SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Wellness Program Revamped!

Photo: (Left to right) Sebastian Buitron, Kristina Schmidt, Mitzi Hernandez, and David Perez

The Hidalgo County Employee Wellness Program has been revamped to provide more services to county employees and increase employee engagement to positively affect the health and well-being of our county workforce. We are pleased to announce new team members; the program now consists of two new coordinators and a nutritionist.

MEET THE TEAM

Sebastian Buitron, a Wellness Coordinator, earned a Bachelor of Health and Fitness Management from Texas State University. He has been on a mission for the past three years to change the lives around him through health and wellness. Sebastian is ready to help Hidalgo County employees on their journey toward a healthier life by motivating our county workforce to be more active and promoting physical fitness. He loves spending time with his family and working out in his free time.

Kristina Schmidt is the program's Nutritionist, a brand-new position created to serve county employees. She earned a Bachelor in Science of Dietetics from the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) and is a licensed and registered dietitian. In 2007, she became the first International Federation of BodyBuilding Fitness Professional in the Rio Grande Valley. She has 16 years of experience in the fitness and nutrition industry, with many success stories from individuals. Kristina's goal is to improve the community's health and well-being through nutrition. She believes food is medicine and is here to help county employees prosper into a better quality of life.

Mitzi Hernandez is one of the county's new Wellness Coordinators and is honored to expand a healthy mindset among her fellow coworkers. She graduated from UTPA with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. Mitzi has more than nine years of human resources experience focusing on employee relations, employee engagement, and company projects. She enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and extended family in her free time. Mitzi will be assisting employees identify resources available through county benefit programs.

David Perez is the Multimedia Specialist for the program. David earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). He has 10 years of experience in graphic design, photography and nearly four years of experience in broadcast media production. He has been a part of the Wellness Program for more than two years now.

Each member brings their own insights and experiences to the program and aspires to build a positive culture where the knowledge gained by county employees about health and wellness seeps into the community.

WELLNESS CHAMPION OF THE MONTH

Aleyda Anzaldua

Nominate a Potential Wellness Champion

Do you know someone who has made changes to improve their health and well-being? Nominate them below for a chance to be featured as the next Wellness Champion of the Month!

WELLNESS SPOTLIGHT

Wrapping Up: Spring 2023 Wellness Challenge

Photo: Alejandra Hernandez participates in the initial weigh-in for the Spring 2023 Wellness Challenge.

This week, the Hidalgo County Employee Wellness Program is making stops by nine locations throughout the county to close out its Spring 2023 Wellness Challenge that began back in March.

The top two winners from the men and women categories will be chosen based on the most body fat percentage lost. Winners will be notified and announced within a week after all weigh-ins are complete.

Wellness Program kicks off pilot program by providing Wellness Libraries at county offices

Photo: Staff at the County Judge's Office receiving their Wellness Library display.

The Employee Wellness Program has dropped off its Wellness Libraries at selected offices throughout the county. The libraries will provide county employees with information about their benefits and other services supported by Hidalgo County.

Some of the items in the library are the monthly wellness campaigns, H-E-B Wellness Nutrition Services, the free fitness classes at the Precinct 2 Indoor Sports Complex, Transform Diabetes Program by Aetna, and Deer Oaks Employee Assistance Program Services.

Thank you to all the offices that allowed us to drop off a library. We are hoping to expand this project to other locations soon. Be on the lookout!

Want to request a library? Email us at hidalgocounty.wellness@co.hidalto.tx.us.

Juvenile Justice Center construct "El Rinconcito"

to help improve employees' well-being

Photo: Chief Maryann Denner and the staff at the Juvenile Probation Department gather for a ribbon cutting of their new employee wellness corner, called "El Rinconcito".

On March 15, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Hidalgo County Juvenile Justice Center to celebrate its new employee wellness corner, also called, "El Rinconcito".

Chief Maryann Denner, the director of the Juvenile Probation Department, mentioned "El Rinconcito" will be a type of wellness station for when staff members feel overwhelmed with stress and need a minute away from their desks.

"Giving yourself a chance to step away from a stressful situation ... even if for a couple of minutes, is proven to lower illness and promote a healthier work environment," said Chief Denner.

We would like to thank Chief Denner and the Juvenile Probation Department for inviting the Wellness Team to be part of the ceremony, as well as for their efforts in promoting employee wellness within their department.

“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever."

– Walt Disney

UPCOMING WELLNESS EVENTS

This important session is part of the 2023 Leadership Certificate Webinar Series, which will provide a comprehensive overview of the management and leadership skills necessary to be a supervisor that can effectively motivate and engage a work team. Skills to be covered include employee relationship development, team building, coaching, performance management, and conflict resolution.

Effective time management is critical to ensure you feel more accomplished and less overwhelmed at the end of a busy day. Time management is a learned skill. It requires self-discipline and a desire to become conscious of how one manages daily activities. This session will explain the time management process and the characteristics of effective time managers. It will discuss the importance of prioritizing important events and explore the role of delegation requests with others.

WELLNESS RESOURCES

Free fitness classes at Precinct 2 Indoor Sports Complex for county employees

Wellness Podcast Recommendations of the Month

A fan of podcasts? We'd like to help you out with suggestions. Every month we will highlight a few podcasts that cover health and wellness topics. Take a listen on your breaks or commute to work and home.

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Recipe – Balanced Meal of the Month