The start of a new school year offers an opportunity for a fresh start. As part of our commitment to employee health and well-being, here are a few ways you can reset and engage in healthy habits as you start the new year.
Get Support and Guidance through the New Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Through our new EAP, employees have access to free confidential counseling and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Employees can get confidential emotional support and access to work-life solutions, such as help with finding child, elder or pet care, home repair contractors, and more. Employees can also obtain legal and financial guidance and access online resources such as articles, videos and podcasts. You’ll even have access to an online expert who can provide personal responses to questions. Learn more and take advantage of this resource today.
Three Free Opportunities to Check in on Your Health
Have you been avoiding your doctor? Take advantage of three free opportunities to check in on your health:
- The Kaiser Mobile Health Van will be at T.C. Williams High School on Thursday, August 30, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to provide routine preventive care, including blood pressure checks, body mass index evaluations, cholesterol screenings and more.
- Biometric screenings at John Adams Elementary School and Mount Vernon Community School on Thursday, August 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and body mass composition analysis.
While this service is free to all ACPS employees, it’s not intended to take the place of your routine health care!
Real Appeal Health and Wellness Program for United Healthcare Members
If you have United Healthcare insurance, be sure to take advantage of Real Appeal. The year-long program includes a personal transformation coach; an online portal with resources, mobile app integration, an online support group, and more; and a Real Appeal Success Kit that includes guides, fitness DVDs, a personal blender, cooking tools, a scale and more, delivered to your door. Since the Real Appeal program was implemented in July 2017, 135 employees have enrolled and collectively lost close to 600 pounds!
Free Use of Alexandria Recreation Centers
That’s right! All gyms at the recreation centers in the City of Alexandria, including the pool at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center, are free to ACPS staff. ACPS employees must sign in at the front desk and show their badge to use a facility. View a list of all the recreational centers in Alexandria.
Free Use of the Gym at Braddock Place for Full-time Central Office Employees
If you work at Central Office full-time and have a building fob, you are eligible to use the gym located in the courtyard directly across from Sofia’s Cafe. The gym is open 24 hours a day. Please complete and return this waiver (PDF) to Telly Byrd to request access using your ACPS fob.
Employees Save Big with Perkspot
If you’re not signed up for Perkspot, you could be missing out! Employees are saving money every day on movie tickets, gym memberships, apparel, electronics, travel and much more. Through this discount and promotion site, our staff members have access to exclusive discounts on favorite brands along with 30,000 national and local offers. These include travel, gyms, cell phones, restaurants, car maintenance, clothing, electronics and even groceries. If you haven’t signed up yet, the time is now! Learn more.
$45 Monthly Transportation Subsidy
Did you know that ACPS employees may be able to receive a $45 (an increase from $40) monthly subsidy in transportation benefits? It’s true! The City of Alexandria provides a variety of incentive programs to encourage employees to walk, bike, vanpool, carpool or take transit to work. For detailed information on these programs, or for commute assistance, please contact the City of Alexandria’s GO Alex Program at 703-746-4084 or visit the GO Alex website.
For information on eligibility requirements, download the Transportation Benefits Application (PDF).
Affordable Housing
The City of Alexandria Office of Housing is now marketing Affordable Homeownership Units for first-time homebuyers who live or work in the City of Alexandria. For more information on the City’s home purchase assistance resources and to learn about upcoming properties, visit the City of Alexandria Affordable Housing web page.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
The Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is one of three loan forgiveness programs available to teachers. Under the program, a teacher who has taught full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools and educational service agencies that serve low-income families, and meets other qualifications, may be eligible for forgiveness on certain Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, as well as Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. For more details, see Teacher Loan Forgiveness on the Virginia Department of Education website.