October 2025

Community Health Connections

Center for Population Health Newsletter

Newsletter Highlights

SNAP Benefit updates

Trick or Treat Yourself to Wellness a huge success

Blood pressure screenings brought directly to JHA residents

Adventurous Eaters with Chef Nan back at Cambria County Library

CHW Learning Collaborative session to take place November 12

Local Food Systems Coordinator available to present on SNAP changes

CPH partnering with Cambria County Library on health fair

Federal Government shutdown will stop November SNAP benefits

Due to the federal government shutdown, November 2025 SNAP (food stamp) benefits will not be paid until the shutdown ends and benefit funds are released to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you or anyone you know is in need of food resources during this difficult time, please share the Food Resource Guide - https://www.unitedwaysa.org/food-pantries - which provides helpful information on local food pantries, senior citizen resources, and meal programs.

You can also call or visit:

https://www.pa211.org/

https://www.feedingpa.org/

https://pa-navigate.org/

If you are not food insecure, but interested in how you can help, please consider the following:

-Reach out to your local food pantry to see how to make a monetary or food donation

-Consider volunteering at your local food pantry

-Inquire with food pantries and area agencies on aging about volunteering for food delivery programs like meals on wheels or senior food box deliveries

-Check in on your neighbors who may be food insecure to see how you can help support them

CPH tables at Trick or Treat Yourself to Wellness Health & Human Services Fair

Center for Population Health (CPH) setup a resource table at the Cambria County Health & Welfare Council's annual Trick or Treat Yourself to Wellness Health & Human Services Fair.

Nearly 300 people attended the event to learn more about health and human services, resources available, and to allow their children to trick-or-treat at the organizations' tables.

CPH Communications Coordinator Allie Byers helps plan the event.

CPH partners with Pitt-Johnstown Nursing, JHA, Conemaugh Family Medical Center for blood pressure screenings

Center for Population Health has formed a strong partnership with the Pitt-Johnstown Nursing Program, Johnstown Housing Authority, and Conemaugh Health System's Family Medical Center to bring blood pressure screenings, medical information, and hygiene kits to Johnstown Housing Authority residents.

As part of their training, Pitt-Johnstown nursing students are providing blood pressure screenings to participate in the Million Hearts Challenge.

Family Medical Center residents have been attending some of the sessions to provide answers to medical questions that attendees may have.

Hygiene bags were also given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Chef Nan teaches people of all ages about food at Adventurous Eaters

CPH Local Food Systems Coordinator Nan McNinney (Chef Nan) is back at the Cambria County Library for Adventurous Eaters.

On October 9, Chef Nan helped kids try different foods with vegetables straight from the library's 3 Sisters Garden. She worked with Penn State Master Gardener Sue Konvolinka.

The next session is Thursday, November 20.

Pennie open enrollment begins Nov. 1

Pennie is Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace and connects Pennsylvanians to health coverage. Pennie offers lowest costs on high quality health plans from the top private insurance companies in Pennsylvania. Pennie is for 19–64-year-old Pennsylvanians who are not offered health coverage from their job and not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare. You’re worth protecting - No matter who you are or what you do, pennie.com makes it easy to find the lowest costs on high-quality health coverage.

CPH has trained Pennie Assisters who are able to help individuals enroll in healthcare coverage. Email info@centerforpophealth.org to schedule an appointment or visit www.pennie.com during Open Enrollment (Nov 1 – Jan 31) to explore plan options and enroll online.

Visit the Pennie website

CPH partners with AHEC and PA CHW on learning collaborative

Center for Population Health, PA Area Health Education Center, and Pennsylvania Community Health Worker Collaborative have joined forces on "Pathways to CHW Sustainability: A Learning Collaborative."

The collaborative is open to everyone, but specifically designed for health care, safety-net, and community-based organizations.

In October, the group will welcome Carl Rush, Senior Technical Advisor, NACHW and Principal/Owner of Community Resources, LLC.

The meetings take place on the second Wednesday of each month from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.:

November 12
December 10

If you have questions, please reach out to Center for Population Health Associate Director Kimberly Roberts at kroberts@centerforpophealth.org.

CPH Local Food Systems Coordinator available to explain SNAP changes

Center for Population Health Local Food Systems Coordinator Nan McNinney has been working with public libraries and other organizations to explain the upcoming SNAP changes.

If you would like Nan to present to your staff, please contact her at nmcninney@centerforpophealth.org.

We hope that you will continue to follow Center for Population Health updates in the future. To unsubscribe, please email us or click "unsubscribe" below.