OOC MINUTES January 5, 2026

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MINUTES

January 5th, 2026
10:15 am

Central Park Complex Bldg.
110 Franklin Street, 1st Floor, Johnstown, PA  15901
Conference on the Park

Attendees: Commissioner Scott Hunt, Commissioner Keith Rager, Commissioner Tom Chernisky, Tracy Selak, Rebecca Valle, Tracy Shultz, Joe Crisi

  • Approval of Minutes: November 11, 2025, meeting minutes: Approved motion Commissioner Rager/seconded by Commissioner Hunt
  • Review of requested financials: (See attachment): Nothing outstanding to discuss
  • Annual CCHC salary increase request: Motion to approve previous conversation about CCHC salary increase with Tracy Selak.  Approved motion Commissioner Chernisky/seconded by Commissioner Rager.
    • Discussion:
      • A discussion of a 75-cent increase across the board was had
      • Also discussed was a 3% increase across the board
      • All Commissioners are in favor of giving a 75-cent increase across the board to CCHC employees
      • This increase is retroactive to January 1, 2026
      • All commissioners in favor.
  • Reinvestment Committee Meeting: Ad hoc: No new reinvestment plans to discuss.
    • Reinvestment Plans Discussed:
      • FAVOR LaurelHighlands (Recovery Community Center) Active until the end of 2026
      • Help Center (The Cambria House)
      • Transitional Housing (TH)
        • Will wrap up the end of this year
        • Discussions began with the state about the properties that were purchased and ways to utilize them after Dec. 31st
        • Probation grant or other funding streams need to be looked at in order to continue transitional housing once reinvestment is done
        • Money was put into R&C
        • Over budget of approximately 1.2 million
        • There are no reinvestment dollars for 2025
        • Operating at status quo for now
        • Silver Linings made over 1 million this year and is looking to expand and with the tenuous rates still looking to hold on expansions of the network until we see several months of claims runout before moving on any expansion of programs. 
        • If Silver Linings reaches out to the Commissioners, they will refer them to Tracy Shultz
    • Additional discussion:
      • Magellan dollars are for county-specific (ex, Cambria dollars are for Cambria, and Bedford/Somerset are for Bedford/Somerset.  Dollars are not shared.)
      • Commissioner Rager stated that services shouldn’t be duplicated, and members should have a choice. Tracy explained that there are at least two options for every level of care. 
      • Commissioner Rager questioned why CCHC & MBH don’t share a location.  Tracy Selak explained that being in the same location can sometimes cause a conflict with providers.  Tracy Shultz and Reba reassured him that there is regular communication between CCHC and MBH.  
      • Tracy Shultz also informed the board that there are 11 staff members in Cambria and offered to provide a roster with names and job titles.
      • Tracy Selak questioned the use of the MBH office by Natalie Kaufman (Bedford/Somerset remote MBH employee).  Tracy Shultz assured the board that this is not daily usage and that she visits the office for minimal supplies at times and utilizes the workstation if needed.  Natalie is a Tracy Selak and Tracy Shultz to have more discussion regarding this matter.
  • Cambria County HealthChoices (CCHC):  No new updates to discuss
  • Magellan Behavioral Health (MBH) Updates: Tracy Shultz; Tracy Shultz returned to the office from a short leave of absence.  No new updates to report.
  • 2026 CCHC Trainings: All trainings will be held in person (Cambria County Academic Center).  More information can be found on our FB page and/or website www.cchealthchoices.org 
    • YMHFA; February 4th, 9a-4p 
    • QPR; February 18th, 9-12:15, Jessica Peacock 
    • Domestic Violence 101: Understanding, Recognizing, and Responding; March 10th, 9-4, J. Piro & A. Genovese
    • Working Supportively with Family Members & Significant Others; March 18th, 9-4, Ken Montrose
    • Motivational Interviewing 2-day Workshop: April 7th & 8th, 9-4, B. Orr 
    • Who Do You Think You Are (Self-Compassion); April 28th, 9-4, Karen Vadino
    • Strength-Based/Solution-Oriented Counseling and Casework; May 6th, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Treating Depression & Addiction; May 19th, 9-4:30, Victoria Lahey
    • Adolescent Mental Health June 10th, 9-4 B. Orr 
    • Post Partum June 22nd, 9-4, David Lux
    • LGBTQ+ Health Disparities; July 17, 9-4, Melissa Perkins
    • Clinicians & Social Media Use; July 28, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Trauma-Informed Care; August 5, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Setting Boundaries & Limits w/ Clients; August 19, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Ethics in the Helping Profession, September 16th, 9-12:30, Ken Montrose
    • Understanding, Recognizing, and Responding to Human Trafficking, September 24th, 
    • 9-4, T. Boyles
    • SMART Goals; October 13th, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Motivational Interviewing Train the Trainer; November 3, 4, 5, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Helping Professionals and Awareness of Threat Groups; November 13, 9-4, Bruce Schaeffer Report to the Community, December 4th, 10:00 – Noon
  • Training Discussion:  Per the commissioners, no Human Trafficking training should be presented by Doug Lingenfelter
  • Executive Session: N/A

Adjourn: Motion to Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Chernisky/seconded by Commissioner Rager.  No discussion

Next meeting: March 9, 2026

2026 Meeting Dates:
January 5
March 9
May 4
July 20
September 21
November 16

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