Lincoln County hears update on employee wellness program; 67 screened, 28 fully enrolled in quarter 1

Trudy Merritt, outreach coordinator at the West Central District Health Department, told the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on June 9 that the county—s employee wellness program completed its first quarter and had 67 people complete biometric screening and enrollment in the program.

Merritt said 60 of the 67 participants were county staff and seven were family members; of the 67, 28 fully participated in the quarter—s activities and 28 declined to take part beyond the screening. "The focus is on habit formation," Merritt said. "We—re not just measuring weight; we are helping people build sustainable habits." She said the program launched in January 2025 with biometric screenings and began program activities in February.

The program includes biometric screening, weekly education, personal coaching, an activity goal based on adult exercise-minute recommendations, and an anonymous mental-health platform called Credible Minds. Merritt said participation on Credible Minds exceeded expectations: many employees completed multiple mental-health assessments. "Some employees have done eight, nine, 10 of them," she said, and added that county managers Tammy and Becky asked the health department to emphasize mental-health supports.

Merritt reported measurable clinical outcomes in the quarter: 22 participants reduced blood pressure, nine had slightly higher readings and one was unchanged. Weight changes were small overall but Merritt said retaining weight rather than gaining it is a meaningful outcome for an aging employee population. Participants who completed all program requirements earned an incentive of four hours of paid time off or an equivalent gift card; eight employees took PTO in the quarter.

County commissioners and staff praised the program—s accessibility. Board members noted that screenings were provided at worksites, including the roads department, and that offering onsite labs likely raised participation. Jason Schultz, Lincoln County highway superintendent, acknowledged employees in the roads department who participated. Merritt said the program—s quarterly structure (Feb-Apr, May-Jul, etc.) and the option to join at the start of any quarter helps recruit later enrollees.

Merritt cautioned that participation rates are driven by individual choice: "You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make them drink," she said. She urged a long-term view: sustained participation and culture change take years. The board requested ongoing updates; Merritt said the program will continue and that she would report year-to-year trends as participation grows.

Program details provided to the board included: 67 biometric screenings completed in quarter 1 (60 staff, 7 family); 28 full participants who met activity, education and mental-health engagement requirements; incentives of 4 hours PTO or equivalent gift cards; and evidence of improvements in blood-pressure measurements for 22 participants.

The county board acknowledged the program—s potential to lower long-term health care costs and improve employee productivity but noted it may take multiple years to demonstrate financial savings in the county insurance program.