Over 120 representatives from health & human services agencies gathered at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s Living-Learning Center for the 2025 Cambria & Somerset Community Health Summit. Attendees heard updates on programs that were implemented over the past year and learned about barriers that still need to be addressed.

The day-long event featured speakers as well as panel discussions.

During the morning session, attendees heard updates on everything from mental health initiatives to A.I. and substance use disorder to physical health. They learned even more during the panel discussions on social determinants of health (SDOH), early childhood, and violence, abuse, and safety.

During the panel discussions, attendees learned about a variety of initiatives that are underway such as the Safe Spaces initiative which serves nearly 1,000 children and teens weekly. Safe Spaces uses a collaborative approach to transform lives by providing safe and structured environments for growth and development. Through a partnership of 7 organizations, a wide range of programs focused on education, fitness, mentorship, and community engagement are offered to youth.

Over lunch, United Way of the Southern Alleghenies President and CEO Karen Struble Myers took the floor and guided the group through an ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) exercise. ALICE families earn above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), but don’t make enough money to afford basic expenses in the county they live. Oftentimes, ALICE families are faced with impossible decisions such as buying food or filling a prescription, or paying for a car repair or utility bills.

The exercise showed attendees how difficult it can be to “get ahead” when you already have a limited income with monthly expenses and emergencies occur.

For more information on ALICE, visit The Alice Project | United Way of the Southern Alleghenies.

To wrap up the day, Strata Decision Technology provided an overview of the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA).

Several significant health needs were identified by the public responses collected from the CHNA in areas around physical health, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, and social drivers of health.

Over the next few months, health and human services organizations will finalize the CHNA and develop action plans to address these priority focus areas and better the health and wellness in Cambria and Somerset counties.

1889 Foundation, Center for Population Health, Conemaugh Health System, and United Way of the Southern Alleghenies hosted the Summit and coordinated the CHNA.