July 29, 2017

PITTSBURGH – The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) today announced that the Boroughs of Homestead and Versailles are the latest municipalities to be designated as a Live Well Allegheny Community. That announcement was celebrated earlier today at Homestead’s Community Day that was held in the borough’s Frick Park.

“We couldn’t be more proud to see so many municipalities want to become involved in what Dr. Hacker, the Board of Health and the Health Department are doing to improve the health of our community,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “It’s obvious that the work being done here, on a variety of issues, is really cutting edge in public health and that we are all benefitting from the expertise that Dr. Hacker has brought to our county.”

The Borough of Homestead is committed to providing a healthy environment for all residents. The community will share information on wellness events with the broader community and encourage volunteer participation, promote a Live Well Allegheny event in partnership with the campaign, develop trails accessible to all residents, encourage multi-modal transportation by providing facilities or policies that encourage biking and walking, promote and support farmers markets, encourage involvement with community activities, promote smoke-free buildings and perimeters and utilize web sites and social media to share wellness information.

“It is so important that as part of Live Well Allegheny our communities are taking specific action steps to improve the health of residents,” said Dr. Karen Hacker, Director of the Allegheny County Health Department. “There is so much that communities can do to impact health. Whether it is offering a wellness program for employees or promoting health and wellness activities to residents, every action makes a difference. Congratulations to the newest members of the campaign.”

The Borough of Versailles has committed to action steps to provide a healthier community for residents. The community commits to promote participation in a voluntary wellness campaign for employees, share information about the campaign with the broader community to encourage voluntary participation, encourage involvement with volunteer activities, promote smoke-free buildings and perimeters, promote health information focused on monthly or seasonal events and utilize web sites and social media to share wellness information.

The communities are also in the footprint for participation in the Live Well Allegheny Mon Valley Initiative that is supported with funding from the Jefferson Regional Foundation.  Its key objectives include increasing the number of people with access to smoke-free and tobacco-free environments, healthy food and beverage options, and physical activity opportunities. Partners include the Allegheny Health Network, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, the Steel Valley Council of Governments, the Human Services Center Corporation, Tobacco Free Allegheny, Just Harvest, Allegheny County Economic Development and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Participants in the Live Well Allegheny campaign work with Health Department’s staff. While monetary resources are not part of the initiative, participating workplaces can receive materials, information and collateral items to promote the campaign and their individual efforts to live well.

Live Well Allegheny was launched by County Executive Fitzgerald in January 2014 as a comprehensive, innovative strategy on wellness that embraces a broad concept of living well to include physical health, mental wellness, personal and community safety, prevention and preparedness, and much more. The effort is being led by the Board of Health and Health Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker.