Unintentional Injury Prevention Program

The Unintentional Injury Prevention Program (UIPP) works to decrease the unintentional injury death rate in Pennsylvania. Funding for the UIPP is through the Federal Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.

In 2023, the top three leading causes of injury hospitalization in Allegheny County included unintentional falls, transport accidents, and poisonings (which include overdoses). These three causes accounted for approximately three out of every four (~76%) of all injury-related hospitalizations. UIPP focuses on three areas of unintentional injury prevention: Falls Prevention, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and Motor Vehicle Safety.

Fall related hospitalizations accounted for over 60% of all injury hospitalizations in Allegheny County. In 2024, falls accounted for approximately 37% of all unintentional injury deaths in Allegheny County.

In 2024, mature drivers over the age of 65 accounted for 20% of all drivers involved in a vehicle crash. Access to community health data can be found on the Chronic Disease data page.

The program seeks to reach children, families, and older adults in under-resourced communities, particularly people of color in urban or remote rural areas.

Focus Areas

Falls Prevention: Collaborate with community partners to implement evidence-based programming for older adults (ages 55+) in the community.

Motor Vehicle Safety: Partner with the ACHD Community Traffic Safety Program (CTSP) to increase motor vehicle safety through education and free traffic safety services.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Prevention: Collaborate with community partners to implement evidence-based teen dating violence prevention programs in schools and in the community.

The program offers a range of services to individuals and community groups including:

A Matter of Balance(PDF, 2MB) is a community-based group intervention aimed at reducing the fear of falling and increasing physical activity in older adults.
Tai Chi for Arthritis and Falls Prevention(PDF, 425KB) workshops focus on improving balance, decreasing falls, and promoting wellness. (Tai Chi for Arthritis and Falls Prevention One Sheet.pdf)
IMPACT Teen Driver School Program(PDF, 336KB) is a school-based program that gives students the tools to advocate for themselves for road safety with their peers.
HeaRT (Healthy Relationship Toolkit)(PDF, 195KB) is a dating violence prevention model that teaches 11 to 14-year-olds healthy relationship skills.
Car seat safety events including ‘Cars Seats 101’ presentations to providers and parent groups, installation of child safety seats, and mobile fitting stations/car seat inspections to ensure that child safety seats are properly installed and used.
Locate a car seat loan program
CarFit events which offer older drivers an opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles fit them for maximum comfort and safety.

Community Partners

Falls Prevention:

Motor Vehicle Safety:

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Prevention:

Contact Information

For more information about partnering with ACHD to implement a program or host an educational event, please contact Andrea James.

Unintentional Injury Prevention Program Office

Hosanna House
807 Wallace Avenue
Suite 414
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
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