Due to social distancing recommendations from the CDC and stay-at-home orders from Washington state leadership, Balanced You has made temporary changes to our programs so you can continue accessing many of them while social distancing. We worked with our partners to transition in-person programs and resources to online formats when possible, and to create new programs and resources that support King County employees in staying healthy and well while you respond to this pandemic, professionally and personally.
Below is a detailed list of programs and statuses, which the Balanced You team will continue to update as changes arise. If you have ideas of additional programs or resources that would help you during this time, please reach out to us with your requests or recommendations at balancedyou@kingcounty.gov.
Financial wellness
My Secure Advantage (MSA)
My Secure Advantage (MSA) is a free program that offers tools and coaching to support you in reaching your financial goals. Employees have access to a Money Coach, calculators, webinars and other resources to help with creating a budget, paying down debt, planning for retirement and more.
Status: Available. Because all MSA programming is delivered online or over-the phone, it is available without change during the COVID-19 response. MSA does ask that you register online during this time if possible, instead of calling to register. Click here for more information.
My Secure Advantage provides 90 days of free, confidential telephone-based coaching to all King County employees. Spouses and partners are welcome to participate on the coaching calls.
Managing Long-term Health
Omada
Omada is an online program that helps people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes prevent it with healthy lifestyle changes. If you qualify, a professional health coach will help you build good habits around food, exercise, sleep and stress. You’ll monitor your progress with a wireless scale and online check-ins with your coach.
Status: Available. Because Omada is an online program, it is available without change during the COVID-19 response. Click here for more information.
Omada is available at no additional cost to King County employees and your eligible dependents who have Kaiser Permanente or Regence BlueShield health coverage.
Living Well
A long-term health condition is an illness that lasts 3 or more months, such as heart disease, asthma, or diabetes. If you have a long-term health condition, Kaiser Permanente’s Living Well programs can help you become more active, boost your energy, eat and sleep better, manage your pain, and more.
Status: Available with adjustments. While in-person group workshops at Kaiser Permanent facilities are suspended during the COVID-19 response, online sessions through Better Choices, Better Health continue to be available to King County employees. Click here for more information.
Better Choices, Better Health programs are available at no additional cost to all King County employees and your eligible dependents who have Kaiser Permanente or Regence BlueShield health insurance.
Mental health
Mindfulness classes
Through a partnership with Mindfulness Northwest, Balanced You offers online and in-person mindfulness classes to support employees in reducing stress and improving well-being. King County employees are invited to join classes designed specifically for King County employees, or attend community classes held throughout the Puget Sound region.
Status: Available with adjustments. All mindfulness classes have been transitioned to live, interactive, online formats. Check the Balanced You blog for updated schedules of employee-only classes. If you would like to register for an online community class, please click here. Balanced You is currently working with Mindfulness Northwest to develop a menu of King County employee classes for the coming months.
Mindfulness Northwest classes are available to all King County employees, at no additional cost. Please email balancedyou@kingcounty.gov to receive permission to attend a community class, prior to registration.
Mindfulness videos
Balanced You staff have partnered with Mindfulness Northwest to develop a series of mindfulness videos. The five videos, ranging from two to 14 minutes, cover topics including breath awareness and gratitude and are available on-demand so you can practice mindfulness any time and anywhere that fits your schedule.
Status: Available.
These mindfulness videos are available all employees and accessible by the general public.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an 8-hour training course designed to give members of the public (non-clinicians) basic skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Trainees learn a single 5-step strategy that includes assessing risk, respectfully listening to and supporting the individual in crisis, and identifying appropriate professional help and other supports In addition to your coach, you’ll join a small group of fellow participants who share similar goals.
Status: Paused. During the COVID-19 response, in-person MHFA trainings are paused.
MHFA classes are available to all King County employees, at no additional cost.
Making Life Easier and Employee Assistance Program
While not Balanced You programs, these two programs are incredible benefits to support your mental health and well-being. Making Life Easier (MLE) provides free counseling and referrals, credit and legal consultations, mortgage assistance, childcare resources and referrals, mildly sick childcare and adult/elder care in addition to a myriad of other issues. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides free counseling to help King County employees navigate workplace stress. Click here for more information.
Status: Available. Both MLE and EAP continue to be available to employees during the coronavirus response. Counselors may choose to meet via telehealth to promote social distancing.
MLE is available to all King County employees and their dependents at no additional cost. EAP is available to all King County employees at no additional cost.
Nutrition
Sound Food Uprising Workshops
Through a partnership with Beecher’s Foundation, Balanced You offers in-person cooking and nutrition classes for teams of employees across King County.
Status: Paused. These classes are on pause during the COVID-19 response. Employees are encouraged to visit this Balanced You blog post to learn tips for healthy eating during coronavirus.
Sound Food Uprising Workshops are available to King County employees, at no additional cost.
WW Classes
Balanced You partners with WW to support you in achieving your wellness goals to lose weight, eat healthier, move more, develop a more positive mindset, or all of the above. Click here for more information.
Status: Available with adjustments. While all in-person programs and classes are currently paused, WW digital classes are available via the WW app and website.
WW is available to all employees and benefits-covered spouses and state-registered domestic partners. King County pays for half of your membership dues.
Physical Activity
Activity Centers
Balanced You maintains over 20 King County worksites. These convenient spaces are designed for employees to get moderate levels of physical activity. Click here for more information.
Status: Paused. In alignment with public health recommendations and mandates from state leadership, King County Activity Centers are closed until further notice.
Activity Centers are available to King County employees at no additional cost.
Desk exercise videos
Due to the temporary closure of Activity Centers, Balanced You staff have partnered with Vivecorp to develop a website of easy desk stretches and exercises that can be done whether you’re working at home, in the field, or in the office.
Status: Available.
The Balanced You website “Easy Desk Stretches and Exercises” is available to all employees and accessible by the general public.
Worksite Fund
The Worksite Fund, now in its third year, is a competitive grant process that awards approximately 25-35 projects across County agencies each year to improve health, well-being, and safety in our worksites. Grants up to $5,000 support projects in a wide variety of health and well-being domains. Click here for more information.
Status: Paused. The 2020 Worksite Fund application period has been temporarily paused. An updated application deadline will be announced at a later date. Employees are invited to continue brainstorming Worksite Fund projects during this time.
The Worksite Fund is available to all King County employees.
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