Victor Valley Union

Victor Valley Union High School District: Elevating Employee Wellness with YuMuuv

Victor Valley Union High School District (VVUHSD) has long been committed to fostering a culture of health and wellness among its employees. As a public school district with multiple locations and nearly 1,200 employees, providing a wellness solution that is accessible, engaging, and easy to implement was a high priority.

To achieve this goal, VVUHSD sought to transition from a previous vendor to a new wellness platform that could better meet its needs. The previous application had served its purpose but became unsustainable due to cost increases and limitations in functionality. In searching for a new provider, VVUHSD prioritized affordability, user engagement, and features that could enhance participation across various sites.

After evaluating multiple options, the district selected YuMuuv, a platform designed to simplify wellness tracking while maintaining a fun and competitive environment. This case study explores how VVUHSD successfully implemented YuMuuv, significantly improved participation rates, and established a structured, engaging wellness program for employees.

Background: The Need for a More Effective Wellness Solution

Before adopting YuMuuv, VVUHSD had implemented a wellness tracking platform from a different vendor. While initially effective, the platform's pricing model became unsustainable over time, with dramatic price increases making it difficult to justify continued use. Additionally, employees expressed frustration over limited engagement features, inconsistent participation, and a lack of customization options.

Recognizing these challenges, Deshawn Dickinson, who oversees the district's wellness initiatives, led the search for a more sustainable and user-friendly alternative. The key objectives of the new program included:

  • Increased Employee Engagement: Making wellness challenges interactive and fun to encourage more participation.
  • Scalability: Ensuring the platform could support employees across multiple locations.
  • Customizability: Allowing the district to tailor challenges to their unique needs.
  • Affordability & Longevity: Securing a solution that would not be subject to dramatic price increases over time.

Implementation & Engagement Strategy

After selecting YuMuuv, VVUHSD developed a strategic approach to onboarding employees and ensuring long-term engagement. This included:

  1. Pilot Program & Initial Rollout:
    • A small-scale test was conducted to evaluate user experience and identify potential challenges.
    • Feedback was gathered from participants to refine implementation before a full rollout.
  2. Gamification & Challenge Structure:
    • Monthly and seasonal wellness challenges were introduced, designed to align with different themes throughout the year. Examples include:
      • "Let’s Move Together" (February): A team-based challenge centered around Valentine's Day, promoting collaboration and movement.
      • "Hop into Spring" (March/April): Encouraging employees to engage in physical activities as the weather changes.
    • Challenges were set to run for 30-45 days, as shorter engagements were found to sustain motivation and participation better than longer ones.
  3. Team-Based Competitions:
    • Employees were grouped into teams of three from different school sites to encourage cross-location engagement.
    • Group challenges fostered camaraderie, accountability, and friendly competition.
  4. Incentives & Rewards:
    • Employees had the opportunity to earn prizes such as Visa gift cards and high-value wellness items (walking pads, stationary bikes, portable home gyms).
    • Random milestone-based rewards were introduced to keep engagement high throughout challenges.
  5. Addressing Technical Barriers:
    • The district worked closely with YuMuuv to integrate the platform with Google Fit and Health Connect, improving data synchronization for Android users.
    • Manual step-entry options were made available for Samsung Health users due to proprietary restrictions on data sharing.

Results & Key Success Metrics

The switch to YuMuuv brought immediate and significant improvements to VVUHSD’s wellness program. Key results included:

  • Higher Participation Rates:
    • The number of active users increased from approximately 200 participants with the previous vendor to 260 participants, surpassing the 10-15% engagement goal.
    • Team-based challenges led to an increase in group participation, with 49 teams of three employees each competing in the latest challenge.
  • Greater Engagement in Group Challenges:
    • Over 150 employees took part in group-based challenges, demonstrating strong buy-in across multiple school sites.
    • Employees reported feeling more motivated by the sense of accountability within their teams.
  • More Effective Challenge Durations:
    • Challenges lasting 30 to 45 days maintained interest and participation, preventing the burnout seen in previous longer challenges.
    • Employees who previously disengaged due to extended challenge durations were more inclined to participate with the new format.

Challenges & Areas for Enhancement

Despite the success of the new wellness program, a few areas for improvement were identified:

  • Step Count Accuracy Discrepancies:
    • Some inconsistencies were observed between step tracking apps such as Google Fit and Samsung Health.
    • The district is monitoring Health Connect’s effectiveness in reducing discrepancies for Android users.
  • Customization & User Experience Enhancements:
    • A more visually engaging interface was requested to make the platform more interactive and aesthetically appealing.
    • Additional customization options, including branded banners, better chat functionalities, and the ability to add personalized messages to challenge descriptions, were identified as potential enhancements.
  • Administrative Control & Data Transparency:
    • Improved analytics tools were requested to allow administrators greater visibility into user participation and activity tracking.
    • Additional features to make challenge setup and team structuring more efficient were recommended.

Future Plans & Sustainability

Looking ahead, VVUHSD plans to:

  • Expand participation to at least 300 employees by the next contract renewal period.
  • Introduce new challenge types that incorporate a broader range of wellness activities, including hydration tracking, mindfulness exercises, and nutrition-based goals.
  • Enhance administrative tools to streamline challenge management and improve reporting capabilities.

YuMuuv remains a key partner in VVUHSD’s long-term wellness strategy, providing a cost-effective and engaging platform that meets the district’s evolving needs. By focusing on user engagement, customizability, and team-based competition, VVUHSD has successfully fostered a workplace culture that values health and well-being.

For organizations looking to revamp their wellness initiatives, VVUHSD’s success with YuMuuv provides a compelling model for implementing sustainable and engaging wellness programs.

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