Cambria Co. Health Coalition

Cambria County Health Coalition: a response to the County Health Rankings

The County Health Rankings (CHR) released by the University of Wisconsin and Robert Wood Foundation compared the overall health and wellness of every county in the U.S. Among 67 counties in Pennsylvania, Cambria County is ranked 64th concerning health outcomes and 51st regarding health factors. Some of the most adverse health issues in this area include poor health behaviors, socioeconomic factors, and morbidity. In result, Windber Research Institute (WRI), a member of the World Health Organization Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services network (WHO HPH), has formed a coalition that will address the aforementioned concerns and promote health and wellness in Cambria County. Our coalition, led by the Cambria County Board of Commissioners and facilitated by The Center staff at WRI, is an innovative approach to enhance community health and wellness by including all community sectors.

Cambria County Ranked 64 out of 67 Pennsylvania counties with regard to health outcomes and 51st regarding health factors.

The Cambria County Commissioners were contacted and agreed to host a legislative health forum in Johnstown, PA, where Tom Kurtz, CEO of WRI spoke of the responsibilities of organizations, such as WRI, to address the health needs of our community. The center for Health Promotion and Disease Preventio, Windber Research Institute and the Cambria County Commissioners have identified key stake-holders to address the public health epidemic of childhood and adult obesity. Multiple stakeholders who attended this forum, included:

Community human service agencies
local and regional non-profit organizations
local and regional governmental agencies
health care providers
schools (elementary, high school, college, and university)
a national pharmaceutical representative
media representatives

Coalition Programs Regarding Nutrition and Wellness

University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown Campus - www.upj.pitt.edu

St. Francis University - www.francis.edu

YMCA - www.johnstownpaymca.org

Christ Centered Community Church (CCCC) - www.4cchurch.org

Fitness, Weights, Aerobics - (FWA) www.fitnessweightsaerobics.com

Goodwill - www.goodwill.org

Conemaugh Medical Center - www.conemaugh.org

To change the culture of hospital care towards interdisciplinary working, transparent decision-making and with active involvement of patients and partners.
To evaluate health promotion activities in the health care setting and build an evidence-base in this area.
To incorporate standards and indicators for health promotion in existing quality management systems at hospital and at national level.

List of Participating Organizations

Alternative Community Resource Program

Area Agency on Aging

Behavioral Health of Cambria County

Bishop McCort High School

Cambria County MH/MR Program

Children and Youth Services

Christ Centered Community Church

Community Foundation of the Alleghenies

Conemaugh Memorial Hospital

Cambria County Drug & Alcohol

Ferndale Area School District

First Presbyterian Church and Palm Health Ministries

Fitness, Weights, and Aerobics

Flood City Academy

Forest Hills School District

Goodwill Industries International, Inc.

Greater Johnstown School District

Highmark Foundation

Highmark, Inc.

KidShape

Mt. Aloysius College

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

PA Environmental Council

Penn Highlands Community College

Pennsylvania State Representative

Pfizer, Inc.

Red Cross

Richland School District

Saint Francis University

The Cambria County Commissioners

United Way

University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown Campus

Windber Research Institute

YMCA