Illinois e-News Release

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) is proud to announce it has received the 2025 Aetna Workplace Well-being Platinum Award, the highest level of recognition offered by Aetna. This marks the fourth year in a row that CMS has earned the prestigious award for its continued efforts in building a culture of health and well-being for State of Illinois employees.

The Aetna Workplace Well-being Award recognizes employers that demonstrate a strong commitment to improving employee well-being through impactful programs, strategic initiatives, and effective outreach.

“This continued recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our employees, retirees, and their families,” said Raven A. DeVaughn, CMS Director. “Earning the Platinum Award for a fourth consecutive year is a powerful affirmation of the work we do to support a healthy, resilient, and engaged workforce.”

CMS manages over $7 billion in annual benefit expenditures and serves more than 466,000 individuals through comprehensive benefit programs. In partnership with healthcare providers, insurance carriers, and labor representatives, CMS provides cost-effective benefits while promoting well-being across state agencies and universities.

Over the past year, CMS implemented and expanded several impactful initiatives that contributed to this year’s recognition, including:

• Expanding access to programming for spouses and dependents, further extending the reach and inclusivity of wellness resources.

• Strengthening the “Be Well” brand through consistent messaging and creative campaigns across digital platforms, newsletters, and events.

• Launching a comprehensive communication strategy that leveraged multiple channels including webinars, email, Facebook, LinkedIn, the Be Well webpage, and agency-specific updates.

• Enhancing the Wellness Ambassador Network, now representing 36 ambassadors across 25 state agencies, ensuring program visibility and engagement at the agency level.

• Providing educational content through engaging webinars and events including:

o Motivational Monday sessions

o Financial wellness education from MetLife

o Mental and social well-being sessions from ComPsych

o Nutrition and cooking demonstrations in partnership with Wellness Concepts

• Delivering successful wellness challenges such as:

o Fall into Wellness with 1,263 participants

o Walk Around Illinois 2024 with 1,178 participants

• Identifying and addressing health risks through targeted screening efforts:

o Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Campaign: Out of 3,387 completed screenings, 161 returned positive for hemoglobin, with 78% of those participants taking follow-up action.

o Skin Cancer Screenings: As part of a pilot initiative, 297 employees were screened; 30% were referred to a dermatologist for severe dermatological findings.

o Higi Health Stations: 35,023 sessions completed statewide, including 27,936 blood pressure tests and 18,264 weight measurements — a testament to the continued demand and utility of accessible health screening tools.

• Integrating social determinants of health into programming strategies to ensure that wellness initiatives address diverse needs and barriers across the employee population

The Aetna Workplace Well-being Award program was established in 2017 and recognizes organizations that demonstrate excellence in wellness strategy, communication, and program execution. CMS’s continued recognition at the Platinum level underscores its leadership in employee health and its dedication to driving positive health outcomes throughout the workforce.