2023 Highlights Report

Public Works is committed to providing the residents of Allegheny County with exceptional infrastructure, maintenance, and engineering services in a timely, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible manner. We ensure the safety, accessibility, and quality of 408 miles of roadway and 533 bridges. We also purchase and maintain the county’s fleet of 798 vehicles and heavy equipment, including 16 hybrid, 15 electric, and six natural gas vehicles.

COUNTY OF

ALLEGHENY

Sara Innamorato County Executive

To: Sara Innamorato, County Executive From: Jennifer Liptak, County Manager Date: April 18, 2024 Re:

2023 Allegheny County Highlights Report

Cc:

Grant Gittlen, Chief of Staff Stephen Pilarski, Senior Deputy County Manager

I am pleased to present the 2023 Highlights Report for Allegheny County, featuring key accomplishments during the year for each of our executive departments. The 2023 highlights reflect the hard work and dedication of county employees, who continuously strive to better serve the many constituents of county government, including residents, businessess, local municipalities and visitors. Just of few our many highlights include: • The Health Department (ACHD) is building a new, 45,000 square foot public health laboratory in Marshall Township. Scheduled to open in 2024, this state-of-the-art facility will enable rapid processing of disease testing and help to ensure the health of county residents. • ACHD advanced multiple air quality projects in 2023. New H2S and Emissions Inventory dashboards were launched with the assistance of CountyStat, providing residents with greater transparency about pollution levels and sources. A $10 million Target Airshed Grant was awarded to the county to replace diesel buses with zero-emission vehicles, to help address environmental and health inequities in the Mon Valley. And the Air Quality program, having achieved the federal goals for PM2.5 and Sulfur Dioxide, has once again applied for redesignation by the EPA. • ACHD also released the 2023-2026 Plan for a Healthier Allegheny . This document provides the guidance and direction for the department and its partners to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce the risk of chronic disease for county residents. • The Department of Human Services (DHS) opened the Family Healing Center in June of 2023, to help preserve families while parents undergo treatment and recovery for substance use disorders. Located in Mount Oliver, this innovative approach provides a full suite of on-site services for both adult and child family members.

Jennifer M. Liptak, County Manager Office of the County Manager 119 Courthouse • 436 Grant Street • Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone (412) 350-5300 • Fax (412) 350-3581 • www.alleghenycounty.us

• DHS and ACHD collaborated to launch the county’s Community Violence Reduction Initiative. This program provides a range of services with names such as Cure Violence, Becoming A Man, and Rapid Employment and Development Initiative, and operates in highly impacted communities, including the City of Pittsburgh, Sto-Rox, Penn Hills, Wilkinsburg, Woodland Hills and the Mon Valley. • DHS also worked to keep unhoused persons safe throughout the winter months, employing targeted street outreach, increased shelter capacity, expanded operating hours for the Unity Recovery Drop-In Center and activation of Code Blue during severe weather events, all while continuing to develop longer-term strategies to assist persons in need of housing solutions. • Allegheny County Emergency Services contracted for a new countywide public safety radio system that will enhance radio communications with state-of-the-art technology. Once completed, this project will represent the first time the county will have a true countywide, fully interoperable radio coverage, to make our residents safer, and the public safety agencies that rely on our technology more efficient. • Three of our departments – Police, Medical Examiner and Information Technology – collaborated during 2023 to produce an online portal for victims of sex assault. This portal enables victims to easily obtain information about the status of their case information. • In support of the City of Pittsburgh’s need to enhance police presence in the downtown area, the Allegheny County Police provided uniformed patrol officers for a one-month period in 2023. Meant to be a stop-gap measure while the city recruited and reassigned city police officers, ACP officers patrolled downtown in coordination with Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Port Authority Police. • The Office of the Public Defender, during only four months since launching Project Rehabilitate, assisted 591 clients with nearly 2000 outstanding cases. Through this program, OPD attorneys address clients’ legal matters while they receive treatment for substance use disorders. Absent this program, these county residents’ legal issues would have compounded during their attempts to get their lives back on track. • Our Parks Department continued to see excellent growth in the use of our parks system in 2023. The North and South Park golf courses instituted a tee-time reservation system and saw a combined 20% increase in admissions compared to 2022. Parks also offered more programs and saw more program participation in 2023, now having rebounded to beyond pre-pandemic levels. • Several exciting Parks capital projects are also featured in this report, including renovations to the Boyce Park tennis and pickleball complex. This facility now features six pickleball courts, two tennis courts and two hybrid pickleball-tennis courts. • Public Works completed the rehabilitation of the Roberto Clemente Bridge, the third and final installment of the Sister Bridges project. As part of the final touch on this project, an enhanced lighting system was added to all three bridges in 2023, which premiered on Light Up Night with an artist-commissioned light show.

