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Cascade Comprehensive Care Joins Blue Zones Healthy Worksite
This article was in Friday’s (January 20th, 2017) Herald and News
Written By: Johanna Bernhard, H&N Staff Reporter
Fifty people gathered at Cascade Comprehensive Care Thursday morning to celebrate the insurance company’s success in becoming Klamath County’s newest Blue Zones Project approved work-site.
CCC is the parent company for Cascade Health Alliance, the county’s coordinated care organization, managing Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) benefits for about 18,000 people in the county.
In September 2016, the employee wellness committee at CCC began following a list of Blue Zones-suggested activities to meet the requirements to become certified. In December, CCC attained its goal.
Among the crowd of supporters wearing blue Blue Zones T-shirts were members of the employee wellness committee, CCC staff and board members and Blue Zones Project employees.
Blue Zones Project Organization Lead Erin Cox kicked off the ceremony with an introductory speech commending CCC on their continued commitment to becoming Blue Zones approved.
“As representatives of the initiative, (CCC) will help promote well-being in the community,” Cox said.
Blue ribbon moment
Following speeches from Blue Zones Project Community Program Manager Jessie DuBose and Klamath County Commissioner Kelley Minty Morris, CCC President and CEO Tayo Akins cut the blue ribbon alongside his team members from the employee wellness committee.
“The health and wellness initiative will bend the cost of healthcare and improve healthy outcomes for a low-income community,” Akins said.
Minty Morris iterated the positive impact the Blue Zones Project has had in Klamath Falls and the organization’s continued efforts to create a healthy community through healthy living strategies.
Also, the crowd paused for a moment to remember Dr. Stephanie Van Dyke who died last week, but remains an influential part of the Blue Zones Project. Minty Morris encouraged listeners to move forward with Van Dyke’s enthusiastic spirit, inspiring health and wellness incentives in other people.
“We all have the power to inspire those around us,” she said. “Take what Stephanie Van Dyke strived for and embody those principles in our own lives and inspire others.”
The group then stepped outside, taking to the streets to walk a celebratory lap around the neighborhood, embodying the Blue Zones Project initiative and encouraging healthy choices for everyone in the community.
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Cascade Comprehensive Care Joins Blue Zones Healthy Worksite (H&N)
