Hello!

This is a time of year to give thanks to all the organizations and people who are working together to make Allegheny County a better place to live, work and have fun. Thank you for your commitment to Live Well Allegheny and the work that you are doing to make Allegheny County a healthy place for all residents.

November also marks the beginning of the holiday season, and perhaps a time to relax with family and friends. While it is common to overindulge around the holidays, we urge you to remember the importance of a healthy diet and physical activity. A healthy lifestyle plays a big role in defending your body against diseases. Looking for tips on creating healthy habits during mealtime? Use this guide to healthier family meals.

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 (Marie.Fontelo@AlleghenyCounty.US) with details. And don’t forget to check the partner resources page of the web site for additional resources.

Like and follow the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all ACHD news.

Ronald A. Sugar, Esq., MBA
Acting Director, Allegheny County Health Department

What’s New in the Campaign?

African American Grandfather, Father And Son Playing Baseball In

It is difficult to be a great parent/caregiver as it is and even more so when you may be at risk or facing health concerns. ACHD’s Fatherhood Engagement program seeks to provide a positive outlet and network for caregivers so that they may meet their goals and needs to help them grow through their fatherhood journey.

At the Fatherhood Engagement program, we acknowledge that becoming a great parent/caregiver is about more than showing up. Our program topics are designed to help with positive discipline, goal setting, family communication, parenting, and intimate partner relationships. Our fatherhood sessions are free for everyone and we encourage you to join us for conversation!

For more info, please contact:

Fatherhood Engagement Program

Maternal and Child Health

412-247-7950

Interested in highlighting a health initiative in your organization? Please reach out to Hannah Hardy (Hannah.Hardy@AlleghenyCounty.US).

One of our Live Well Workplaces, the University of Pittsburgh, was recently honored as one of the healthiest employers in Pittsburgh for its dedication and commitment to employee health and wellness as a large employer in the western Pennsylvania region. Learn more about the commitment to health and wellness at this link: https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/accolades/pitt-honored-healthiest-employers-pittsburgh-awards.

Do you know of an employer in Allegheny County that is committed to improving the health and wellness of their employees? They may be our next Live Well Workplace. The online application is available here: https://livewellallegheny.com/join-us/live-well-status/#1458227111841-d7ceadc4-a84f.

The Pittsburgh Playful Collaborative knows how to get people moving in the most fun way possible.

Check out the new video and be inspired to get moving while having fun:

Link to the Video

Public Health News

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Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has indicated that no safe blood lead level in children. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, and impact a child’s ability to pay attention, academic achievement, and other behavioral issues.

Universal testing, mandated in 2018, resulted in a 38% increase in the number of children under age five (5) being tested, from 17,000 in 2017 to nearly 24,000 in 2018. With that many more children tested, we were able to identify 33 additional children with blood lead levels over five (5) and 28 with levels over 10 ug/dL. However, the overall “percent elevated,” or number elevated divided by total tested, decreased by 24%.

However, lead exposure is preventable, and lead-free children and lead-safe homes are possible. Here is a link to the prevention page with resources on the ACHD web site:   https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Health-Department/Programs/Special-Initiatives/Lead/Prevention.aspx.

Get the Lead Out, Pittsburgh is a new campaign led by Women for a Healthy Environment that is shining a light on lead poisoning in children in Allegheny County. There are a lot of resources available to help residents take action to prevent the impacts of lead in your community or in your home https://gettheleadoutpgh.org/.

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.

We now have 193 community partners, 68 municipalities, 51 restaurants, 33 workplaces and 18 school districts united in our efforts!