Spanish-Speaking Workers Have Access To Free Workplace Wellness Programs.

The American Cancer Society California Division and Cypress, Calif.-based PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. are working together to expand the reach of the American Cancer Society’s workplace wellness program, Active for Life, to
include Spanish-speaking workers throughout California.

Active for Life, a free-of-charge program employers can offer their employees, encourages increased physical activity through behavior-changing techniques, individual goal setting and team participation. According to the American Cancer Society, poor diet, lack of physical activity and obesity are related to 35 percent of all cancers and a number of other life-threatening diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

“The Active for Life program attracts businesses of all sizes; however, in order to properly serve larger businesses in a diverse state such as California, the materials needed to be translated into Spanish,” said Gail Robson, corporate development director for the American Cancer Society in Orange County. “We believe it is critical to provide our educational and motivational programs in Spanish so that we can serve the Spanish-speaking employee populations in their preferred language.”

PacifiCare donated $10,000 to the American Cancer Society to cover translation and printing costs. PacifiCare is a significant and constant supporter of the American Cancer Society’s mission to eradicate cancer, having contributed nearly $700,000 since 1995.

“We appreciate the American Cancer Society’s effort to reach out to California’s burgeoning Hispanic working population with timely and relevant health care information that is both culturally appropriate and linguistically accurate,” said Russell Bennett, PacifiCare’s vice president of Latino Health Solutions. “We recognize that partnering with the American Cancer Society in this effort helps them reach a new audience with a very important health message. It is more than just good business, it is also good citizenship.”