Welcome to DCHR's Employee Wellness Series!
At DCHR, we prioritize your well-being and work-life balance. We're excited to offer you a diverse range of wellness courses to help you take care of yourself and your loved ones. Our wellness program includes everything from invigorating fitness classes to insightful mental health seminars, delectable cooking demonstrations, and so much more.
Never Skip a Beat DC! Discover the perfect wellness webinars and resources designed to empower you to create a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Your well-being matters to us, and we're here to support your journey to a healthier, happier you.
All employees are welcome to attend the webinars.
Available exclusively to you, as a DC Government employee, and your family.
November is National Family Caregivers and Diabetes Awareness Month.
This month, as we transition into the autumn season, we are excited to recognize and celebrate two important awareness: National Family Caregivers Month and Diabetes Awareness Month. These observances invite us to reflect on the invaluable contributions of family caregivers and to enhance our understanding of diabetes and its impact on our communities.
DC, we extend a warm invitation to seize the benefits of the educational webinars and an abundance of resources thoughtfully curated for you and your family by DCHR and healthcare providers. Make the most of this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and well-being – it's a valuable resource designed especially for
Find the perfect wellness webinars and resources to help you create a healthy lifestyle.
Wellness Virtual Webinars
Thriving with Prediabetes
November 7, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Get tips on healthy eating, exercise, and stress management. Also, learn ways to manage pre-diabetes and diabetes through lifestyle changes and receive resources to support you throughout your journey.
Meditation Class: Reduce Anxiety and Stress
November 8, 2023 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
As a tribute to every employee – from the directors of the agencies to the hardest working clerical staff – 11:30 am meditations are inspired to give your mind a little rest to rejuvenate and recharge.
Each 30-minute meditation helps relax the entire body, including the brain, the nervous system, and the heart’s blood pressure. Gentle slow breaths also nurture the immune system and lower rates of anxiety and depression.
Build a Routine! Occurs every Wednesday
Spanish Class with Profesora Harrison and Nina Jones
November 8, 2023 | 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Enhance your language skills with elementary and intermediate level Spanish. Learn basic Spanish oral and written communication skills.
Build a Routine! Occurs every Wednesday
Caring for Elders
November 9, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
This course aims to educate on all facets of aging and caring for those who are aging. Using interactive exercises to engage the participants, this course prepares us for our own eventual aging as well as caring for our parents and others. Symptoms and behaviors of those who have dementia are explored and warning signs, coping strategies, and safety tips are considered. Finally, it is stressed that no matter what, it's always important to take care of yourself, too.
Learning Points:
- Understand the aging process
- Discuss the signs of Dementia and its impact on behavior
- Raise awareness of warning signs of health issues
- Discuss agitated and disinhibited behaviors
- Discuss practical coping strategies
- Understand the importance of looking after yourself
Mindful Mondays: Guided Meditation Cultivating Gratitude This Holiday Season
November 13, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join us for a mindful practice of how to incorporate gratitude into your daily life for this season and going forward. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
Sleep Awareness
November 14, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Learn about the importance and benefits of sleep to your physical and mental health. Build awareness about sleep disorders and tips for getting a good night’s sleep.
Well Talk: Navigating Grief & Loss
November 14, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Processing grief associated with loss is difficult. Adding the dynamics of the workplace makes navigating grief and loss even more complex. This training will explore the impacts of loss and equip attendees with resources for managing grief and bereavement.
Meeting ID: 286 095 913 177
Passcode: wT4Y4U
Understanding Diabetes
November 14, 2023 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Although directly related to high blood sugar, diabetes is a complex disease that may lead to other serious health conditions over time. During this presentation, you will learn about obesity trends and the rise of diabetes in the United States. We will also define diabetes, learn the risk factors for developing diabetes, and discuss healthier behaviors that may help manage diabetes.
Well-Being Wednesdays: Thriving with Pre-Diabetes/Diabetes
November 15, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Get tips on healthy eating, exercise, and stress management. Also, learn ways to manage pre-diabetes and diabetes through lifestyle changes and receive resources to support you throughout your journey.
Supporting Colleagues through Difficult Times
November 16, 2023 | 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
When a member of the work community experiences an episode of chronic illness, diagnosis of serious illness, or loss of a family member, our first instinct is to extend an offer of support. Yet, we often pause as we feel awkward, uncomfortable, and unsure about what to say. Research tells us that working among supportive team members can make a huge difference to the coworker who is managing the difficulty.
This session provides the basics on how to reach out and help. It offers information on behavioral signals of distress, listening techniques, and supportive messages to deliver.
Join this session to:
- Learn common reactions to a variety of traumatic events
- Know the signs of anticipatory grief and distress
- Understand the process of recovery following the death of a coworker
- Know how to cope with stress and improve resiliency
Self-care for the Caregivers
November 28, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Being in the role of caregiver has emotional, mental, physical, and financial impacts. This workshop will examine the impacts of caregiving while equipping participants with strategies to support themselves or others in caregiver roles.
Building Awareness and Practical Strategies for Supporting Neurodivergent Family and Friends
November 28, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
This session aims to provide participants with valuable insights and practical strategies for fostering understanding and supporting neurodivergent individuals, particularly family and friends. The session explores neurodiversity, highlighting the unique perspectives and needs of individuals with these conditions, with a specific focus on children. Through research findings and real-life examples, participants will gain an understanding of the common characteristics and challenges associated with Autism and ADHD. The session then delves into effective communication strategies to foster positive relationships and reduce misunderstandings. Practical tips will be shared on creating a supportive environment, including establishing routines, providing sensory accommodations, and using positive reinforcement. The ultimate goal of this session is to empower participants to build bridges of empathy, understanding, and support, enabling them to make a meaningful difference in the lives of their neurodivergent family and friends
Join this session to:
- Gain insights into neurodivergent perspectives and needs
- Learn effective communication strategies
- Discover practical tips for creating a supportive environment
- Explore different approaches to building meaningful relationships with neurodivergent family and friends
Healthy Mind Tool Kit: Boosting Your Mental Health
November 30, 2023 | 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Many people become more concerned about meeting other people's needs and expectations at the cost of neglecting their own. It is important to remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup and that taking care of yourself by managing your own health and energy is an essential part of living a happy life. This empowering session will help you learn coping strategies for dealing with adversity in a constructive way and develop structured mechanisms for building better mental health.
- Learn how to optimize levels of mental health.
- Identify ways to manage adversity and change.
- Learn practical stress management strategies.
- Develop structured mechanisms for building better mental health.
November Wellness Resources
Family Caregivers Resources
Caregivers Burnout Learn More
All About Caregiving Learn More
Healthy Eating Tips for Busy Caregivers Learn More
Caregiver Worksheet Learn More
Communication Tips for Caregivers Learn More
Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers Learn More
Multi-generational Living Learn More
3 Tips For Managing Caregiver Burnout Learn More
When Friends and Neighbors Help with Caregiving Learn More
Diabetes Awareness Resources
Taking Charge of Diabetes Learn More
Are You at Risk? What is Prediabetes? Learn More
My Diabetes Toolkit Learn More
What is Diabetes? Learn More
Preventing Burnout with Diabetes Learn More
Manage Type 2 Diabetes by Tracking 2 Key Numbers Learn More
Positively healthy: Living with diabetes Learn More
Simple Ways to Manage Your Diabetes Learn More
Your Guide to Understanding and Managing Prediabetes Learn More