You will find many more highlights in the attached report, featuring the results of each department’s efforts to provide outstanding service to our citizens. I am proud of the work of our dedicated county employees and present this report on behalf of their collective public service excellence! Sincerely,

Jennifer M. Liptak County Manager

CONTENTS

HEALTH AND WELFARE

PUBLIC SAFETY

32 37 42 46 50

07 16 27

Health Human Services Kane Community Living Centers

Emergency Services Jail Medical Examiner Police Public Defender

GENERAL GOVERNMENT & ADMINISTRATION

PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

83 88 91 96 99

59 67 71 77

Administrative Services Budget & Finance Children Initiatives CountyStat Court Records Economic Development Equity & Inclusion Human Resources Information Technology

Parks Facilities Management

Public Works Sustainability

103 108 112 116

HEALTH AND WELFARE

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

To protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of all Allegheny County residents, particularly the most vulnerable. Mission

About

employees who work in the Allegheny County Health Department 333

The Health Department’s operations include providing public health education, compiling vital health statistics, surveilling and controlling communicable diseases, enforcing environmental regulations, and the

administration of many other programs that protect and improve the health of the county’s residents. Since the Health Department was created over 60 years ago, significant progress has been made in preventing infectious diseases, addressing infant mortality, safeguarding the environment, and in dealing with new and emerging threats from opioid misuse, obesity, environmental lead, HIV, and pandemic influenza.

administrators, administrative and logistical support, environmental engineers and technicians, inspectors (food safety, housing, water, plumbing), environmental and policy attorneys, microbiologists, disease investigators, epidemiologists and statisticians, lab technicians, public health nurses, dental healthcare workers, nutritionists, public health educators, community resource and outreach coordinator

HIGHLIGHTS HEALTH DEPARTMENT

AIR QUALITY

FOOD SAFETY

3,265 new restaurants opened and inspected over the past 5 years

Allegheny County Industries are emitting 82% less sulfur dioxide, 29% less fine particulate matter, and 65% less hazardous air pollutants than they were 12 years ago.

Fine particulates pollution decreased in the past 10 years:

New Food Facilities Opened and Inspected

Pittsburgh Metro area: 13% reduction in PM 2.5 at the Lawrenceville monitor

Mon Valley area: 8% reduction in PM 2.5 at the Liberty monitor

*fine particulate pollution concentrations are based on annual 3-year design values *industrial emissions are based on data through 2022, fine particulate concentrations are based on data through 2023

OPIOID RESPONSE 3,201 rescue training participants 19,675 kits of naloxone distributed

INSPECTIONS

2023 ACHD Inspections

Overdose Prevention Training Events and People Trained

Plumbing and Sprinkler Inspection

Naloxone Distribution

SPOTLIGHTS HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Learn more about Allegheny County’s Public Health Laboratory (https://www.alleghenycounty. us/Services/Health-Department/Clinics-and- Facilities/Public-Health-Laboratory) Expanded At-Home STD Testing Chlamydia and gonorrhea are common sexually transmitted infections. In Allegheny County in 2021, 2,398 cases of gonorrhea were diagnosed, a six percent increase from the previous year. In 2021, the Health Department also confirmed 5,715 cases of chlamydia, a one percent increase from the previous year. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are treatable with medication prescribed by a health care provider. Diagnosing the infection early can help limit the immediate discomfort of symptoms and reduce the spread of the infection to others. Since November 2022, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has been piloting an at-home chlamydia and gonorrhea testing program to determine the value of more accessible at-home STD testing for residents. Residents can go online to request a test be mailed to their home or go to Hilltop Pharmacy (818 East Warrington Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15210) for assistance in requesting a test. Residents can then provide a sample, mail it back to the laboratory and review their results online in the privacy of their own home. If a resident tests positive for either disease, a member of the Health Department will contact them and provide treatment options and resources, which could include choosing treatment at a community pharmacy.

New Public Health Laboratory Location Knowing what diseases are present and impacting the health of residents in Allegheny County is the primary mission of the Public Health Laboratory. The Public Health Laboratory has outgrown its space in Lawrenceville and will be moving to Marshall Township with an anticipated relocation date of late 2024. In its current location, the Public Health Laboratory has a 12,500-square- foot footprint. The new space will encompass approximately 45,000 square feet. In the new space, the laboratory team will provide a larger number and a wider variety of tests. Funding for the laboratory’s relocation and expansion will not impact property taxes. Allegheny County will fund the project through the American Rescue Plan, which was passed into law during the COVID-19 pandemic and aimed to enhance various public health infrastructures.

emissions inventory statements from facilities, and how these factors were used to determine the source of H2S exceedances. To improve transparency and provide residents more information about the region’s air quality, the Allegheny County Health Department launched two new dashboards in 2023, one of which is dedicated to tracking hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The H2S Dashboard, which was created in partnership with CountyStat, displays up-to- date information from the county’s two H2S monitoring sites located in North Braddock and Liberty. Other information on the webpage explains the state’s H2S regulations and what the Health Department’s Air Quality Program is doing to monitor and enforce Pennsylvania’s H2S standards. The Allegheny County H2S Dashboard is available on the county website (https:// www. alleghenycounty.us/Services/Health- Department/Air-Quality/Air-Quality-Dashboards/ Hydrogen-Sulfide) The Emissions Inventory Dashboard, which was also created in partnership with CountyStat, is another tool for the residents and interested parties to gauge air quality in Allegheny County. The dashboard includes emission data collected by ACHD from 2010 to 2021 for 168 permitted facilities. It allows for the visualization in a line graph, as a data table, or on a map. It also allows the viewer to view emissions by pollutant or pollutant category, individual facilities and individual years. The goal is to provide residents particularly with a better understanding of the distribution of point source pollution across the county. The Emissions Inventory Dashboard can be found here (https://www.alleghenycounty. us/Services/Health-Department/Air-Quality/Air- Quality-Dashboards/Emissions-Inventory)

