Blueprint for Success: Open Door Strengthens Community Health Program
When Open Door Community Health Centers introduced Walktober in 2024, no formal wellness framework was in place. The team had not previously run an organization-wide wellness initiative, and the idea of a month-long activity challenge was entirely new.
Instead of overcomplicating the rollout, though, Open Door focused on accessibility. Since Walktober offers a simple way to introduce movement and well-being into daily routines, the organization could meet employees where they were and allow participation to fit naturally into busy workdays. That straightforward approach helped establish early momentum for a growing community health program. That… and this catchy little ditty’s chorus created by a participant:
Walktoberfest
Feel the breeze
Count your steps
Collect those leaves
Twenty leaves
That’s the goal
Step by step
Heart and soul
Launching a Community Health Program Through Connection and Movement
Open Door serves some of California’s most geographically and socially diverse populations. As a nonprofit network of clinics across Humboldt and Del Norte counties, they deliver medical, dental, behavioral health, and supportive services with a clear mission: Provide quality care and education to all people, regardless of financial, geographic, or social barriers.
That mission also helps guide how Open Door supports employees. With approximately 800 eligible staff members spread across rural sites — many working in small, close-knit teams — Open Door saw an opportunity to build connections while supporting well-being. Walktober became a practical, engaging way to strengthen their internal community health program.
From First-Time Wellness Challenge to Familiar Tradition
Walktober 2025 marked Open Door’s second time running that challenge; they also offered Nourish in 2025. Each experience has helped the organization refine how to better support a distributed workforce.
The second Walktober goal was clear and realistic: Maintain participation of 300 and strengthen the team experience. Rather than chasing rapid growth, Open Door focused on consistency and continuity ― key ingredients for long-term engagement.
By building on prior success and experience, the challenge began to feel familiar, expected, and increasingly valued by employees.
“There was definitely no blueprint because it was the first time we had done any of that kind of thing at Open Door,” Benefits Coordinator Amy West notes. “We were kind of learning as we went.”
Designing Engagement for a Distributed Workforce
Open Door’s community health program focuses on flexibility. With employees spread across multiple sites and no dedicated wellness team, communication relies on trusted channels ― managers, site directors, and administrative staff who understood their teams’ schedules and needs.
Weekly all-staff emails kept Walktober visible without overwhelming employees. Creative assets such as videos and email signatures added a dose of energy to promotions. While templates provided a helpful starting point, Open Door personalized messaging to reflect internal culture and keep communications engaging.
“My strategy was really to make everything achievable,” Amy adds. “I didn’t want somebody to not get a good start and then decide, ‘Oh, I’m not going to participate.’”
The Wall Brings Open Door’s Community Health Program to Life
Throughout the 31-day challenge, the Wall interactive hub became Walktober’s heartbeat… a place to promote registration, share reminders, celebrate winners, and maintain excitement from start to finish.
Employees quickly embraced the space, posting fun updates throughout each day while sharing photos, progress, and encouragement. The Wall created a sense of connection across sites and roles that turned individual activities into shared experiences. A Bingo incentive also boosted engagement, offering a low-pressure way for employees to stay involved throughout the month.
Team Connections Fuel Participation
Team participation played a critical role in Open Door’s Walktober success. Employees who work in pods of 5-15 found it easy to communicate, motivate one another, and stay consistent.
In response to employee feedback, Open Door also supported larger team sizes and aligned the challenge with how teams naturally collaborate. Even employees who typically work more independently benefited from the team structure, connecting with colleagues they might not interact with otherwise.
That sense of shared accountability drove stronger engagement across the community health program.
“Making it more of a team activity really drove the engagement and the participation,” West points out.
Related: How Jefferson County Brings Well-Being to Life With Wellness Challenges
Results Show Meaningful Growth in Engagement
Walktober participation remained strong year over year for Open Door, with gains across key metrics. While registration increased by 4% in the second year, achievement rates saw a bigger boost:
74%
overall achievement, up from 59%
79.4%
achievement among team participants (5-10), up from 67.7%
79.9%
achievement with 1 or more friends, up from 68%
77.4%
app download rate, up from 61.3%
These results reflect more than just participation. They show how a community health program can gain traction through shared connection, consistency, and motivation.
Incentives That Encourage Progress, Not Perfection
Open Door designed incentives to keep participation achievable and inclusive. Weekly prizes, frequent raffles, and a grand prize encouraged employees to stay engaged even if they missed days or started slowly.
The organization focused on wellness-related rewards, many sourced from local businesses that offer fitness and outdoor experiences. At the same time, non-local options ensured remote employees also could participate fully.
To encourage broad engagement, weekly and milestone prizes were awarded to different participants each time, while all participants remained eligible for the grand prize. This helped support fairness and sustained focus on participation and well-being.
Lessons That Shape Community Health Programs
Walktober reinforced several key principles that continue to guide Open Door’s wellness approach:
Achievability to sustain engagement.
Weekly goals helped employees build healthy habits without feeling overwhelmed.
Clear (and balanced) communication.
Respecting employees’ primary work responsibilities kept the wellness challenge supportive rather than a distraction.
A shared space for community.
The Wall reduced communication fatigue and strengthened connections between participants.
Consistency to build culture.
Repeating Walktober in back-to-back years allowed excitement and tradition to grow naturally.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Whole-Person Well-being
Even when Walktober concluded, Open Door continued to build their community health program. Future challenges will look to maintain the momentum around movement while exploring new ways to support mental and emotional well-being ― an important priority for employees as well as the local community.
What began as a simple activity challenge has evolved into a shared experience that strengthens connection, supports healthy habits, and reflects Open Door’s commitment to caring for people every step of the way.
“I am still trying to think of ways to make it bigger,” West confirms. “I’ll be able to build on it to make it even more engaging.”
Ready to Strengthen Your Workplace Wellness?
If your organization is ready to evolve wellness offerings, Walktober remains a popular option. HES can help implement this inclusive experience into your workplace. Contact us or call 800-326-2317 to explore new ways to ignite well-being and connection.