Live Well Allegheny welcomed three new members in April: the Municipality of Bethel Park, Bethel Park School District, and The Perch At Pitt. Congratulations to our newest members on committing to making Allegheny County the healthiest county.

Welcome spring! Did you know, May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? Regular physical activity increases your chances of living a longer, healthier life. It reduces your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and some types of cancer. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults participate in 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week, and do muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days per week. Fortunately, we have a lot of opportunities for physical activity in Allegheny County. Enjoy the spring weather at one of our beautiful Allegheny County Parks while hiking, kayaking, or swimming.

While you enjoy the outdoors and stay active, it is important to care for your skin. May is also Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. Take steps to protect your skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, covering up with a shirt and hat, and checking your skin regularly. Concerned about your skin? Talk to your doctor about any skin problems or concerns.

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.

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

Are you working 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 training to coaches and parents.

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

Attention Live Well Allegheny Schools: Action for Healthy Kids is currently accepting applications for BE Time grants! BE Time provides funding for schools to implement physical activity and nutrition programs that provide options for unstructured time at school. The grants, which range from $5,000-$10,000, provide funding and support to schools to create more options for unstructured time that nurtures growth and learning. Applications are due May 28^th.

To learn more and submit an application, please visit: www.actionforhealthykids.org.

Friends of the Riverfront is hosting its first ever “Trails to Wellness” campaign this May. “Trails to Wellness” is held in connection with Mental Health Awareness month to promote the benefits of being outdoors and being active on mental health and well-being. During the campaign, Friends of the Riverfront is hosting a series of diverse activities to highlight the Three Rivers Heritage Trail as a place where everyone can do anything.

For more information about the activities, please visit: friendsoftheriverfront.org.

Lawrenceville Family Health Center is hosting weekly “Walk & Talk with the Doc” sessions! The walking sessions, aimed at engaging community members and patients in their own health, provides an opportunity for residents to take a stroll with a doctor. The walks, held every Monday at 5:30 p.m., involve a brief presentation on a health topic followed by a 30-minute walk around Lawrenceville with a primary care doctor. All ages and activity levels are welcome.

Questions? Please contact Brenna Cockburn at (412) 784-7609 or cockburnb@upmc.edu.

In March, the City of Pittsburgh in partnership with the Farmers Market Coalition completed a study on local farmers markets. The study includes recommendations aimed at increasing access to fresh, affordable food and promoting healthy eating. To read the full report and recommendations, please visit: farmersmarketcoalition.org.

Farmers market season begins in May. For a list of farmers markets in the greater Pittsburgh area, please visit: www.goodfoodpittsburgh.com.

Do you have comments and suggestions regarding the PA WIC Program? A public meeting on WIC is being held on May 22^nd. The meeting location for the Southwestern PA region is Beaver Valley Mall (140 Beaver Valley Mall, Rt. 18, Monaca, PA 15061).

If you are unable to attend the meeting but wish to comment, please complete the comment form by May 31^st. You may submit comments to a WIC staff member, by email to Bonnie Mellott at bmellott@pa.gov or by mail to Bureau of WIC, 625 Forster Street, 7 West, Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120.

Are you concerned about e-cigarette usage among students? Join Tobacco Free Allegheny for a free community education event on May 22^nd from 6-7:30 p.m. to learn about e-cigarette usage among high school students and how to talk to youth about e-cigarette products.

E-cigarettes are very popular with youth, and their use is growing dramatically. Join Tobacco Free Allegheny to learn: what these devices are and how they work, the health consequences of using e-cigarettes, and how to talk to youth about these products.

The event is being held at Pittsburgh Obama Academy of International Studies (515 N Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206).

Register today!

Did you know, 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience a mental health condition in a given year?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This month, it is important to raise awareness and share resources and support for mental health conditions. Unfortunately, stigma around mental health conditions can make the journey to recovery longer and more difficult. For resources and tools your organization can use to spread awareness this month, please visit: www.nami.org/mentalhealthmonth.

Are you looking for resources for your mental health? Call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline at 800-950-NAMI or text “NAMI” to 741741.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the toll-free Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with a trained crisis counselor 24/7. Your call is confidential and free.

Throughout 2019, the American Lung Association is highlighting the importance of healthy air through their “Year of Air Pollution & Health” initiative. The initiative celebrates the progress in reducing pollution in the air and highlights remaining obstacles to healthy air for everyone. Each month the American Lung Association features a different theme around air quality. In May, the focus is on the impact of climate change on individuals with asthma and allergies.

For more information about allergies, asthma and climate change, please visit: www.lung.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 64 communities, 49 restaurants, 31 workplaces and 18 school districts united in our efforts!