North Side health and wellness program to be created with $250K grant

A partnership of Pittsburgh organizations has been chosen by a national health initiative to develop a health and wellness program for North Side residents with a $250,000 grant.

The BUILD Health Challenge, a national program that uses community partnerships to improve public health, awarded the grant, according to a news release.

The Allegheny County Health Department, Allegheny General Hospital, Highmark, the Buhl Foundation and Project Destiny will work together during the two-year program using the grant funding in order to create a health and wellness model called the “Center for Lifting Up everyBody,” or CLUB.

The model, which focuses on various social determinants of health for improved community and individual wellbeing, will support what began in 2013 as One Northside, an effort to build a healthier community by connecting residents with health and wellness resources.

The model, set to begin in 2018, hopes to address areas like food security, literacy, employment, and maternal/family care, according to the release.

Project Destiny, a resource center that offers cultural and educational programs for children and families, is the principal grant awardee.

Allegheny General will serve as health provider for the program and the Allegheny County Health Department will provide data and public health indicators.

The BUILD Challenge, based in Washington, D.C., was founded by The Advisory Board Co., the de Beaumont Foundation, the Colorado Health Foundation, The Kresge Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

To date, the organization has supported 37 projects in 21 states and Washington, D.C., with 19 communities currently working on initiatives.

Originally published on November 1, 2017
SOURCE: Pittsburgh Business Times