Health & Well-Being
The Problem
Many individuals in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties are unable to live a healthy life due to conditions in their communities, lack of integration across sectors, and differences in the availability of quality supports and services.
Our Vision
Everyone in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, particularly the most vulnerable, has the opportunity to live a healthy life.
Three areas of primary focus
Healthy People
- Chronic Conditions
- Mental and Behavioral Health
- Maternal and Child Health
Healthy people are not merely free of disease or sickness, but also thrive physically, socially and emotionally. The Richard King Mellon Foundation will support efforts that strive to improve outcomes for individuals and communities in each of the three priority areas described below: Chronic Conditions, Mental & Behavioral Health, and Maternal & Child Health. We aim to consider projects that deploy one or more of five approaches in service of improving outcomes in these priority areas. These approaches include improving access, strengthening skills & capacities of providers, expanding prevention efforts, supporting education & empowerment, and supporting systems change.
Priority: Chronic Conditions – Chronic conditions are physical conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention and/or limit activities of daily living. Chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are the leading causes of death in the United States and a leading driver of health-care costs.
Priority: Mental and Behavioral Health – Mental and behavioral health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being, as well as actions that impact health, such as substance use, drinking, and smoking. Mental and behavioral health helps determine how individuals handle stress, relate to others, and make choices, and lays the foundation for our ability to thrive.
Priority: Maternal and Child Health – Maternal and child health issues result from the accumulation of risk factors before, during, and after pregnancy. The health and well-being of mothers, infants, and children determine the health of the next generation, and can help predict future public health challenges for families, communities, and the health care system.
Healthy Communities
- Healthy Eating
- Safe and Stable Homes
- Clean Environments
- Public Place and Open Spaces
Healthy communities have conditions that allow for individuals to achieve health and well-being, and have supports in place to address the root causes of inequities. People living in healthy communities are more likely to have better health outcomes and live a healthier, happier life. The Richard King Mellon Foundation will support efforts that strive to improve outcomes for individuals and communities in each of the four priority areas described below: Healthy Eating, Public Places & Open Spaces, Safe & Stable Homes, and Clean Environments. We aim to consider projects that deploy one or more of five approaches in service of improving outcomes in these priority areas. These approaches include improving access, strengthening skills & capacities of those who provide and manage services, preventing the deterioration of outcomes, supporting education & empowerment, and supporting systems change.
Priority: Healthy Eating – Healthy communities enable all individuals to access healthy food, especially those in geographic or economic circumstances that make access to healthy food options challenging.
Priority: Public Places and Open Spaces – Public places and open spaces, such as parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and open spaces for community gatherings, allow for individuals to engage in important health promotion activities such as physical activity.
Priority: Safe and Stable Homes – Homes that are affordable and free of violence provide stability, prevent homelessness, and reduce stress, which positively impact mental and physical health.
Priority: Clean Environments – Homes and neighborhoods that are free of air pollution, environmental toxins, and allergens prevent developmental issues and health conditions.
Advancing Science
- Basic Research
- Applied Research and Evaluation
- Research Translation and Dissemination
- Identification and Response to Emerging Issues
Technology, knowledge and science are fundamental in modern society and investment in the advancement of science helps identify new ways of understanding and impacting health and well-being at both the individual and community level.
Priority: Basic Research – Basic research fills in the knowledge we do not yet have around the causes of poor health and the relationship between the environment and health and well-being.
Priority: Applied Research and Evaluation – Applied research and evaluation seek to answer questions in the real world by proposing, testing, assessing, and then improving cutting edge or novel treatments, practices, or other solutions in our community.
Priority: Research Translation and Dissemination – Dissemination and adoption of data-informed practices, programs, and policies ensure that the solutions to health problems in our community are not only grounded in research, but also position us to have the greatest degree of impact on the ability of individuals to lead a healthy life.
Priority: Identification and Response to Emerging Issues – Unforeseen global events, new technologies, scientific discoveries and changes in our economy continually shape our lives and communities. Challenges such as these can profoundly impact numerous aspects of health and well-being. Efforts to identify and respond to emerging issues facilitates collaboration and rapid response.
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Our Impact
The Foundation approved 39 Health & Well-Being grants in 2021, totaling more than $13.7 million.