Dear Orange County Family,
The Oath of Office Ceremony was held on Monday, and I had the pleasure of welcoming District 1 Commissioner Nicole H. Wilson to the Board and congratulating District 3 Commissioner Mayra Uribe and District 5 Commissioner Emily Bonilla on their reelections. All of these commissioners are wholeheartedly committed to public service and ensuring our community is thriving for generations to come. We are proud to have them as part of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners and local leaders.
COVID Testing
To slow the spread of the virus, getting tested is strongly encouraged. Our Health Services Department continues to offer free 7-day-a-week drive-thru rapid testing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Barnett Park. All County employees and their family members are welcome to receive testing regardless of where they live. Please note, although your health insurance may be billed, there are no out of pocket costs for receiving the test. For details, visit ocfl.net/testing and click #1 on the map. Supervisor approval is required if an employee desires to get tested during scheduled work hours.
Wellness Programs
The health and wellness of employees is a top priority and we strive to foster a culture in which embracing a healthy lifestyle is promoted, encouraged and rewarded. This is achieved by offering a variety of programs for employees and their families to not only engage in healthy habits, but also prevent problems from occurring in the future. Below you’ll find information about two programs employees can enroll in beginning January 2021.
There is a new health management program for County employees! Orlando Health Choose One is a comprehensive program designed by a team of experts to help participants manage their cardiovascular risk more effectively. The Choose One program is broken down into three specific phases. Each phase provides participants with the support and knowledge needed to reduce cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, body weight, as well as make a positive impact on overall health. Watch the video to learn more about the Choose One program. Enrollment will take place from January 4 - 16, 2021. You can register, as well as learn more about the program by visiting the Choose One website.
For questions about Choose One, call Orlando Health at 877-482-4667. For questions about all of the County's wellness programs, email wellness@ocfl.net.
Enrollment for the Thrive program, a Diabetes Care Management program available through our partnership with AdventHealth, begins on January 1, 2021 and goes through January 31, 2021. This innovative program aims to help participants manage life with diabetes and thrive through a multi-disciplinary approach. Employees and/or family members who have participated in the program since we started offering it four years ago have not only improved their overall health, but have also noticed a sustained decrease in their overall blood sugar levels. Watch the video about the Thrive program to learn more. For questions or more information, email wellness@ocfl.net.
Both of these programs can help you in bringing your health goals to fruition AND also in earning your myOCWellness points for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year. Employees and/or spouses must earn at least 70 points to receive the wellness credit in 2022. Visit the ocfl.net/myOCWellness to learn more about how you can earn points.
Toy Drive
The turnout for this year’s toy drive is tremendous. So far, we have over 3,500 toys, and that number is growing as County staff pick up toys and bring them over to our holiday warehouse for distribution to families in need.
If you would like to donate toys, it’s not too late! You can drop off a new, unwrapped toy at one of our many drop-off sites throughout the County by next Monday, December 14, 2020. To find a site near you, visit ocfl.net/ToyDrive.
Virtual Bucket: Salvation Army
To support the Salvation Army of Orlando Virtual Red Kettle Campaign, Orange County has adopted a kettle. This online donation option is a safe, fun, and easy way to serve as a virtual bell ringer. Funds from the Red Kettle Campaign stay in Orange and Osceola County to help provide toys for kids at Christmas, provide clothes for the homeless, feed the hungry and countless other social service programs to those in need year-round. The deadline to donate is Christmas Eve. Click here to donate.
I am in awe of your generous spirit not only during the season of giving but all year long. Thank you for all you do and your commitment to public service.
