Live Well Allegheny: November E-Update
Hello!
The calendar has turned to November. Temperatures are getting colder. The days are getting shorter. We know that there’s a temptation to curl up on the couch and enjoy some unhealthy food choices, but it’s important to remember the benefits of healthy eating and regular exercise. Allegheny County employees committed to staying active during the SparkPittsburgh Company Step Challenge, which wrapped up on October 15th. Allegheny County came in fifth place in the large company division with 30,684,219 steps! The Step Challenge was a fun way to stay active while having a friendly competition with local companies.
Speaking of physical activity and health, did you know that November is Diabetes Awareness Month? In western Pennsylvania, 400,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes, and it is estimated that one million people are at risk for developing diabetes in their lifetime (Interested in learning more about your risk for diabetes? Take the American Diabetes Association’s risk test!). The good news is that individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes can lower their risk by making healthy choices. Eating healthy foods and increasing physical activity makes a difference! Use this toolkit to learn more!
Do you have an event coming up? Please let us know so we can add it to the Live Well Allegheny event calendar. Contact Marie Fontelo ([email protected]) with details. Please also check the partner resources page of the web site for additional resources.
Karen Hacker, MD, MPH
Director, Allegheny County Health Department
Campaign Corner
American Diabetes Association of Western PA, a Live Well Allegheny Community Partner, hosts the annual Pittsburgh Diabetes Expo on November 4th! Check out our November Live Well Allegheny story for the details!
Interested in highlighting a health initiative in your organization? Please reach out to Kristen Rodack ([email protected]).
Have you been trying to quit smoking? Are you struggling with quitting? The Allegheny County Health Department can help! Lorraine Starsky, Public Health Nurse in Chronic Disease Prevention, is a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist. Lorraine provides training and information in small group settings to individuals who want to quit, or are in the process of quitting.
For more information contact Lorraine Starsky ([email protected]).
Are you interested in the ways that advertising affects your choices and your health? Join us in an effort to measure exposure to tobacco advertising in Allegheny County! Volunteers are needed to collect data on tobacco advertising in stores throughout the county. The kickoff for the study is November 18th and will include a training and store visits.
Congratulations to the Borough of Homestead, a Live Well Allegheny Community, for achieving Gold in the Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification!
Partner Information
Allegheny Quits for Life week is November 12-18! Join us and Tobacco Free Allegheny for the region’s third smoking cessation week! Merengue Monday, presented in partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, is a free dance class on November 13th to kick off quit week!
Congratulations to Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh on the launch of their Action Plan! Live Well Allegheny looks forward to working on the implementation of this plan and making Allegheny County a place where all generations thrive!
Live Well Allegheny Community Partner, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, is hosting its annual Thanksgiving Distribution on November 18th! Come to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for this free event!
Join Let’s Move Pittsburgh, a Live Well Allegheny Community Partner, on November 16th for the fourth annual Let’s Move Pittsburgh Symposium! The theme of the Symposium is “Growing Healthy Children,” and will focus on bridging gaps in services to children in Allegheny County.
Does your organization have experience in community outreach? The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is accepting proposals for conducting community outreach around lead exposure. ACHD is awarding micro-grants that will support efforts to educate residents on the sources and consequences of lead exposure, and the importance of prevention and testing.
Preparing for your child’s financial future can be daunting. With Fund My Future it doesn’t have to be! Fund My Future helps families save for their children’s college and other post-secondary goals. Saving for your child’s future contributes to the financial health of the whole community!
What’s Happening in Public Health
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. In western PA, approximately 400,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes. Another million western Pennsylvanians are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes in their lifetime.
Depending on your age, weight, and other factors, you may be at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Want to know your risk level? Take the risk test today!). The good news is that making healthy changes can greatly lower your risk for type 2 diabetes.
Learn more about lowering your risk by using the toolkit below.
The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout is being held on November 16th. The annual event, held on the third Thursday of November, encourages smokers to take action to quit. Use the day to encourage someone you know to quit smoking or make a plan to quit.
This is the latest Live Well Allegheny e-update. Please find a variety of information that will be helpful to you in your efforts, and can also be shared within your own networks. As always, you can find a great deal of information on our website at: www.livewellallegheny.com including partner resources which are available here: https://livewellallegheny.com/about-us/live-well-allegheny-participants/partner-materials/.
We now have 49 communities, 13 school districts, 167 community partners, 41 restaurants, and 13 workplaces united in our efforts!