August 2025

Community Health Connections

Center for Population Health Newsletter

Newsletter Highlights

Community Care HUB celebrates 5th

anniversary


Cambria and Somerset Community Health Summit a huge success


Local leaders create Lead Mitigation Task Force


LFLP meeting talks SNAP changes


September Lunch & Learn session on suicide prevention


CPH attends variety of community events with resource information


CPH partners with PA AHEC and PACHWC on learning collaborative

Community Care HUB celebrates 5th anniversary

This month, the Community Care HUB, an initiative of the Center for Population Health, celebrated its 5th anniversary.


Since its inception in 2020, the HUB's Community Health Workers have been connecting at-risk individuals with much needed services and resources.

Cambria and Somerset Community Health Summit held

Over 120 representatives from health & human services agencies gathered at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s Living-Learning Center for the 2025 Cambria & Somerset Community Health Summit. Attendees heard updates on programs that were implemented over the past year and learned about barriers that still need to be addressed.


The day-long event featured speakers, panel discussions, and the data from the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA).

Leaders in Cambria, Somerset counties create Lead Mitigation Task Force

Children in Cambria and Somerset counties are testing at elevated blood lead levels. Lead poisoning can cause permanent brain damage in children, leading to learning, behavior, hearing, and speech problems. Data from Pennsylvania’s Lead-Free Promise Project shows that lead paint is the primary cause of lead poisoning in Cambria County, where 83% of rental properties were built before 1980, when lead paint was banned. In Somerset County, the median year for built homes is 1960, with over 14,000 homes built before 1940.


A local task force has been formed to educate parents and residents about lead hazards and identify funding opportunities for mitigation efforts. If you or your agency would like to learn more about joining the Task Force, please email jmcmillan@centerforpophealth.org. Additional educational information can be found at Homepage - Lead Free Promise Project and About Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | CDC

Local Food Local Places group talks SNAP changes

The August Local Foods Local Places (LFLP) meeting focused on Supplement Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) changes.


Corrine Connor from Heinz gave a presentation on how the changes will affect individuals.


For additional information, visit https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/snap.


If you have other questions, please contact CPH Local Food Systems Coordinator Nan McNinney at nmcninney@centerforpophealth.org.

September August Lunch & Learn session on suicide prevention

On September 11 at noon, the monthly Lunch & Learn topic will be Suicide Prevention.


The Lunch & Learn sessions are a collaboration between CPH, Cambria Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Somerset County Chamber of Commerce.


To attend the meetings, follow the directions below:


Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

 

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZ0sf-ysqjkpGd1m357USs1-reG8_MtytNd2/ics?icsToken=DKWo-F2207_-roonowAALAAAAChZA9PgkUCp5F4jHRmMfUUb7MFLGGvUQtSc-l1ehOhEjIYeenH4VPISXwVNZrmCrusJ1UaoxHPNhmHjgzAwMDAwMQ&meetingMasterEventId=YPCLEWGLS7ucRyQ6k_Nqmw

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89185442339?pwd=rJxqviGlNUOfe2noZz85KfD391zxsg.1

 

Meeting ID: 891 8544 2339

Passcode: 697935

CPH staff attend variety of August health events

This month, CPH staff attended a variety of events to bring resources directly to those in attendance.


Events included:

  • Families R Us Event at Johnstown Housing Authority's Solomon community
  • Pop Up Storytime and Resource Session at Kircher Place in Boswell
  • Small Town Hope Health & Human Services Fair at The Tree House in Hastings
  • Families R Us Back to School Bash at Greater Johnstown High School
  • Nurse Family Partnership Resource Fair
  • Windber School District's Community Pep Rally

CPH partners with AHEC and PACHW 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.


The September 10 meeting will feature Timothy P. McNeill who is the CEO/Founder of Freedmen’s Health Consulting, a healthcare consulting firm specializing in implementation of innovative models of care. Nationally, Mr. McNeill serves as the co-chair of the Partnership to Align Social Care, a multi-sectoral group of health plans, health systems, community-based organizations and Government liaisons that work together to identify and address priority issues that are essential to a fully aligned health and social care system that incorporates the vital voice of the community.


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.:

  • September 10
  • October 8
  • November 12
  • December 10


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

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