New H2S and Emissions Inventory Dashboards Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless gas with a rotten egg-like smell. The most common sources of H2S are from industrial processes like oil and natural gas refineries, kraft paper production, coke ovens and tanneries. It is also released at sewage treatment facilities, landfills, as well as during bacterial breakdown of human and animal waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not have federal air quality standards for H2S. Pennsylvania is one of a few states with a hydrogen sulfide regulation. In 1971, ACHD incorporated the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) H2S regulations into its Air Quality Rules and Regulations. The Air Quality Program enforces the Pennsylvania H2S odor control standard and has issued enforcement orders based on it. In 2022, to better understand H2S and where it is originating from in the county, the Health Department authored a study entitled Analysis and Attribution of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Exceedances at the Liberty Monitoring Site from January 1, 2020 through March 1, 2022. This study looked at data from its permanent H2S monitors and portable H2S sensors, weather conditions,

Target Airshed Grant (TAG) to Electrify PRT Buses The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected Allegheny County’s Targeted Airshed Grant proposal for funding. This grant will directly address environmental and health inequities in the Mon Valley through the replacement of diesel buses with new zero-emission vehicles for the Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). The $10 million grant will provide the county with the necessary funding to replace four 40-foot PRT diesel transit buses. These new buses will serve riders in the Mon Valley area. The grant will also support the purchase and installation of two electric chargers along with necessary infrastructure in the garage to which the buses would be assigned. The new zero-emission buses are anticipated to be purchased and put into service in 2026. Zero-emission buses have been shown to contribute to healthier communities, especially communities that are classified as high need by environmental justice indexes, like EJScreen or the environmental justice index developed by the Allegheny County Health Department. The Mon Valley is a major travel corridor. Pittsburgh Regional Transit operates 23 bus routes serving the Mon Valley carrying 52,400 riders on an average weekday. Seven routes operate on PRT’s Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway which reduces trip times for riders traveling between Mon Valley communities, Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood and downtown.

as tree canopy expansion projects in Mon Valley Communities. This effort aligned with ACHD’s ongoing efforts to improve air quality across Allegheny County, particularly in the Mon Valley. Vehicle electrification reduces greenhouse gas and PM2.5 emissions. According to data collected and analyzed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, vehicle PM2.5 emissions contribute approximately 25 percent of all air pollution in Allegheny County. The ACHD Air Quality Program focused on those municipalities that are covered under the Mon Valley Air Pollution Episode Rule. With the support from the Board of Health, the Air Quality Program awarded grants for electric refuse and recycling haulers for Swissvale and West Mifflin and an electric street sweeper for the eleven Mon Valley municipalities of the Steel River Council of Government. Tree canopies can contribute to removing air pollution and providing other benefits. With the support of the Board of Health, the Air Quality Program awarded grants for tree canopy expansion to the Woodland Hills and Steel Valley School Districts in partnership with Tree Pittsburgh. Redesignation for PM2.5 and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) In November of 2022, the Health Department’s Air Quality program submitted a request to redesignate or relabel Allegheny County as having achieved the goals laid out in the Clean Air Act and the 2012 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5. In October 2023, the Air Quality program submitted another request to redesignate or relabel Allegheny County, this time for having achieved the goals laid out in the Clean

Clean Air Fund Projects The Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality program awarded $2.29 million in funding to support municipal fleet electrification as well

Air Act and the 2012 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2). The Health Department has been in discussions with the EPA at both the regional and headquarter levels and awaits the Region 3 Administrator's decision. The EPA agreed that the data the Air Quality program submitted as part of the redesignation request is clean and meets the goals and standards of the Clean Air Act and the 2012 National Ambient Air Quality Standards. To read about the clean data determination, visit (federalregister.gov/ documents/2022/03/ 16/2022-05446/air-plan- approval-pennsylvania-allegheny-county-area- fine-particulate-matter-clean-data) Overdose Prevention Adds Test Strips to Harm Reduction Efforts A significant piece of combating the opioid overdose crisis is informing community members what harmful compounds are present within their consumed substances. Fentanyl is becoming increasingly common in all kinds of illicit substances; therefore, users need to know whether fentanyl is present or not to ensure their safety. In 2023, the Pennsylvania legislature legalized fentanyl test strips, adding another tool to the county’s overdose prevention efforts. The Health Department’s Overdose Prevention Program ordered 3,000 test strips at the beginning of 2023, when they were first legalized, and staff distributed the first batch very quickly and has already ordered more. Residents can access resources related to overdose prevention, parenting, treatment and recovery by visiting the ACHD’s overdose prevention website.

