Kids

Here to help brighten their future: Meet new CHW Tracey

Tell me about yourself! I’ve lived in Johnstown for the last 21 years. I’m from the state of Maryland. I’m married without any little kiddos, but do have grandchildren here in Johnstown. I enjoy cooking. I’m very much a home-body. What drew you to the CHW position in the first place? Do you have any [...]

SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs) payments ending

The last SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs) payment will be sent out in February. A second SNAP payment was authorized to SNAP households when the COVID-19 Pandemic started in 2020. The payments were authorized  under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. A recent change in federal law will be ending the second payment [...]

World Cancer Day acknowledges cancer disparities

World Cancer Day originated February 4, 2000 at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris. 23 years later the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is still working to unite the cancer community and reduce cancer rates globally. A three-year campaign called “Close the Care Gap” has been in full swing [...]

A must for all: Greater Johnstown Elementary School Guidance Counselor Don Trotz talks about HUB

How has being a part of the Community Care HUB benefited your school district and students? We have seen a renewed collaboration with parents and guardians that have improved overall attendance and academic grades. Also, Community Care HUB has provided resources and connections in the community to our families, as well as the “know how…” [...]

What is population health?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines “Population Health” as “an opportunity for health care systems, agencies and organizations to work together in order to improve the health outcomes of the communities they serve.” Simply explained, population health is the study of health outcomes found in a group of individuals and can often be [...]

Vaccine inequity still a problem

National Influenza Vaccine Week took place December 5-9 this year and serves as a reminder that it’s not too late to get a flu vaccine. Individuals 6 months and older are eligible for a vaccine. While National Influenza Vaccine Week is a call to action for those who haven’t received the vaccine yet, it is [...]

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month

The holiday season is in full swing. In many circles, this means children receiving gifts; however, the opening of packages requires awareness and safety, which is why Prevent Blindness America declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Month. According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), “The group encourages everyone to consider if the toys [...]

Seasonal Affective Disorder affects millions of people

**If you have noticed significant changes in your mood or behavior since the seasons have changed, you could be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder and should contact your health care provider or a mental health specialist. When the days start to get shorter in the fall and winter, many people start to experience short periods [...]

Evidence in favor of CHWs continues to grow

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are a critical piece of healthcare. When the Community Care HUB, an initiative of the 1889 Jefferson Center for Population Health, was formed in 2020 the group knew just how critical CHWs would be to Cambria and Somerset counties. What is a CHW? A Community Health Worker is a frontline public [...]

What is Health Literacy?

Health literacy is a key component of improving health and fostering a trusting relationship with healthcare professionals. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines personal health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.” Every [...]

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