UPMC Health Plan and Armstrong County Wellness Initiative to receive national attention

Kiran Bhat, MD, general pediatrician with Children’s Community Pediatrics – Armstrong, presented at the prestigious American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Future of Pediatrics Conference: Community Pediatrics, Medical Home and Beyond” June 29 – July 1 in Orlando, Fla., Dr. Bhat discussed the newly launched Armstrong County school-based project aimed at reducing and preventing childhood obesity and its related health risks. 

The project, known as HEAL (Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyles) Armstrong, is a collaboration of UPMC Health Plan, Children’s Community Pediatrics – Armstrong, ACMH Hospital (Armstrong Center for Medicine and Health), ACMH Hospital Foundation, and the Armstrong School District. The initiative aims to reduce childhood obesity in the county by educating children and families about healthy lifestyles through in-school, after-school, and community programs. 

An estimated 35 percent of children in the Armstrong School District – about 2,170 students – have a body mass index, or BMI, showing that they are heavier than 85 percent of children of their age and gender in the United States, according to the first survey of the students conducted last year. Since planning for the program began more than two years ago, the school district has changed its menu to offer healthier foods and has eliminated soft drinks from vending machines in the schools. Most schools in the district now have in-school wellness programs and after-school programs in development.

Last year, UPMC Health Plan awarded a $50,000 grant to HEAL Armstrong to support this program, which incorporates the National Institutes for Health’s “We Can!” program, an easy-to-use wellness program for parents and teachers. The American Academy of Pediatrics also awarded a Community Access To Child Health (CATCH) Implementation grant for a pilot of the project, which is now underway at Elderton Elementary School. The ACMH Hospital Foundation has contributed more than $20,000 since 2005.