September 2021 Open Line

Take a brain break during your workday to take on this week’s word game,  search, puzzle, crossword, or quiz! Download this week’s “All About the Heart” CROSSWORD PUZZLE or WORD SEARCH” HERE.

FEELING THE PRESSURE? 

Did you know that nearly 1 in 2 adults has high blood pressure!?

In recognition of World Heart Day (Wednesday, September 29), check out this heart-healthy infographic.  
 
Looking for additional resources to help you with these strategies to live a heart-healthy lifestyle? Be sure to check out the following:  

• What keeps you from being more active? Find out by taking the Barriers to Being Active Quiz.  
• Quitting smoking can be hard. Having a plan makes things a bit easier! Making a personalized quit plan can keep you on track and help you through the times that challenge you the most. Create a quit plan and check out these Tobacco Quit Aids (available to members of the State’s health insurance plan). 

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Celebrate by trying some of these healthy recipes! 

• Slow-Cooker Arroz con Pollo (Chicken & Rice)  
• Black Bean & Chicken Burrito 
• Baked Chicken Chimichangas 
• Black Bean & Avocado Salsa 
• Pupusas Revueltas (Salvadoran-style Stuffed Masa Cakes)

Take a brain break during your workday to take on this week’s word game, search, puzzle, crossword, or quiz! Download this week’s “September Is Healthy Aging Month Wordfind” HERE.

Let’s give our brains a little workday break!

Please join WFHTN for a live word scramble BRAIN GAME.  

When: Thursday, September 23 from 1-1:15 PM Central  

Activity: WFHTN Wellness Coordinator, Lindsey, will be leading on WebEx.  Equipment Needed: You may want to have a pen/pencil and notepad close by for this activity! Join from this meeting link!  

GIVE YOUR BODY A BREAK WITH THESE WEEKLY WORKOUTS!  

YOGA FOR ALL: WEDNESDAYS AT 12-12:15 PM CENTRAL 

 Join us for a 15-minute live virtual seated yoga class HERE ON WEBEX each week (password: yoga) that is suitable for beginners & relaxing for all fitness levels. No special equipment or attire is needed - just a chair! **

This class is brought to you by volunteer Certified Yoga Teachers and State employees in partnership with Working for a Healthier TN. Note: Each class will be led by a different yoga instructor: Denise Galben (DHS), Kristina Giard-Bradford (TDH), Lara Gill (TDH), and Noel Marie Blackmire (TDOE). We hope you'll join us every Wednesday afternoon!  

DCS THURSDAY FITNESS BREAKS: FROM 11-11:15 AM CENTRAL

Give your body a break with the DCS Wellness Council every Thursday HERE ON TEAMS!

You can expect a live stream workout handpicked by the DCS Wellness Council members.   

LIVING WITH A CHRONIC CONDITION? 

Check out one of these available programs to help you better manage your condition, whether arthritis, asthma, cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease, or obesity. 

For State health plan members: Consider "Disease Management Group Coaching." (Call ActiveHealth at 888-741- 3390 to see if you qualify!)  

For non-health plan members: Consider the "Living Well with Chronic Conditions" workshops with the Tennessee Department of Health. (For more information about this program, including how to sign up please contact Danielle.McCoy@tn.gov.)

A Quick, Confidential Look at Your Mental Health

National Depression Screening Day is set for Thursday, October 7.  With the effects of the pandemic, many more Tennesseans than normal are self-reporting symptoms of depression.

Taking a quick and confidential screening is an easy way you can get an honest look at your current mental health and then connect with resources based on the results. 

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and its partners at Mental Health America offers online screenings for depression and many other behavioral health concerns at this link: TN.gov/behavioral-health/screenings.

JOIN YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR HEALTHIER LUNCH HABITS 

Don't miss your chance to join the DCS Wellness Council’s upcoming PACK YOUR LUNCH CHALLENGE (Monday, Sept. 13 through Friday, Sept. 24).  

The goal: Aim to pack your lunch each workday. (Download your “Lunch Packer Tracker” for the challenge HERE.)  

FIVE prizes for participating are up for grabs!  If you'd like to receive emails with challenge tips & reminders, please sign-up HERE. (Note: You do not have to sign-up to participate in this challenge.)  

WEEKLY WORD GAME: MENTAL HEALTH WORD SEARCH

 Take a brain break during your workday to take on this week’s word game, search, puzzle, crossword, or quiz!

