Live Well Allegheny: May 2022 E-Update
A Letter From Our Director
Greetings from the Director’s Office,
May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Asthma is the leading chronic disease among U.S. children. In fact, 1 in 13 children have asthma. While there is no cure for asthma, there are effective treatment options available. To learn more about what Allegheny County is doing related to asthma prevention, read this month’s Live Well Story.
May is also Mental Health Month. Take care of your mental health by practicing self-care. Practicing self-care may address at least one of four key dimensions of health – emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual. Set aside time to do something that brings you a sense of wellness, calm, or pleasure. Go for a walk, read, sing, or maybe cook a healthy meal with ingredients from your local farmer’s market.
With the weather warming up and summer on the horizon, plan to get outside! Allegheny County is home to nine parks – to view park activities check out the 2022 Spring Parks Program Newsletter.
Welcome to our new Live Well Allegheny partners!
This month we are welcoming one new Live Well Community, one new Live Well Workplace, and one new Live Well Partner. A warm welcome to our new Live Well Allegheny partners:
- Live Well Community
– Borough of Oakmont has made a commitment to promote health and wellness in their community. To view their commitment as a Live Well Community click here - Live Well Workplace
– Moonshot Museum slated to open in Pittsburgh’s Northside in 2022 and focusing on space exploration. Moonshot Museum is co-located at the headquarters of the space robotics company Astrobotic Technology, Inc., offering an unparalleled window into the construction of real lunar spacecraft. - Live Well Partner
– Project Love Coalition advocates on behalf of veterans and their families. They operate and manage the Peace and Friendship Farms teaching neighborhood residents how to grow healthy organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers in the Hill District neighborhood.
You can learn more about their commitment to health and wellness on the Search Local Resources page.
Please stay safe and be kind.
Dr. Debra Bogen
Director, Allegheny County Health Department
Health Observances
May is Mental Health Month!
While it’s common to discuss ways to maintain our physical health, like regular exercise or a healthy diet, maintaining good mental health is less known. Explore mental wellness with Mental Health America’s 2022 Mental Health Month toolkit: mhanational.org/may.
May is National Trauma Awareness Month.
To learn more, go to our events page to participate in four free webinars presented by the American Trauma Society.
Allegheny County Health Department Updates
Breastfeeding Friendly Place Awards’ nominations are now open. This year, Allegheny County wishes to include more local and small business and some public spaces (e.g. libraries, schools, parks, etc.). Access the link below to submit nominations. Nominations will be open until May 31, 2022.
Link: alleghenycounty.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5urA0FwUTpNRAY6
Live Well, Be Well
September Walk with a Doc Prep Happening Now!
To help highlight the connection between outdoors and health, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) is joining with Walk with a Doc, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and Geisinger for the statewide Walk with a Doc – Advancing Wellness Through Nature events during Trails Month in September 2022. Pennsylvania’s events are a part of the international Walk with a Doc program. In communities around the globe, doctors gather at least once a month to give a brief presentation on a health topic and then lead participants on a walk at their own pace. To register fill out the Walk with a Doc event registration by May 15. For more information or any questions reach out to DCNR Recreation and Conservation Advisor Cheri Matter.
Red Lantern Opportunity Hub – Tune Up Friday
Join the Red Lantern Opportunity Hub for Tune-Up Friday to meet some great community partners. Each partner will provide resources to the community from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Make A Choice for a Healthier Life – Text LIFE Campaign
More than 96 million Americans adults are living with prediabetes, and 8 out of 10 don’t even know it. Make A Choice for a Healthier Life – Text LIFE campaign is a public health initiative between Health Promotion Council and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. Text LIFE to 600400 (Texta VIDA al 600400) to answer a few questions to see if you’re at risk for prediabetes. A member from the Make a Choice Referral Hub will reach out to you with resources to minimize your risk for Type 2 diabetes. If you’re interested in becoming a Make a Choice Program Delivery Partner or a Promotional Partner visit their webpage.
Community Resources
Join Mental Health America (MHA) for their 2022 Annual Conference – Forward Together: Recovery, Healing, Hope – June 9-11 in Washington D.C., and virtually.
The event will bring together thousands of advocates, peers, providers, MHA affiliates and media to advance conversations about critical topics in mental health and share stories.
View the agenda and Register now.
Pennsylvania Farm to Child Nutrition Summit
You’re invited to the Pennsylvania Farm to Child Nutrition Summit on June 23.
This event is coordinated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Food and Nutrition and Project PA (Penn State University) with the support of the PA Farm to School Network. The summit will be held at the Ag Progress Days site, outside of State College in Centre County. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration deadline is June 8 or until capacity is reached. For more information and to register, go to the Project PA website. For questions, send e-mails to [email protected].
Register for the 2022 Tobacco Treatment & Prevention Conference
The Tobacco Treatment and Prevention Conference will feature nationally-recognized speakers and local experts to discuss tobacco treatment and prevention topics. Earn CMEs/CEUs and complete required components of the National Certificate in Tobacco Treatment Practice Training Pathway by participating in the 2022 Maine Tobacco Treatment and Prevention Conference. This conference is being hosted virtually on Zoom. Register here.
UPMC Healthy Living Fair Tuesday
May 17 & Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Join UPMC for a Healthy Living Fair Tuesday, May 17 & Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Heinz Field FedEx Great Hall. Free health screenings will be provided for uninsured adults and families. For more information, call 412-641-8996 or email [email protected].
Live Well Allegheny Story
May is National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month
In Allegheny County, it is estimated that 10 percent of adults live with asthma. Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and can cause symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled with medication and avoiding certain triggers. Risk factors for asthma vary and include tobacco smoke, air pollution, dust, animal dander, other allergens, family history, allergies, obesity, occupational exposure, and poverty. The Allegheny County Asthma Control Project began last June to improve asthma outcomes for children using an evidence-based approaches to reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations for asthma, increase asthma self-management skills, and impact asthma policy. One component of the Allegheny County Asthma Control Project is to make referrals for families with children with asthma obtain clinical and indoor air quality education and may help patients find funding to remove asthma triggers in their homes. Rebuilding Together (RBT) – Pittsburgh, a partner in the project – serves families through funding from the Department of Human Services to help with health and safety repairs that do not exceed $2,000. For larger repair requests, RTP connect clients to other funding sources such as URA programming and County Zero Interest Loan Program. If you have a family that you would like to refer, please contact Dr. Jim Weeden at [email protected].