On behalf of everyone at Live Well Allegheny, we wish you a happy and healthy 2019!

Another year has begun, and January is the perfect time to focus on your health and well-being. Whether your wellness goals are lofty or slight, small changes like adding more fruits and veggies into your diet, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, can make a difference. Adopting healthy habits like regular physical activity can improve your overall health. In fact, being physically active can increase your mood and improve your sleep. Looking for more reasons to be physically active this year? Check out this list of reasons to move for more motivation!

While eating healthy foods and being physically active keeps your body healthy, it is equally important to be proactive about fighting off illnesses. Wash your hands often, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, and stay home when you are sick. Have you gotten your flu shot yet? There’s still time! Check out our website for ACHD’s immunization clinic hours, location, and services. To find more information about the flu, please visit: www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Flu.

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 the ACHD news.

Karen Hacker, MD, MPH
Director, Allegheny County Health Department

Congratulations to the City of Duquesne, a Live Well Allegheny Community, for being selected as a 2019 National Fitness Campaign Healthy City! The award will provide funding for building a Fitness Court and launching a local fitness campaign. To learn more about the National Fitness Campaign, please visit: https://nationalfitnesscampaign.com/cities/.

Do you work with kids who may be at risk of concussions? Contact our Live Well Allegheny staff about Concussion Wise Live Education program! Concussion Wise Live is an in-person education program that covers the four critical phases of concussion management: Prevention, Preparation, Response, and Recovery/Return to Play. Our Live Well Allegheny staff is trained to present this program aimed at both coaches and parents.

For more information contact Marie Fontelo at Marie.Fontelo@AlleghenyCounty.US.

Funding opportunities are available through the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC)! RTC has two grant opportunities for organizations and municipalities to implement projects that build and improve multi-use trails. A wide range of projects and activities are eligible under the Community Support Grant and the Project Transformation Grant. The grant funding is part of the Doppett Family Trail Development Fund and is intended to improve and connect trails across the country. Applications are due January 31^st.

Are you looking for resources and information on active transportation? Check out the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s Active Transportation Resource Center! The web-based toolkit provides resources and information about active transportation. Use the site for programmatic information, funding opportunities, and more!

Check out the resource center here: https://www.atrc-spc.org/.

Do you have thoughts about our local parks? The City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy want to hear them! A Parks Listening Tour is being held through February to gather feedback about parks. Come share what you love and what you would love to improve about our parks!

Find the Parks Listening Tour dates here!

Allegheny County Health Department (in partnership with Pittsburgh Action Against Rape) is offering a Parents in the Know training at Homestead Library on Wednesday afternoons (1-3 p.m.) from February 13^th to March 6^th.

Parents in the Know is an innovative practice-based child sexual abuse prevention program that helps parents, guardians, and other adults build, practice and strengthen skills to prevent child sexual abuse. These skills include: promoting safe and respectful behaviors, recognizing questionable behaviors in adults, and talking with children about respectful relationships and age-appropriate sexual development. If you are interested in attending or holding a Parents in the Know training, please contact Leah Pope at leah.pope@alleghenycounty.us.

The 21^st annual Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit is being held on January 26^th. An Opening Ceremony and Organizing Dance Party on Friday, January 25^th has been added this year to kick off the event. Saturday’s event includes a full day of workshops and panels including educational and networking opportunities, as well as action-oriented planning sessions.

Did you know January is Cervical Health Awareness Month? Each year, more than 11,000 women in the United States get cervical cancer. Fortunately, cervical cancer can be prevented.

Cervical cancer is often caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), a very common infection that spreads through sexual activity. HPV can be prevented by getting a series of HPV vaccines, or shots. You can also reduce your risk for cervical cancer by getting regular screenings and follow-up care.

Talk to the women in your life and encourage them to get a well-woman exam this year. Use the toolkit below for more ways to make a difference this month.

Is a changing work environment affecting our health? The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) explores the health impacts of our shifting work environment in a recent blog post, “How the Future of Work May Impact Our Well-Being.”

The world of work is changing. With the rise of the gig economy, millions of Americans hold jobs that offer little stability and unpredictable earnings. The growth of jobs in “non-traditional firms” like freelance and subcontracting has consequences for health and well-being. Negative health impacts like problems with sleep and diet, and increased risk of chronic stress are a side effect of erratic work schedules.

To read more about the future of health and work, and to see some of RWJF’s interventions to improve workplace well-being, visit: www.rwjf.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: https://livewellallegheny.com/about-us/live-well-allegheny-participants/partner-materials/.

We now have 61 communities, 15 school districts, 167 community partners, 47 restaurants, and 27 workplaces united in our efforts!