Download this week’s “Mental Health” word search HERE.  

 LIVE STANDING CORE WORKOUT 

Ready for an activity break to help you feel energized and motivated? It’s time for the next LIVE Workout with Working for a Healthier Tennessee!  

When: Tuesday, September 14 from 9:30-9:45 a.m. Central/10:30-10:45 a.m. Eastern. 

Workout: WFHTN Wellness Coordinator, Kayla, will be leading a standing core workout for ALL fitness levels. 

Attire: Anything you can move in! 

Equipment Needed: None. 

** Please sign this digital waiver prior to the live workout.** 

Join from this meeting link!

Take a moment to learn more about “The Role of Co-Workers in Preventing Suicide” in honor of National Suicide Prevention Month (September). 

And be sure to join the next #4Mind4Body webinar on “Suicide Prevention” on Thursday, September 16. (Pre-registration required.) 

A Heartfelt Note After the  Floods

I wanted to highlight how amazing DCS is.  The Northwest Region was hit hard by the flooding a couple of weeks ago. We lost our Humphreys County office to the flood, but even more tragically, we had three employees who lost their homes and everything they own. 

The DCS community has pitched in with donations to help the three employees offset their losses -- an effort that has brought in over $2,000.  The donations have been coming in from employees statewide, and the help continues to arrive every day.  

Meantime, our staff have also shown up to help with the cleanup efforts.

 I am in awe of how much compassion is spread across this organization. 

It’s truly made up of people who are in service of others, and it shows. 

-- Rebekah Bowlin

In desperate need of a bit of TLC, the visitation rooms at the Dickson County DCS office received just that when the Craig Morgan Foundation and volunteers from Cross Point church showed up! 

With a heart not only for the children and families of Dickson Co but the workers who give so much of their time, these two groups joined forces to make the visitation rooms, a comfortable and cozy space that children of all ages won’t mind coming to.  

The Craig Morgan Foundation funded the project and Crosspoint Volunteers created these cozy rooms. This is just one of the many things they have done for Dickson County DCS…and the staff in Dickson Co and surrounding areas could not be more grateful! 

We all have the same purpose, to help the children and families in this community, and together we make that happen!

-- Donna Lorhorn

Please join Tennessee Government Management Institute (TGMI) in supporting the military and their families by participating in a virtual 5k race any time from September 1-6, 2021. 

This virtual race event is hosted by the USO who serves our military service members and their families.  

The USO Run for the Brave 5k (2021) virtual race can be worked on a little bit every day Sept. 1 - 6 or can be completed during one occurrence during any of these days… the choice is completely yours! 

Please check out the attached flyers for additional information, including to join the TN State Government race team.  If you’d rather not run but wish to support by donating to USO programs for our military service members and their families, please check out the TN State Government’s page.    

Let’s salute our military service members and their families for their service and sacrifice for all of us and our great nation!  Thank you for your volunteer spirit and your service to our great state and great nation.

DCS’ PACK YOUR LUNCH CHALLENGE IS COMING!

Join us in practicing healthier lunch habits in this 2-week challenge!

The goal is simple - aim to pack your lunch each workday.

Starts Monday, Sept. 13 

FIVE prizes for participating are up for grabs!  

If you'd like to receive emails with challenge tips & reminders, please sign-up HERE. (Note: You do not have to sign-up to participate in this challenge.)  

WE’VE GOT GRAINS ON THE BRAIN  

Every September, we celebrate the goodness of whole grains! Whole Grains Month is a great time for everyone to get on the whole grains bandwagon.  Eating better is not an all-or-nothing choice. Every little improvement you make in your food helps—all year long.  

Be sure to check out this "Whole Grains Month" handout from WFHTN HERE and/or take on the “Guess the Grains” quiz.  

TAKE A BREAK WITH THESE WEEKLY WORKOUTS! 

 YOGA FOR ALL: WEDNESDAYS AT 12-12:15 PM CENTRAL  

Join us for a 15-minute live virtual seated yoga class HERE ON WEBEX each week (password: yoga) that is suitable for beginners & relaxing for all fitness levels. No special equipment or attire is needed - just a chair! 

**This class is brought to you by volunteer Certified Yoga Teachers and State employees in partnership with Working for a Healthier TN.

Note: Each class will be led by a different yoga instructor: Denise Galben (DHS), Kristina Giard-Bradford (TDH), Lara Gill (TDH), and Noel Marie Blackmire (TDOE). We hope you'll join us every Wednesday afternoon!  

