Community Health Connections |
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Greetings from 1889 Jefferson Center
for Population Health
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On behalf of 1889 Jefferson Center for Population Health (CPH), we’d like to welcome you to the first edition of our e-newsletter! Each month, we hope to provide updates of our work, share state and national news around population health, and provide information on how you can help to support regional health and wellness initiatives.
Our mission at CPH is to improve health and wellness by building resilient communities through collaboration, research and education.
If you would like to learn more about our organization, opportunities to partner or support our mission, please contact us at 814-535-5156 or email us. We welcome your feedback and look forward to working together to improve the health of our region!
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Jeannine McMillan
Executive Director
Community Care HUB
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Community Care HUB Officially Launches |
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An initiative of 1889 Jefferson Center for Population Health |
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A HUB is an organized, outcome focused, network of Care Coordination Agencies (CCAs) who hire and train community health workers (CHWs) to reach out to those at greatest risk. The HUB helps to coordinate community resources to reduce the medical, behavioral and social barriers to care. The HUB began accepting referrals on September 1.
Pictured above (left to right): Stacey Brantley, HUB CHW; Stacy Snowball, HUB CHW; Christy Berzonski, HUB CHW; Leanna Bird, CPH Project Manager; and Flor Hernandez, HUB CHW.
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Meet HUB Care Coordination Agencies |
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HUB care coordination agencies employ community health workers and work with the HUB to identify and address barriers to care for vulnerable residents in Cambria and Somerset counties. Read More
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Alleghenies United Cerebral Palsy is a 501c3 and nationally affiliated organization that provides in-home Service Coordination/Case Management services to individuals with all physical disabilities, the elderly, and those with Autism. Their mission is to assist individuals with disabilities in meeting their basic needs, enhancing their quality of life, and promoting their independence, and to be active participants in the decision-making and direction of their services.
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Beginnings, Inc. has been a leader in the community for over 60 years, providing quality in-home services including Early Intervention for families and children with special needs, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and the Parents as Teachers program, which utilizes parent educators who encourage families to lean on their strengths as a parent and develop confidence in their role as their child's first and foremost teacher.
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Community Action Partnership of Cambria County is a non-profit agency that provides a variety of diverse services in Cambria County including Early Childhood/Head Start, Medical Assistance Transportation, Housing and Utility Assistance, Veterans supportive services, Drug and Alcohol Prevention, Women, Infant and Children’s nutrition education, Breast feeding services and more.
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SPOTLIGHT: Stacey Brantley,
HUB Community Health Worker
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Every month, we'll be featuring an interview with a different HUB Community Health Worker (CHW). Check out this month's spotlight with Stacey Brantley, employed by HUB care coordination agency Community Action Partnership of Cambria County.
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"My biggest accomplishment was helping my very first pregnant client in the HUB get a place to live for her and her grandmother. My client is happily in her home and ready to start working on finishing her GED before she has her baby."
-Stacey Brantley, HUB CHW
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Tell us about yourself.
I have overcome many obstacles in my life, and through these challenges, I have learned that helping others is my vocation. In the last 20 years, I have earned my Associates in Arts degree in Health Care Administration, Bachelor of Science in Human Services, and obtained my Professional Certification in Family and Child Services. I am currently a home health care provider and can empathize and identify with the population of people I’m serving in my community.
What drew you to the CHW position in the first place?
The need to help others fuels my drive for success. As a caregiver and working as a CHW, I can connect with people and bring the available resources in our community to them. Being a Community Health Worker is a wonderful opportunity to work with pregnant women and their families. I would love to grow the program and help others who are sick and suffering like I was in the beginning.
What are some examples of things you’ve accomplished with your clients so far?
My biggest accomplishment was helping my very first pregnant client in the HUB get a place to live for her and her grandmother. My client is happily in her home and ready to start working on finishing her GED before she has her baby.
What is the most rewarding part of being a CHW?
The most rewarding part of being a CHW is the ability to give back what was so freely given to me. In the past, when I was suffering and in pain, the help from others is what kept me going. Helping my client to grow and stay positive and strong is just the beginning. The real treat is seeing them pursue what they need to succeed in life. Helping them to empower themselves by sharing my life experiences, strengths and hopes, is most rewarding - Reminding them that change is possible, but it begins with you.
What is the most challenging part of being a CHW so far?
The most difficult part of being a CHW is dealing with Covid-19 pandemic. This limits the number of open resources in the community, but more importantly, it makes bonding with my clients a lot harder since we are not doing home visits.
If you could tell people one thing about the CHW role and the women you’re working with, what would it be?
I love being a CHW and advocating for vulnerable clients who are in living in this community. I love helping them have a voice to ask for what they need and the strength to pull themselves up to a stable and healthy life.
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1889 Foundation and Local Partners selected for Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge |
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Contact Tracers needed in Southwest PA |
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1889 Jefferson Center for Population Health, as a member of the Southwest Pennsylvania Contact Tracing Consortium, is actively involved in recruiting local Contact Tracers for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Consortium, led by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and
PA Department of Health, includes regional healthcare organizations, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations, that have come together to recruit individuals for contact tracer positions across the region to help mitigate the spread of the novel Coronavirus.
To view these positions, please click here.
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