The six-week period during which consumers may enroll in a health insurance plan using the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace begins on Sunday and ends on Tuesday, December 15.   Those without an employer-based plan may visit HealthCare.gov and CuidadodeSalud.gov to shop for plans that will begin coverage on January 1, 2021.  Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have their own state-based websites for enrollment in individual/family or small business health coverage, or both.  Some consumers may qualify for Medicaid coverage or a lower cost Marketplace plan depending on their state of residence and household size.

If you have not already submitted your application and are interested in joining the network of WalkWorks walking routes or know of anyone who might be interested, this is a friendly reminder that applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on November 13, 2020. To learn more about WalkWorks, check out their website. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact them at pawalkworks@pitt.edu.

Walking may just be the pandemic panacea
The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed our lives, impacting our physical, mental and social wellbeing. While we have adopted measures to keep each other safe, such as social distancing and wearing a mask, one thing has remained consistent, we can walk!

It has been a few years since the U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities was issued, though its goal is at least as vital as it was when issued: to increase walking by working together to increase access to safe and convenient places to walk and to create a culture that supports walking for all Americans. Further, the number one priority of the Pennsylvania State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) 2015-20 is obesity, physical inactivity and nutrition.

That is why WalkWorks – a collaboration of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the University of Pittsburgh, which aims to increase opportunities for physical activity through safe, fun, fact-filled walking routes in communities across Pennsylvania – is inviting organizations interested in improving the health status of the residents of their communities to express interest in joining its network of 100 walking routes by completing a brief application. Though we are living in an environment that presents its challenges, it will always be important to take care of yourself and those around you. With the right information, with which WalkWorks will assist, you can offer opportunities to help those in your area cope with stress in a healthy way that will make them, the people they care about and the overall community stronger. A limited number of partners will be added to our network during this cycle.

Selected organizations will be asked to:

• Identify a walking route of one to two miles, including points of interest;
• Engage community stakeholders to ensure the route will meet residents’ preferences;
• Collaborate with community organizations to encourage walking and, when the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines permit, optimize sustainable walking group; and
• Organize a kick-off celebration for the route.

Selected organizations will receive:

• Technical assistance with route selection;
• Guidance for physically distanced walks and, in the future, creating sustainable walking groups and identifying walking group leaders;
• The opportunity to hear from partners and affiliates already engaged in the program;
• Promotional materials and signage for the walking route(s); and
• Network emails and invitations to webinars.

Successful candidates will demonstrate the needs of the communities they serve, as well as their ability to implement and sustain the program to ensure lasting impact. Examples of eligible candidates are non-profit organizations and municipal entities.

Click here to download the application

The application must be completed and returned to
PAWalkWorks@pitt.edu
no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 13, 2020.

Life Unites Us, the statewide campaign launched by Governor Tom Wolf that focuses on ways to reduce the stigma of Substance Use Disorders (SUD), is hosting a free webinar on Oct. 27 at 12:00 pm on how to make important decisions utilizing your organization’s data. This webinar will help attendees to boost confidence in making programmatic data-driven decisions and will help you to learn ways to implement best practices when working with data in your health center. Register here.