DCS THURSDAY FITNESS BREAKS: FROM 11-11:15 AM CENTRAL 

Give your body a break with the DCS Wellness Council every Thursday HERE ON TEAMS! You can expect a livestream workout handpicked by your Wellness Council members.  

Wanna work out on your own? Try this “15-Minute Office Workout” from Stephen Flynn, Case Manager at Northeast Region, Sullivan County.

One of the many services that our Post Adoption Unit provides is searching for birth relatives of individuals who were adopted in the state of Tennessee and helping them connect with each other.  This is a photo of a customer who sought our assistance in finding birth family when he was able to meet his biological siblings for the first time.  He wrote to the Program Specialist that managed his request:

“Just wanted to follow up with you. Thank you again so much for all your help. I made a trip to Tennessee this past weekend and met my sister and brother. It was an amazing adventure and all because of you. Thank you so much!!!”

- Lindsay Coleman

The U.S. Census Bureau this week released 52 individual data profiles on America Counts highlighting the recent 2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File release.

These sharable data-rich state profiles are available for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and feature data visualizations that include population, housing, race, ethnicity, diversity, and age data. Each profile provides key demographic characteristics of each state and county on one page.

If you want to go straight to Tennessee, here's the Volunteer State profile.

Thank you to all who celebrated “National Smile Week” with the DCS Wellness Council! Many of you showed off your smiles - capturing selfies and sharing about loved ones or things, pets, and/or activities that make YOU smile. Here are just a few of the photos you shared with us.  

Photos submitted by: Herbert A. Smith, Kristal Ray, Vicki Burton, Kara Williams, Kayla Faulkner, Stephen Flynn, Delora Ruffin, Mechele Porter, Shannon M. Patterson, John Wesley Strahlman III, Shayna Smith, Becky Partin, Magdalynn Head, and Venus Singleton. 

September is National Yoga Month

Consider giving yoga a try with these free Yoga Video Resources in honor of National Yoga Month.

Also, want to give a beginner-level, relaxing seated yoga class a try? Don't miss this 15-minute live virtual series each week. (No special equipment or attire is needed - just a chair!)  

WHEN: Wednesdays at 12-12:15 PM Central (Please note this change in time from previous months!)  

**Download your calendar appointment for every Wednesday in September HERE.** 

YOUR FARM-FRESH PHOTOS 

Thank you for celebrating National Farmers Market Week with the DCS Wellness Council!

Here are just a few of the farm-fresh photos you shared with us. 

Photos submitted by: Cindy Armes, Shayna Smith, Shawna Bertram, Rena Seay, Jessica Harman, Lucy Hensley, Venus Singleton, and Wayne Dawson.

**NEW** BREAKFAST CROSSWORD

We all experience "morning madness" — whether it's a time crunch, picky eaters, or kids without morning appetites, many things can make for a stressful morning. Breakfast, however, is really an important meal! 
 
In honor of the back-to-school season, take a brain break to complete this BREAKFAST CROSSWORD. ** Submit your completed crossword to dcswellness.council@tn.gov to see how you did!

LIVESTREAMED STRETCH 

Want to relieve your body aches and take a moment to de-stress?

Join us for a LIVE Workout with Working for a Healthier Tennessee (WFHTN)!  

• Workout: LIVEstreamed Stretch 
• Attire: Anything you can move in! 
• Equipment Needed: None  

** Please sign this digital waiver prior to the live workout. ** 

To Join: Download your calendar appointment HERE.  

LET’S MOVE MORE!  

Join the DCS Wellness Council to compete against other executive agencies in Working for a Healthier TN’s Move More Challenge from Monday, September 13 - Sunday, October 10! 

• During registration, you will take a short quiz that will sort you into one of three fitness level groups. Each fitness level group will have weekly goals including cardio, strength training, and stretching goal!
• Click HERE to register by Wednesday, September 8. 
• As long as you complete two of the three goals each week, you will be placed into a prize drawing. One person from each fitness level group will win a Bluetooth speaker!  During the challenge, you will receive weekly emails with tips and reminders. You will also have the option to opt into a Microsoft Teams chat where you can chat with your fellow participants. If you have any questions, email dcswellness.council@tn.gov!

The DCS Campbell County Staff participated in a foster parent recruitment event at the 10th Annual Campbell County National Night Out.  Our staff also donated school supplies to hand out to kids as they prepare to return to school.