Social determinants of health

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 [...]

Neighborhood and Built Environment have major impact on health

Communities that endure health and safety risks like high rates of violence, or unsafe air and water have a major impact on health and quality of life. Knowing that unsafe communities produce unhealthy residents is what made neighborhood and built environment a social determinant of health. The four components of neighborhood and built environment are: [...]

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 [...]

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

*If you or someone you know is in desperate need of help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224. Every 15 seconds domestic violence takes place in the United States. In 2021, 112 victims lost their lives to domestic violence in Pennsylvania. Two of those victims lived in Cambria County. In [...]

Education plays a role in health and life expectancy

Exercise, eating healthy, and regular medical appointments are well-known factors in a person’s overall health; however, a surprising factor – education – has been studied and is now included as a factor of life expectancy. The County Health Rankings interactive model identifies education as a Social and Economic Factor, which accounts for 40% of a [...]

September is dedicated to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness

Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), which can be physical, behavioral, or intellectual disabilities and last a lifetime. FASD is often a mix of disabilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are preventable if a developing baby is not exposed to alcohol [...]

Supporting those you supervise: Meet CHW Supervisor Samantha Graham

Tell us about yourself I grew up in Geistown most of my life. I went to a private Christian high school where I met my husband. We reconnected in college and have been together 14 years and married for 8 years. We have two kids (ages 7 and 5) and a Rottweiler mix that we [...]

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day

Raising community awareness and remembering those who lost their lives to an overdose is the goal of International Overdose Awareness Day, which falls on August 31. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), it’s “the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose and remember those who died without stigma and acknowledge the grief [...]

Economic Stability affects all aspects of health

Economic stability is a major domain of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) affecting nearly every aspect of a person’s health. “Poor families and individuals are most likely to live in unsafe homes and neighborhoods, often with limited access to healthy foods, employment options, and quality schools,” writes Healthy People 2030. According to Healthy People 2030, [...]

Community Care HUB releases informational video

The Community Care HUB, an initiative of the 1889 Jefferson Center for Population Health, has released a video to explain its work in Cambria and Somerset counties. A HUB is an organized, outcome-focused, network of Care Coordination Agencies (CCAs) who hire and train Community Health Workers (CHWs). Developed by the Pathways Community HUB Institute, the [...]

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