Over 100 people gathered at University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s Living-Learning Center for the 2024 Cambria-Somerset Health & Human Services Summit August 15.

From physical and behavioral health to violence, abuse, safety, jobs, transportation, and even drones, all topics related to health and human services were discussed, including successes over the last year and challenges we are still facing.

The day featured speakers as well as panel discussions.

After a welcome from Center for Population Health Executive Director Jeannine McMillan, who was excited to see so many like-minded people in one room, she passed the microphone to the Cambria County Transit Authority (CamTran) for their “Transportation Challenge.”

While Cambria County is lucky to have fixed routes and a reserve a ride option, CamTran Director of Marketing and Communications Maura Wertin showed the attendees how traveling across the City of Johnstown can still take time and money.

Wertin’s challenge showcased the day of a mother who lived in the Oakhurst area of Johnstown who needed to drop her children off at daycare before going to work at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center for a 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. shift, then stopping after work at Dollar General for diapers and other items before going home.

Assuming the mother was on time and there were no bus delays, it would take her a total of 2 hours and 10 minutes to travel, more than $10 in bus fare, multiple bus changes, and even walking.

To put that into perspective, it would take a person with a car less than 30 minutes to make that same trip.

Having reliable transportation was a theme that many speakers and panel members stated was a major barrier to jobs, appointments, and more.

In fact, a need for the Somerset County Library, according to Director Cheryl Morgan, is transportation to the library for various reasons.

Morgan was one of the panel members during the Physical Health Panel Discussion. She stated that while the library is at the forefront of a lot of social determinants of health initiatives, like private rooms for telehealth visits and renting Chromebooks out of their lobby, getting people to the library for those services is not always an easy task.

Johnstown/Richland Family Health Center Clinical Supervisor and Office Coordinator Kaitlynn Cannady was also a panelist during the Physical Health Panel Discussion. According to Cannady, the health centers also experience issues getting patients to their offices for checkups and follow up appointments.

Knowing that transportation is a barrier, Cannady stated that Johnstown/Richland Family Health Center has implemented a variety of measures to combat the problem. Some services they offer include a mobile health unit for doctor and dental visits, home visits, and even taking patients to get their medication after an appointment.

“We know there is a lot more work to do,” said McMillan.

Other speakers included:

  • Emily Lebo; PA Office of Health Equity
  • Debra Moore; University of Pittsburgh
  • Sandee Kyler; PA Office of Rural Health
  • Larry Nulton, Steve Kocsis, and Art Martynuska; Drone Initiative
  • Tiffany Stanley; Somerset County Public Defender’s Office
  • Lauren Lazzari; United Way of the Southern Alleghenies
  • Tracy Selak and Tom Bender; Cambria County Behavioral Health and Somerset County DBHS
  • Quan Britt and Ann Gustkey; Hope 4 Johnstown and Greater Johnstown Community YMCA

Panel Discussions included:

  • Social Determinants of Health – Ann Scheeler (Center for Independent Living), Roxann Tyger (Community Help Center), Stephanie Buck (Beginnings, Inc.), Lisa Phillips (Tableland Services, Inc.)
  • Physical Health – Kaitlynn Cannady (Johnstown Family Health Center), Dr. Miko Rose (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), Cheryl Morgan (Somerset County Library)
  • Substance Use Disorder – Erin Howsare (Somerset Single County Authority), Fred Oliveros (Cambria County Drug and Alcohol), Nichole Rousell (Cambria County Drug Coalition)
  • Jobs/Socioeconomics – Amy Horwath (Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies), Jaden Bennett (Johnstown Housing Authority), Pamela Tokar-Ickes (Somerset County Commissioner)

1889 Foundation, Center for Population Health, Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, United Way of the Southern Alleghenies, and Vision Together 2025 joined forces again this year to host the event.