The Health Department efforts are done in collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and other stakeholders to reach those most vulnerable.

Plan for a Healthier Allegheny 2023-2027 Released The Plan for a Healthier Allegheny 2023-2027 is the cornerstone of the county’s community health improvement process. The plan was completed under the guidance of former director and now acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra L. Bogen. It contains eight goals, 37 objectives, and 59 metrics designed to guide and measure the health and well-being of Allegheny County residents. The guiding principles of the plan are that it is equity driven, data supported, community engaged, as well as policy oriented. The Plan for a Healthier Allegheny, 2023-2027 focuses on three priority areas: physical health, behavioral health and the environment. To improve the physical health of Allegheny County residents, the department and its partners aim to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce the risk of chronic disease. The plan also includes goals to ensure that residents have a place to obtain medical as well as dental care and to decrease the disparities in life expectancy and chronic diseases. In the area of behavioral health, the plan outlines efforts needed to ensure residents have access to behavioral and mental health services, including treatment for substance use disorders. The plan calls for expanded participation in existing programs and activities that support mental health and wellbeing.

Environmentally, the plan identifies strategies to ensure that more people live in safe and resilient communities. This will be accomplished by helping people live in stable and safe housing, that fewer people experience violence in their homes, and that more residents live in communities prepared to adapt and absorb the impacts of climate change. The full text of the Plan for a Healthier Allegheny, 2023-2027 can be viewed on the ACHD’s website (https://www.alleghenycounty.us/ Services/Health-Department/Community- Indicators-and-Health-Data/Chronic-Disease- Epidemiology/Plan-for-a-Healthier-Allegheny). Data is regularly updated and available through the ACHD’s Community Health Indicators website (https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Services/ Health-Department/Community-Indicators-and- Health-Data).

MyChart is a free app and online tool that is already used locally by Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and its providers. Regardless of the individual’s health care provider, patients can sign up for MyChart at mychart.ahn.org. Click on “Sign up now” on the right-hand side of the webpage to create an account. Once a patient has a MyChart account, or if they have an existing account, they will be able to select the ACHD’s Immunization Clinic and the type of appointment they seek. Much like when a patient visits their health care provider’s office, they will input all the necessary personal and medical information into an online form that will be used for their upcoming visit.

The ACHD’s Immunization Clinic sees approximately 9,000 patients annually.

Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Grant The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention awarded the Allegheny County Health Department a second $5.5 million Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant. The funds will be used to build still stronger community partnerships to improve health, prevent chronic disease, and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities in select communities. In Allegheny County, the Live Well Allegheny REACH Program is a collaboration between ACHD and community partners focused on improving health outcomes for Black and African American residents. In addition to ACHD programs and clinics, partners include Allegheny

Immunization Clinic Launches Online Scheduling Option The Immunization Clinic has adopted a new online self-scheduling option for patients. The clinic is now using MyChart which allows users to schedule titer checks, travel consultations and immunization appointments.

Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) Grant The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention awarded the Allegheny County Health Department $14.5 million in funding to support work curbing the opioid overdose epidemic. This grant is the second Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) grant awarded to the Health Department. The first grant, awarded in 2019, laid the foundation for the extensive overdose prevention work of the Health Department and its partners. The 2023 grant will enable the ACHD and its partners to continue the surveillance and prevention strategies initiated during the first grant. It will also support: • Street medicine to address the physical and mental health needs of unhoused individuals, including low-barrier access to medication for opioid use disorder as well as wound care for xylazine and other needs related to changing drug supply. • Elevating grassroots community organizations’ work to distribute harm reduction education and supplies as well as facilitate linkage to care for people who use drugs in communities of color that experience the highest rates of fatal overdoses. • Work with community partners to provide real-time updates of changes in the drug supply by expanding drug testing. • Partnerships with four local providers of medication assisted treatment to collect data related to substance use disorder treatment methods, their efficacy and retention rates.

County Economic Development, Food Trust, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Just Harvest, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Faith-Based Health Collaborative, Royally Fit, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council, Health Start Center for Urban Breastfeeding, Black Women’s Policy Center, Bethany Community Ministries, the Black Equity Coalition and Urbankind Institute. With the funding awarded by the CDC REACH Program, ACHD and its many partners plan to: • Improve breastfeeding rates by linking even more Black mothers to breastfeeding information, education and support. • Increase trail milage, access to existing trails and improve the built environment to encourage outdoor activities by continuing to partner with the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County. • Increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables using voucher programs for things like farmers markets and produce- prescription programs, creating clinical linkages to more nutritious food. • Increase vaccination rates by improving access to vaccination opportunities. The following communities are part of the Live Well Allegheny REACH Program: Clairton, Duquesne, McKeesport, North Braddock, North Versailles, Rankin and Wilkinsburg as well as the neighborhoods of Garfield, Hazelwood, the Hilltop, Homewood/Larimer, Northside and West End in the City of Pittsburgh. Allegheny REACH Program. Their evaluation can be viewed here (storymaps.arcgis.com/ stories/649859fc5ea34a47b828a904974bd551) To learn more about Live Well Allegheny REACH, visit (livewellallegheny.com/reach) The University of Pittsburgh studied the performance of first five year Live Well

Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure (BOLD) Grant The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) selected Allegheny County’s BOLD Public Health Program Grant for funding. This grant will help the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) create regional capacity to aid those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The BOLD Public Health Program Grant provides $1.85 million in funding over the course of five years. The Allegheny BOLD Coalition, which will be created through this grant, aims to enhance health equity and build the county’s dementia infrastructure by addressing risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, focusing on Black and low-income communities. Over five years, the coalition will collaborate to improve health disparities, educate communities, health care providers, and other professionals and increase community-clinical access. Developing and implementing an Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias strategic plan includes various activities ranging from community outreach events, professional educational events, and dissemination of information and resources. The plan will include input from grassroots and faith- based organizations working on community health and education in Allegheny County. Allegheny County is one of the oldest regions in the United States, with 19.7 percent of the population being 65 years and older. The county has the second largest population of older adults among the 40 largest U.S. counties, second only to Palm Beach, Florida. Allegheny County’s population has aged mainly in place, and this trend is anticipated to continue.

By 2050 the population aged 85 and older is projected to increase by more than 27,000 or 85 percent compared to current levels. Data from 2020 identified Alzheimer’s disease as the seventh leading cause of death in Allegheny County. Additionally, in 2021, 10 percent of adults 45 years and older experienced “more frequent or worsening confusion or memory loss in the past year.” The selection of Allegheny County for the CDC’s BOLD Public Health Program Grant will allow the Health Department and its community partners to further the goals it laid out in the Plan for a Healthier Allegheny, 2023-2027. Specifically, the grant will help the county decrease disparities in life expectancy and chronic disease.

HUMAN SERVICES

Mission

To create an accessible, culturally competent, integrated and comprehensive human services system that ensures individually tailored, seamless and holistic services to Allegheny County residents, in particular, the county’s vulnerable populations.

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) is responsible for providing and administering publicly-funded human services to county residents. DHS provides a wide range of services, including those for the older adults; mental health services (includes 24-hour crisis counseling); drug and alcohol services; child protective services; at-risk child development and education; emergency shelters and housing for the homeless; non-emergency medical transportation; and referrals for supports coordination for individuals with a diagnosis of intellectual disability. About

people who work in the Allegheny Department of Human Services 774

administrative staff, HR staff, facilities staff, contracting & compliance staff, program specialists, program monitors, project managers & coordinators, direct service workers, caseworkers, case aids, data analysts, fiscal analysts, IT management & support, communications specialists, director’s action line staff, information & referral representatives, call center representatives

HIGHLIGHTS HUMAN SERVICES POPULATIONS SERVED 59,829 mental health services 35,750 aging services 33,751 participated in Family Strengthening Programs 11,938 substance use disorder services 11,632 homeless & housing supports 1,927 active child welfare cases 6,475 intellectual disability and autism services

EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE 3,302 households received funding for rent and/or utilities $4,865 average amount of assistance per household served

HOUSEHOLDS IN PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAMS

Households in Permanent Housing Programs

CHILD PROTECTION & KINSHIP CARE PLACEMENT

% of Children Placed with Family the First Time They Enter Placement

1,981 youth in placement 120 youth in congregate care 1,251 youth in kinship

PHONE RESOURCES Children, Youth, & Families Line 15,600 calls Information, Referral, Emergency Services 11,597 calls Adult Protective Services 11,045 calls

Senior Line 43,006 calls, emails & visits Allegheny Link 16,317 calls, emails & visits Director’s Action Line 5,316 calls, emails, & visits

SPOTLIGHTS HUMAN SERVICES

Opening of the Family Healing Center Substance use is a primary driver of child welfare referrals in Allegheny County – a trend exacerbated by the opioid crisis and an increase in pandemic-related relapse rates. There is a critical need for family treatment services to mitigate the effects of parental substance use and to help strengthen and preserve families. While the county provides inpatient substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for parents, existing programs are exclusively for mothers, set restrictions on the number of children in accompaniment, and/or treatment duration. To address this gap in services, DHS established the Family Healing Center on June 26, 2023, with a capacity to serve eight families. The Family Healing Center is an innovative residential treatment model that supports parent treatment and recovery while preserving families and preventing the adverse effects often resulting from caregiver substance use, including home removal of children by child welfare. Located in a previously vacant school building in Mount Oliver, the Family Healing Center provides apartments and facility space for families with young children where at least one parent is in recovery. Auberle, the lead agency competitively selected by the DHS to operate the Center, offers a range of on- site supports that include: • Evidence-based substance use disorder treatment • Psychoeducation groups, life skills classes, and parenting programs

• Supportive services such as childcare and transportation • Holistic health and wellness programs • Family needs assessments, case management, and referrals to external services, as appropriate

Improving Access to High-Quality Behavioral Health Services Like many other fields, the human services sector has struggled with labor shortages and challenges in recruiting for key positions. This is especially problematic mental health and substance abuse fields, where the service need is high and minimum staffing ratios are often required to operate services.

