Pittsburgh Northside partnership selected to participate in Nationwide 'BUILD Health Challenge'

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Nov. 1, 2017) — A Pittsburgh partnership has been selected to participate in the BUILD Health Challenge, a national program that leverages multi-sector community partnerships in order to improve public health. Over the next two years, local organizations including Project Destiny, the Allegheny County Health Department, Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), the Buhl Foundation, and Highmark will work together to implement innovative solutions to the health challenges faced by residents of Pittsburgh's Northside community.

A $250,000 award from BUILD, combined with matching funds from both Highmark and the Buhl Foundation, will be used to create the "Center for Lifting Up everyBody" (CLUB) — a health and wellness model aimed at reaching the Northside's most vulnerable residents.

"We are very excited to be a part of a collective effort to deliver innovative and positive change to the overall health of the Northside. Highmark is deeply committed to the success of this program for the benefit of the community," said Dan Onorato, Executive Vice President, Highmark Health.

Project Destiny, a Northside-based nonprofit that works with local youth and their families, is the principal awardee of the grant funds. As a trusted organization in the Northside, it will hire and manage the CLUB staff and will oversee the day-to-day operation of the CLUB.

"Project Destiny is pleased to be a part of this collaboration to continue the work we have been doing on the Northside for more than a decade. Our families and children deserve to live and play in healthy communities. This grant support is a commitment to building a system where no one is left out," said Rev. Brenda J. Gregg, Executive Director, Project Destiny.

The CLUB is rooted in a movement among thousands of Northside residents, known as "One Northside" (1NS), which began in 2013 in an effort to build a healthier community. Fueled by the Buhl Foundation, the voice of the community, and resident-driven strategy teams, a plan was constructed to address various social determinants of health for improved community and individual wellbeing.

The CLUB will support this already developing concept and accelerate its fruition by connecting Northside residents to resources that improve health and wellness. Continually informed by resident input and health outcomes data, the CLUB's advisory committee will target critical issues such as food security, literacy, employment, and maternal/family care.

"This is a significant step forward for the One Northside initiative. The Buhl Foundation is grateful for this partnership as we develop a comprehensive approach to supporting thriving, healthy communities," said Diana Bucco, President, The Buhl Foundation.

Starting in 2018, the CLUB staff will begin reaching out to residents in their homes, getting to know their needs and customizing access to resources and support based on what is most pressing for the individual or family.

Allegheny General Hospital, through its Center for Inclusion Health, will serve as the CLUB's direct health provider and will work to ensure access for all residents to high-quality primary care.

"We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such an exceptional and dedicated group of organizations to better understand barriers to health and wellness in our community, and to ultimately take meaningful steps that will help improve quality of life for our most vulnerable neighbors," said Jeffrey K. Cohen, MD, President, AGH.

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) will play an active role on the advisory committee, and will provide useful data and public health indicators to examine how the Northside compares to state and national data.

"Achieving health equity in Allegheny County is a critical goal of our 'Plan for a Healthier Allegheny.' An important element is ensuring health access and addressing the social determinants of health. The BUILD grant represents an opportunity to do both. We are very excited to work with the One Northside coalition and all the partners to improve the health and wellbeing of Northside residents," said Dr. Karen Hacker, Director, Allegheny County Health Department.

To learn more about the BUILD Health Challenge, visit www.buildhealthchallenge.org.