ABOUT THE NATIONAL WELLNESS INSTITUTE (NWI)
Who We Are
The vision of the National Wellness Institute (NWI) is to activate and advance inclusive cultures of well-being for all. Through its exceptional courses and events, professional standards and frameworks, evidence-informed resources, engaging membership community, and gold-standard Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) certification, NWI elevates and empowers professionals who drive inclusive whole-person wellness that enables people to function optimally within their current environment.
Since 1977, the NWI has been the leader in providing professional development and engagement opportunities that support individuals from a variety of disciplines in promoting whole–person wellness. At the core of NWI’s offerings are its Wellness Promotion Competency Model, the Six Dimensions of Wellness model, Multicultural Wellness Wheel, and Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) designation. Through its four pillars—Professional Development, Practical Application, Connection & Collaboration, and Professionals Standards—NWI elevates and empowers professionals who advance inclusive cultures of well-being for all.
Our Leadership Team
Trina Laube
Director,
Operations & Education
trina@nationalwellness.org
Kellie Straub
Director,
Outreach & Engagement
kstraub@nationalwellness.org
Mandy Koch
Administrator,
Operations & Education
mandy@nationalwellness.org
NWI IN THE NEWS
Together, We Are Wellness.
January 18, 2024 | NWI and WELCOA Announce New Partnership
The National Wellness Institute (NWI) and Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) have formalized a new partnership to expand wellness education for workplaces and practitioners.
Through this partnership, NWI joins WELCOA as an affiliate of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Collectively, the International Foundation, NWI, and WELCOA will be able to more comprehensively serve the diverse community of professionals who influence and shape the health and well-being of individuals and workplaces.
The NWI and WELCOA partnership will officially launch at a jointly presented event, the Annual Wellness Summit, August 26-29, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The Annual Wellness Summit will combine two long-standing events: the WELCOA Summit and NWI’s National Wellness Conference into one powerful gathering of wellness thought leaders, experienced practitioners and industry experts.
VISION, MISSION, PILLARS, & HISTORY
Our Mission
NWI’s mission is to elevate and empower professionals who drive inclusive whole-person wellness that enables people to function optimally within their environment.
We accomplish this mission by:
- Offering competency-building programs, strategies, and solutions.
- Establishing standards of excellence for practices, policies, and systems.
- Developing and providing evidence-informed resources for practical application.
- Creating spaces for connection, collaboration, and networking
Our Pillars
Professional Develpoment
We deliver next-level learning, training, and certification programs to upskill professionals and positively impact the health and wellness of individuals, organizations, and communities.
Practical Application
We help bridge the gaps between current research, thought leadership, and practical application by providing high-quality resources, learning opportunities, and services that activate whole-person wellness.
Professional Standards
We establish standards, develop frameworks, and provide resources that support the implementation of highly effective, compliant, ethical, multicultural, and multidimensional wellness practices and strategies.
Connection & Collaboration
We offer engagement opportunities for wellness-promoting professionals, organizations, and communities to collaborate, cultivate connections, expand their networks, and influence growth and change.
Our History
The National Wellness Institute, Inc. (NWI) was officially formed in 1977, but held two wellness symposiums (1975 and 1976) prior to the official organizational launch. Originally, the organization was launched under the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) Foundation, as the Institute for Lifestyle Improvement. Two UWSP faculty, Dennis Elsenrath, EdD, CWP, director of counseling services and Bill Hettler, MD, CWP, director of health services, along with the V.P. of Student Life, Fred Leafgren came together to start a movement on the idea that we, as humans, could live better, healthier lives through the principles of balance and awareness. In 1976, Dr. Hettler released what was to become the base philosophy for the National Wellness Institute: the Six Dimensions of Wellness model. The six dimensions are intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, occupational, and physical. By balancing these six dimensions and actively seeking to improve them, the organization’s founders believed individuals could improve their overall well-being.
In 1985, the name of the organization was changed to the National Wellness Institute to reflect a more global mission. Then, in 1988, NWI separated from the UWSP Foundation and applied for its own nonprofit status, which was granted August 3, 1989. The National Wellness Institute is a registered 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
NWI began certifying wellness practitioners in early 2009, and the NWI Wellness Promotion Competency model now serves as the standard for the Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) credential.
Each year, NWI welcomes well-minded individuals to its annual National Wellness Conference. Today, the organization continues to have an active membership and educational outreach program and continues to expand its offerings to meet the growing needs of wellness professionals globally.