In 2023, DHS responded to the workforce crisis by launching the Behavioral Health (BH) Fellows program. The program, sponsored by DHS in partnership with Community Care Behavioral Health and the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, aims to strengthen the county’s publicly funded behavioral health system by offering educational loan repayments, competitive salaries, and career development experiences for behavioral healthcare staff. With over $15 million in funding, this program is designed to attract and retain individuals dedicated to improving the lives of the county’s most vulnerable. After being accepted into the program, BH Fellows will be eligible to receive: • Competitive pay • Educational loan repayment (up to $25,000 for a bachelor’s degree and up to $45,000 for a master’s degree) OR free access to an approved professional certificate program • Paid training, leadership development, and networking experiences through a cohort model In return, Fellows agree to complete two years of employment in a specific behavioral health role with a program-eligible provider. BH Fellows will be hired into key positions in the following areas:

• Blended Service Coordination • Family-Based Mental Health • Crisis Services

• Child Diversion and Acute Stabilization • Case Management for Substance Use Disorder • Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment

There continues to be a critical need for staff in high-need BH service areas to enhance access and ease wait-times for behavioral health services to Allegheny County residents and families. BH Fellows helps to address these issues.

Community Violence Reduction Initiative DHS, in partnership with the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), issued two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) designed to address gun violence in local communities experiencing the highest rates of violence. With a budget of at least $50 million over the next five years, these proposals aim to implement evidence-based,

comprehensive and well-coordinated public health approaches to community violence reduction both within and across highly impacted communities. Both RFPs closed in 2022, with program implementation beginning in early 2023. The RFP for Community Violence Reduction Plans from High-Priority Areas aims to reduce violence within highly impacted communities and asked for community stakeholder collaboration to: 1. Create a community violence reduction plan, which includes commitment from implementing and facility partners to carry out their chosen community violence reduction programs. 2. Choose a lead agency (who will be referred to as the Community Quarterback) to coordinate and oversee the implementation of that community violence reduction plan on behalf of the community. Funding was prioritized for highly impacted communities outside of the City of Pittsburgh, with some exceptions: Sto-Rox, Penn Hills, Greater Wilkinsburg Area, South Hilltop (Mount Oliver Borough and Pittsburgh’s Allentown, Beltzhoover, Knoxville and Carrick neighborhoods), Woodland Hills (Braddock, East Pittsburgh, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale and Turtle Creek), and Mon Valley (Clairton, Duquesne, McKeesport and Homestead). In addition to existing efforts, the county is also funding the following evidence-based community violence reduction programs within highly impacted communities. • Cure Violence treats violence like a disease and disrupts it through credible violence interrupters, prevents it by connecting those most at-risk to services, and changes

community norms around violence. The program focuses on those at highest risk of victimization from or perpetration of gun violence, primarily young adults ages 18 through 34. • Becoming A Man (BAM) is a school-based program that employs full-time licensed counselors who work with at-risk young men in grades 6 through 12, five days a week, through cognitive behavioral therapy, peer support and future orientation. • Rapid Employment and Development Initiative (READI) is a paid transitional jobs program that is primarily focused on violence prevention by identifying those at highest risk of victimization from or perpetration of gun violence, primarily young adults ages 18 through 34. Outreach workers engage men at highest risk, who build skills and take part in cognitive behavioral therapy through the format of a 9-to-5 workday, five days a week. Communities implementing these programs receive ongoing training and technical assistance from program developers to ensure program fidelity. Additionally, ACHD’s Office of Violence Prevention will continue to monitor Cure Violence sites. Awardees from the Community Violence Reduction Plans from High-Priority Areas RFP include 1. Sto-Rox: Focus on Renewal (Community Quarterback) and their implementing and facility partners for Cure Violence, READI and BAM (Sto-Rox H.S). 2. Penn Hills: Penn Hills School District (Community Quarterback) and their implementing and facility partners for Safe Spaces and BAM (Penn Hills H.S)

3. Greater Wilkinsburg Area: Community Forge (Community Quarterback) and their implementing and facility partners for Cure Violence and BAM (Westinghouse H.S). 4. South Hilltop: South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace (Community Quarterback) and their implementing and facility partners for Cure Violence, READI, Safe Spaces and BAM (Carrick H.S). 5. Woodland Hills: Greater Valley Community Services (Community Quarterback) and their implementing and facility partners for Cure Violence and READI. 6. Mon Valley: Steel Rivers Council of Government (Community Quarterback) and their implementing and facility partners for Cure Violence and BAM (Clairton H.S). The RFP for Countywide Support for Violence Prevention lays out DHS’ strategy to reduce community violence by identifying a countywide convener to unite stakeholders for basic information-sharing about community violence prevention and to facilitate coordination of violence reduction efforts. This RFP also funds centralized evidence-based community violence- reduction efforts that cover the entire county but are particularly focused on the aforementioned highly impacted municipalities and hot spots in the City of Pittsburgh. Examples of community violence reduction efforts the county is funding include: • Shooting review boards that convene relevant stakeholders to systematically determine why a given shooting (fatal and non-fatal) occurred, identify trends and use these data to inform prevention and intervention. • Hospital-based intervention sends credible trauma responders and outreach workers to

