Benefits Bulletin

Six-Week Solution to Create a Healthy Relationship with Food

Do you struggle with feeding your feelings? People often rush to treat emotional eating with diets; restrictions; workouts; and magic pills. End your food obsession and create a healthier relationship with food.

The OCPS Employee Wellness Program and Cigna are proud to present a FREE, six-week course provided by Overcoming U – Emotional Eating Freedom Formula.

• Learn the root causes of your emotional eating. • Break free from limiting beliefs that hold you back. • Create a coping toolkit to manage your stressors and handle any situation. • Utilize simple and powerful techniques to create mindfulness with eating.

• 12 20-minute sessions that you can listen to on your own schedule. • Learning management system offers e-book; sessions; handouts; and quizzes. • Course begins April 12.

Participants who complete sessions will be entered to win weekly prize drawings and more!

All OCPS employees are invited to participate regardless of insurance coverage. To register, go to http://OvercomingUCourses.com/OCPSSignUp. For questions, email Support@OvercomingU.com.

Benefits Bulletin is designed to keep OCPS employees and their families informed about available benefit programs. This information is not intended to replace professional health care. See your health care professional for information relevant to your medical history.

Get answers to health-related questions and guidance as you strive for (and reach) your wellness goals with the assistance of our new health coach. Through Evernorth™, a Cigna company, ALL OCPS employees will have access to one-on-one, confidential sessions and progress check-ins with Danielle Mize, at no charge.

Mize will be available for sessions in early March. Please look for more information including her contact information in the coming weeks. In the meantime, learn what a health coach can do for you.

A: Through one-on-one sessions, a health coach guides and supports you as you move toward achieving your health and wellness goals. A health coach can help you exercise, change your diet, quit tobacco or manage stress.

A: You can talk about almost anything involving your health. Examples include medical condition management; healthy eating; physical activity; stress; weight loss; and much more!

A: No matter where you are on your health journey, you shouldn't have to go it alone. Evernorth’s health coach is here to help you grow stronger, happier and healthier every day.

Whether you are planning to become pregnant or already have a due date, there are many things to consider before the baby arrives. The OCPS wellpregnancy program, Healthy Babies, provides education to women regarding healthy practices that increase the chances of having a healthy baby.

Education and support are provided for covered mothers-to-be, along with special attention for high-risk pregnancies. They can start up to 12 months prior to conception and includes: • A free book, “Your Pregnancy and Childbirth,” published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that answers questions about pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. • Free prescription prenatal vitamins for expectant mothers. • Free childbirth classes for expectant mothers who meet program requirements. (Note: In order for childbirth classes to be free, one must participate at a designated location, which will be provided by the program at enrollment). • Post-delivery support and services. (Once the baby arrives, Cigna Health Care continues to provide access to the services needed for the first few days after birth). • The OCPS medical plan awards cash incentives for females who join, follow and meet all program requirements. The chart describes the cash incentives in detail.

For more information or to enroll, OCPS Cigna members can email the OCPS Cigna on-site representative at CIGNARepresentative@ocps.net.

If you enroll: You will receive:

Preconception (up to 12 months before pregnancy) $225

Conception up to the 12th week of pregnancy $175

13th to 23rd week of pregnancy $50

Participating health plan parent where pregnant mother is not a participating health plan member. Parent packet

Colon cancer screening can often find colorectal cancer early, when it's small, hasn't spread and might be easier to treat. Regular screening can even prevent colorectal cancer. A polyp can take as many as 10 to 15 years to develop into cancer. With screening, doctors can find and remove polyps before they have the chance to do so.

The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. This can be done either with a sensitive test that looks for signs of cancer in a person’s stool (a stool-based test), or with an exam that looks at the colon and rectum (a visual exam).

• Stool-based tests check the stool (feces) for signs of cancer. They are less invasive and easier to have done, but they need to be done more often. • Visual (structural) exams look at the structure of the colon and rectum for any abnormal areas. This is done either with a scope (a tube-like instrument with a light and tiny video camera on the end) put into the rectum, or with special imaging (X-ray) tests.

If you are over the age of 45, it is important to discuss the risks and benefits of colorectal cancer tests with your doctor, who will be able to provide you insight into which test is best for you.

In 2014, Gordana Petrusic, Discipline and Attendance dean at Lake Buena Vista High, decided to start her health journey after the birth of her second child. The desire to be there for her children, and ride bikes and play in the park with them motivated her to take control of her health.

Petrusic focused on being more physically active. At work, she finds ways to keep moving and takes the stairs up three floors rather than using the elevator. On average, she walks 18,000 steps daily. When she is not working, she has the support of a P90X® coach who challenges and encourages her to achieve fitness aspirations she previously thought impossible.

Before After

“Mrs. Petrusic has been working several years on becoming healthier physically, emotionally and mentally,” wrote Boone High Assistant Principal Jessica Torres, who used to work with and nominated her.

With the diagnosis of prediabetes, Petrusic has been able to lower her A1c from 5.7 to 4.8 and reduce her required medicine by 75%.

Asked what she learned on her journey, she said she is “happy, full of joy and desire to challenge myself.”

7 a.m.: 2 miles 7:30 a.m.: 10k (6.2 miles) 251 Park Avenue North Winter Park, Fla. 32789

Held exclusively for Florida's corporate community, businesses and nonprofit organizations can form teams and participate in the SimplyIOA Corporate 5k for camaraderie, friendly competition and celebrating with co-workers.

Running is not required. Walkers are welcome.

Don't have a team? Join the OCPS – RBELC team!

6:15 p.m.*, Early arrival is recommended. Lake Eola, Downtown Orlando (virtual option is available)

For more information and to register, visit https://www.trackshack.com/events/.

Several OCPS locations are already training. Contact your wellness representative to find out if your worksite has formed a team, or email wellness@ocps.net for more information.

*The SimplyIOA Corporate 5k is planned to be an in-person event with the option to participate virtually. Health guidelines released by the CDC as it relates to sporting events are continually monitored and the event is in constant communication with city partners.

Present at time of purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Some restrictions apply.

Present at time of purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Some restrictions apply.

Present at time of purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Some restrictions apply.

As your local university development counselor, I’m here to help you learn more about Grand Canyon University and start your college journey! Why choose GCU?

• More than 200 online academic programs • Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs available 100% online* • Cost-reduction options and scholarship opportunities • Complimentary transfer credit evaluation and more

Lauren Hazeltine | 602-247-3718 lauren.hazeltine@gcu.edu | gcu.edu/OCPS

Is additional education one of your goals? If so, we encourage you to learn more about your discount education opportunities with Capella University.

• 50% off first session in FlexPath + a 10% tuition discount on all subsequent sessions when you enroll by June 2022 • $3,000-$8,000 scholarships on bachelor’s and master’s programs + an additional 10% tuition discount • $5,000-$20,000 Doctoral Scholarships + an additional 10% tuition discount