August 20, 2016

PITTSBURGH –Woodland Hills School District along with the Boroughs of East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, North Braddock, Rankin and Swissvale were designated as part of the Live Well Allegheny campaign at this morning’s Back-to-School event. With these additions, there are now seven Live Well Allegheny Schools and 31 Live Well Allegheny Communities.

“Congratulations to these communities for banding together and making this commitment to the Live Well Allegheny campaign,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “It sends a strong message to our residents when a district and all of its communities are working cooperatively to make our residents healthier.”

The Woodland Hills School District hosted the annual Back-to-School event at the Woodland Hills Jr./Sr. High School Campus. In addition to the Live Well Allegheny launch the event included a band concert, informational tables for students and their families, including health and wellness information, and food and drink.

“We are excited to see the communities of the Mon Valley join our Live Well Allegheny campaign,” said Dr. Karen Hacker, Director of the Allegheny County Health Department. “Surrounding our residents with opportunities to live well is our goal. We applaud the communities, schools and workplaces that are stepping up and expanding their efforts to improve the health of the county.”

Woodland Hills School District has begun several healthy living initiatives including: participation in the PA Department of Agriculture fresh fruit and vegetables program, Yoga in Schools as well as the Open Airways smoking prevention and cessation program. They were one of the first schools selected to be a part of an asthma program that is a partnership with Allegheny General Hospital, PA Lung Association and Duquesne University. The district provides health and wellness information annually at the Back-to-School event, which attracts 500 residents. The district has also participated in the PA Youth Survey (PAYS) and has a fully operational data sharing agreement with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

The Borough of East Pittsburgh pledges to share wellness information with community members, encourage involvement with volunteer activities, promote smoke-free buildings and perimeters and to utilize social media and web sites to provide health and wellness information.

The Borough of Edgewood has committed to promoting youth and adult sport leagues, promoting farmer’s markets and encouraging multi-modal transportation in their community.

The Borough of North Braddock will promote participation in a voluntary wellness campaign for community employees, share information on wellness campaign events encouraging residents to participate and provide health information focused on monthly or seasonal events.

Rankin Borough will encourage multi-modal transportation, promote smoke-free buildings and also provide health information at events.

The Borough of Swissvale has pledged to promote the Swissvale Farmer’s Market, promote and support events like the Swissvale Mile, encourage involvement with volunteer activities and to utilize the borough’s web site to share health and wellness information.

These communities join Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Forest Hills, Turtle Creek and Wilkins Township, also from the Woodland Hills School District, which have already received the Live Well Allegheny designation.

Live Well Allegheny was launched by the County Executive in January 2014 as a comprehensive, innovative strategy on wellness that embraces a broad concept of living well to include physical health, mental wellness, personal and community safety, prevention and preparedness, and much more. The effort is being led by the Board of Health and Dr. Karen Hacker.