Since January 2021, University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK), Nebraska Safety Center, and University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) Center for Public Affairs Research, have provided a statewide Transit Agency Wellness Program, to provide wellness related topics and practices and make them easier to understand and more attainable to add into the daily routines of rural transit staff. Funded through Nebraska Department of Transportation, the program includes a 5 Minutes of Wellness video series, designed so everyone can take just a few minutes out of their day to consciously get movement squeezed into their schedule and take a small step toward wellness. The program reaches about 170 transit managers, State DOT staff, university staff, and others, and publishes a quarterly newsletter that is sent out to 50 transit agencies and 93 counties throughout the state. Issues feature a wellness challenge, a delicious and health-conscious recipe to try out, and featured wellness topics.
For example, the July 2023 newsletter launched a 7-Day Challenge in mindfulness. Each day, participants would perform one task, such as eat mindfully, do a digital detox, journal, and others, to enter a contest to win a public transit sports water bottle. About 20 members participate in a challenge each quarter.
Sam Colligan has served as the program’s event and outreach coordinator and graphic designer since 2022. As a graphic designer, he’s always used inspirational quotes in his artwork and brings much inspiration to the wellness program. Among the program’s biggest successes has been Panhandle Public Health District’s Nicole Berosek’s virtual presentation on stress management. Over 40 managers attended this presentation and relayed the information to their drivers. For the upcoming year, Sam wants to set up a “lunch and learn” series for drivers, so they can learn from speakers directly on how to manage their stress, stay active, and eat healthy foods. Attendees may even take a walk together.
Through the Nebraska Transit Agency Wellness Program, people have a better knowledge of their health and wellness and acknowledge the importance of their health more. Getting everyone to realize that small changes can make big differences within a transit agency is a goal of the program. “If you are thinking of starting a wellness program, start out simple. Cater the program to your employees and what can help them in their everyday lives. Get everyone to understand the importance of healthy living,” explains Sam.