the bedsides of gunshot victims to connect at-risk young men to necessary services and stop the spread of violence by interrupting retaliation. The program serves victims of all ages, but primarily focuses on older youth and young adults. • Victim and family support to connect gunshot victims and their loved ones to mental health services and survivor support groups. • Building capacity to implement Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) which uses blight reduction, strategic lighting placement, and vacant building and lot remediation as tools to reduce the opportunity to commit violent crime. Awardees from the Countywide Support for Violence Prevention RFP include: 1. Countywide Community Violence Prevention Convener: Neighborhood Resilience Project 2. Shooting review boards: Social Contract 3. Hospital-based intervention: Reimagine Reentry 4. Victim and family support: Center for Victims, Community Engagement Association An evaluation of program fidelity and outcomes will inform future investments in violence reduction strategies.

Hello Baby Expansion

to over 10,000 children, while Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists assisted over 200 relative providers in meeting eligibility criteria for program participation. Additionally, DHS launched funding for emergency childcare and helped provide financial support to families ineligible for the federal subsidy yet unable to afford childcare expenses. In addition to supporting families in accessing high-quality childcare, DHS expanded other supports to meet families’ basic needs. In partnership with Footbridge for Families, DHS significantly expanded one-time financial assistance for families to keep utilities running, cover their first month’s rent and security deposits, and ensure access to transportation for work. Furthermore, DHS partnered with Beverly’s Birthdays to establish the region’s first and only public formula bank network, offering bridge- based support services to help families struggling financially or seeking formula to feed their baby. Formula was provided to nearly 1,000 babies in 2023 through this initiative. Finally, in collaboration with the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank, DHS distributed 1,050,633 diapers which served an estimated 10,000 unique children.

Launched in 2020, Hello Baby is an innovative intervention that uses integrated data to prioritize prevention services for families with new babies based on their level of need. Hello Baby offers tiered supports, integrating universal, geographic, and intensive targeted strategies with data-driven decision-making to strengthen families, improve child outcomes, and maximize child and family well-being, safety, and security. Designed to reach all Allegheny County families with a newborn, Hello Baby adopts a universal approach that minimizes the stigma often associated with the need for support as a new parent. The tiered, differentiated approach allows for flexible program delivery, recognizing that each family is unique and has varying levels of needs and barriers to support. The program incorporates community-level support and utilizes home visiting techniques, employing culturally competent staff with lived experiences to support families with moderate to high needs. While the program initially launched in 2020, it expanded in 2023 to include all birthing hospitals, accept community referrals, and reach every family in Allegheny County identified in the top 20% of need. Approximately 40% of families reached chose to utilize a service, including Healthy Start, Family Check-Up, Family Centers, Prepared Meals, and Rental Assistance.

Discounted Fares Program Implementation

In December 2023, Allegheny County DHS announced an agreement with Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) to implement a discounted fare program for all county Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries, scheduled to commence in early 2024.

Expanding Support for Childcare & Families’ Basic Needs In 2023, DHS and its community partners expanded families’ access to high-quality childcare. DHS Early Learning Resource Center Family Specialists extended childcare subsidies

Grandfamilies Stipend to Support Older Adult Caregivers This year, Aging Services led a groundbreaking initiative to support ‘grandfamilies,’ older adults who care for children outside of the child welfare system. The program offers stipends directly to families, aiming to recognize the increasing prevalence of older adults raising youth, address the financial needs of this often-overlooked demographic, and connect these families to services that mitigate the necessity for future DHS Children Youth and Family (CYF) involvement. Since in launch, DHS has allocated nearly $1 million to over 900 grandfamilies to help them care for their kin. Participating families were also connected with parent support programs. As this project continues, DHS plans to explore the anticipated use of funds and their impact on quality of life, access to opportunities, or access to basic needs for youth in the care of grandparent/ older parent/guardian heads of household. Launching PA START Allegheny This year, DHS, the PA Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) launched an innovative crisis prevention and intervention program in Allegheny County: PA START Allegheny. START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources & Treatment) is a nationally recognized model, currently operating in over 20 states, supported by the University of New Hampshire National Center for START Services. Through the provision of a 24-hour community-based crisis response and clinical consultation team, START aims to strengthen

