Nikki Haley said. "Leading by example, this innovative collaborative will impact nearly 35,000 state employees – helping our state agencies shrink health care costs, increase employee productivity, and reduce absenteeism."

Part of South Carolina’s “A Healthier State” worksite wellness initiative, the agreement means that state employees in the governor’s office, the 16 cabinet agencies, the DHEC and the Department of Mental Health can take advantage of a discount of no joining fee and 15 percent off monthly dues at any the state’s YMCAs.

"Offering affordable access to key tools that can help positively impact the health and wellness of our employees, this multi-agency initiative reaffirms South Carolina's commitment to a healthier state," DHEC Public Health Outreach Director Jennifer Read said.

The wellness initiative incorporates five action items – breastfeeding, nutrition, tobacco cessation, overall wellness culture and physical activity, under which this partnership falls.