A big welcome to newest members of Live Well Allegheny – Verona Borough and Bridges and Bourbon. Thank you for your commitment to the goal of making Allegheny County the healthiest county in the nation.

The calendar has turned to July, which means summer is in full swing. Summertime is the perfect time to focus on your health and wellness goals. The warmer weather means there is plenty of time to be active outdoors. Take advantage of Allegheny County’s beautiful parks by hiking, kayaking, or biking. Looking to get the most out of the parks this summer? Check out the 2019 Summer Program and Event Guide to find out about the events and programs being offered at the parks this year.

Fun in the sun also means protecting yourself from the sun’s rays by applying sunscreen. Keep yourself hydrated. Take breaks so that you don’t overexert yourself. Check out these additional tips offered by Allegheny County for staying safe in high heat and humidity. On your break, we hope you take a few minutes to share your thoughts and feedback about health in Allegheny County. We recently launched a community health survey that runs through October 4, 2019. The survey is part of the larger 2020 Community Health Assessment, which compiles data to best understand health issues and factors affecting residents in Allegheny County. The survey helps ACHD identify key health needs in the community. All residents of Allegheny County over 18 years of age are encouraged to participate. Click here to access the survey. For more information about the survey and the 2020 Community Health Assessment, please visit: www.alleghenycounty.us.

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.

As you know, I will be leaving ACHD on August 1^st for Atlanta and a new position as the Director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control. I wish you all my best as you continue to work to make Allegheny County the healthiest place to live. It has been an honor to work with you!

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

The Allegheny County Health Department is seeking proposals from grassroots organizations for small projects serving the City of Pittsburgh in the North Side, Hill District, Garfield, Larimer/Homewood/ East Hills neighborhoods, along with Wilkinsburg and certain communities in the Mon Valley.

Projects should focus on health promotion and health resources aimed at improving nutrition, physical activity, and community-clinical linkages.

Click here for more details about eligibility. Proposals are due July 22 and must be submitted by email to Aja.Wilkerson@AlleghenyCounty.US.

Free dental care available July 26 and 27! Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh is a free, two-day dental clinic for people living in southwestern Pennsylvania. All services are provided free of charge by local dental professionals. Treatments offered include: diagnosis by dentist, minor restorative fillings, extractions, and cleanings. The event is Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27 at PPG Paints Arena in downtown Pittsburgh.

For more information, please visit: https://mompgh.org/.

The Pittsburgh Food Policy Council (PFPC) is developing a food action plan for Allegheny County. As part of the process, they are holding multiple community engagement sessions to get feedback from community members to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas for stronger and healthier communities.

Sessions are being held on July 29, August 6, and August 27. For more information, including time and location, please visit: www.facebook.com.

Join Grow Pittsburgh for a Garden Get Down celebrating 10 years of their Community Garden Program! Celebrate all that Grow Pittsburgh’s garden groups have accomplished with a night out at Grist House Craft Brewery in Millvale. Guided tours of the Gardens of Millvale will also be provided. Proceeds from the event will support the Community Garden Program.

For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/garden-get-down-tickets-62214357819.

National Youth Sports Week is July 15-21. The National Council of Youth Sports uses the week to highlight how youth sports contributes to the quality of life for children and youth in the US. This year, the focus is on P.L.A.Y.S., which stands for Physical activity, Living healthy, Access, Youth development, and Safety.

Safety and injury prevention are key concerns in youth sports. ACHD is offering Concussion Wise, an educational program focused on the prevention and management of concussions. Concussion Wise 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 training to coaches and parents.

For more information about Concussion Wise, please contact Marie Fontelo at Marie.Fontelo@AlleghenyCounty.US.

In June, the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner reported that the number of deaths from accidental overdoses during 2018 sits at 432. The significant difference from the 2017 number of 737 represents a 41% decrease and is the lowest figure from the past three years.

The increased availability of naloxone and collaboration among county agencies played a role in the reduction of overdose deaths. To address the opioid crisis, an internal Opioid Response Team was put together consisting of the Medical Examiner’s Office, County Police, the Health Department, Emergency Services, Human Services, and the Jail with support and guidance from the Manager’s Office and CountyStat. The team meets monthly to provide updates on efforts in each department and to discuss action items or other steps that could be taken to address the growing number of deaths.

Click here for more information on how Allegheny County is addressing the opioid crisis.

To find more details on overdose deaths in the county, please visit the OverdoseFreePA website at www.overdosefreepa.pitt.edu.

We’re all unique but when we visit the doctor our treatments are often the same. The All of Us Research Program is an opportunity to create a health system that is tailored towards individuals. Researchers need volunteers like you, your friends, and your family to study a diverse group of people and diseases. Participants help researchers learn more about a person’s risk of disease and how they react to one form of care over another. These study findings are then shared with physicians who can put them into practice and provide their patients with better care.

The All of Us Research Program has a simple mission: to speed up health research and medical breakthroughs. To achieve this goal, the program aims to build one of the largest health databases of its kind as well as engage a community of participants that reflects the diversity of our nation, including many people who haven’t taken part in medical research before. They’re asking one million or more participants across the country to join them.

Visit JoinAllofUsPA.org or call 412-383-2737 to learn more about the program. The future of health begins with you.

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 67 communities, 50 restaurants, 32 workplaces and 17 school districts united in our efforts!