Health

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 [...]

September is dedicated to Suicide Prevention Month

*If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call or text 988 Although it’s important to address suicide prevention year-round, September is set aside as a dedicated month to address the very difficult topic. At the local level, the County Health Rankings (data from 2016-2020) show that Cambria County experienced 126 deaths by [...]

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 [...]

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

National Immunization Awareness Month is observed annually in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for everyone, especially children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “On-time vaccination throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases.” Extensive lab testing is done before vaccines [...]

Being that support system: Meet new Community Health Worker Jordan Chuhran

Tell us about yourself. I was born and raised in Cambria County in Carrolltown, PA; I graduated from Cambria Heights High school in 2018. While in high school I was a member of the girls’ soccer team, marching band majorette, highsteppers majorettes, SADD, and ski club. I just recently graduated from Lock Haven University of [...]

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