The program builds on a 12-month pilot that began in late 2022. The discounted fares transportation 12-month pilot was designed to evaluate the impact of reduced public transportation fares on residents’ access to comprehensive services. Beyond DHS services, the pilot assessed whether these fares facilitated access to community opportunities. A total of 9,552 adults participated in the program, representing 14,480 individuals when including eligible family members. Preliminary findings from the pilot indicate that a 50% fare reduction led to a fourfold increase in ridership, as evidenced by transactional card tap data, compared to pilot members without a discount. Additionally, providing free fares doubled the number of rides compared to the group with a 50% discount. Participants who benefited from discounts reported savings on transportation costs and reduced challenges in commuting to work or attending appointments. At the outset of the 2024 program, individuals receiving SNAP benefits will qualify for a 50% fare discount when using PRT buses and light rail. DHS, in collaboration with PRT, remains committed to exploring avenues to enhance the discount, aiming ultimately to offer fare-free PRT trips for individuals with limited financial resources. Program eligibility will include Allegheny County residents between the ages of 6 to 64 who are receiving SNAP, potentially benefiting nearly 134,000 individuals, including over 80,000 residing within walking distance to PRT stations and bus stops.

efficiencies and service outcomes for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and behavioral health needs. It establishes connections with existing services to promote the integration and enhancement of individual and system outcomes. Rather than replacing existing services, PA START Allegheny fosters improved outcomes through close collaboration with participants and their caregivers. The PA START Allegheny program is a strength-based, evidence-informed behavioral practice and person-centered approach to treatment. Keeping Unhoused People Safe in Winter Allegheny County DHS, in close partnership with the City of Pittsburgh and service provider partners, urgently worked to keep unhoused people safe through the following efforts: • Targeted Street Outreach: Many unhoused individuals refrain from seeking assistances due to feeling disconnected or alienated from mainstream services and supports. In 2023, Allegheny County DHS partnered with Bridge to the Mountains to provide person-centered, harm reduction-focused street outreach aimed at facilitating connections to resources including, but not limited to, housing, medical care, behavioral health, benefits, and employment opportunities. • Increased shelter capacity: By December 31, 2023, Allegheny County had a total of 572 year-round accessible and/or overflow shelter beds for single individuals experiencing homelessness. This is an increase from 527 beds on January 1, 2023,

and a significant rise from 232 beds in 2021. • Expanded Operating Hours at the Unity Recovery Drop-In Center: The Unity Recovery drop-in center now operates 24/7, offering showers, resting areas, connection to resources, housing navigation, peer services, and various activities. • Special Measures for Extreme Weather: DHS activates the Code Blue Severe Weather Emergency Shelter when the air temperature, according to the National Weather Service forecast, is expected to fall below 26°F between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Additionally, the plan may be enacted if the City of Pittsburgh Office of Emergency Management activates the Emergency Operations Center in response to severe weather conditions. During a Code Blue event, individuals who arrive at Second Avenue Commons, Downtown, are transported, as needed, to shelters with available capacity throughout the City. In addition to expanding the immediate supports systems for unhoused individuals outlined above, DHS will further increase investments throughout 2024 to divert people from homelessness whenever possible and to help people transition out of shelters quickly. Efforts to Increase Community and Stakeholder Engagement DHS aims to engage communities and stakeholders, including those most impacted by human services, to gather input and feedback. Some of the engagement efforts this year included:

“State of Human Services” Virtual Hearings In April 2023, hundreds of non-profit leaders and engaged Allegheny County residents participated in “The State of Human Services” virtual hearings to learn about upcoming regional priorities, ask pointed questions, and provide feedback. DHS is responsible for providing and administering publicly funded human services to county residents, including 200,000 of the most vulnerable individuals, through a network of more than 400 community non-profits. The DHS director hosted two virtual hearings, spaced a week apart, to maximize live participation. The sessions featured an overview from the DHS director, focusing on four distinct priorities, followed by a live, on-camera, Q&A hosted by a local non-profit leader. Those questions that could not be addressed within the allotted timeframe were responded to with written follow-ups. DHS shared a recording of the hearing with all attendees and posted it on DHS’ community engagement website to spark continued conversation. To view a recording of Allegheny County’s State of Human Services, visit (vimeo. com/821010650?share=copy) Virtual hearings have proven to be an effective, two-way communication tool for Allegheny County DHS. Community non-profits gain insights into and share in DHS priorities, while DHS benefits from feedback from group leaders engaged daily with clients and help carry out the DHS mission. Recovery Month Luncheon – OBH-D&A The Office of Behavioral Health, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services held an inaugural Recovery Month Luncheon in September 2023, providing an opportunity for community members, providers, including Co-Forge, and

DHS leadership and staff to form connections. The event provided a platform for community members to share inspiring stories of their substance use journeys and resilience in recovery. It also allowed providers and staff to gain insights from community members experiences working with various recovery-oriented supports in the county and beyond. Pennsylvania Master Plan on Aging Regional Town Hall DHS’ Area Agency on Aging, along with representatives from Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Council on Aging, participated in an input session for the governor and his administration for the first- ever Pennsylvania 10-Year Master Plan for Older Adults. The multi-sector plan aims to transform infrastructure and coordination of services for older Pennsylvanians through state leadership and stakeholder collaboration. The local leaders shared their successes in engaging the older adult population, including through COVID-19 vaccination clinics, and acknowledged some of the greatest challenges impacting the aging population, especially safe, affordable and accessible housing. Attendees were invited to share solutions for creating inclusive and viable communities and systems for people of all ages and abilities. The event represented the collective

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