OCHS was established to address longstanding health, safety, and justice issues in the City of Pittsburgh. The office is tasked with redirecting city resources to better meet community needs by integrating social services, public health, and public safety leaders to assist community and first responders .

This area of work is critically important to the health and safety of Pittsburgh residents but can also be difficult to navigate. We recognize that residents want to play a role in providing for the health and safety of their community but may not know where they fall within the continuum of response. The Neighborhood Health and Safety Academy is intended to educate and empower neighborhoods by helping residents understand the landscape of social services, community resources, and public safety in the City of Pittsburgh. The Neighborhood Health and Safety Academy also seeks to provide residents with practical skills that can be safely applied to improve the health and safety of their neighbors.