OUR STORY

In 2016 at the height of the opioid epidemic, community leaders came together to form the Cambria County Drug Coalition. Overdose deaths had reached an all time high of 94, almost doubling from the previous year’s 58. Cambria County was ranked second in Pennsylvania for overdose deaths per capita.

On September 14, 2016, the CCDC was announced. In 2017 the CCDC was approved for the federal Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program through the Office of National Drug Control Policy. This is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. The CCDC follows this national model by engaging all community members through various committees. Working with Law Enforcement, Healthcare, Drug Treatment and Recovery, Community Education and Prevention Education for Youth allows the CCDC to identify and respond to the substance use disorder (SUD) issues unique to Cambria County.

Now in year 5 of the 10-year grant process the CCDC is positioned to build capacity, sustainability, and collaboration for the reduction of individuals experiencing a substance use disorder and ultimately overdose deaths.

OUR MISSION

Create drug-free communities across Cambria County through the reduction of youth substance use, the improvement of systems of care, and access to treatment for individuals living with substance use disorder, and the celebration as well as the belief in the reality of recovery.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Download a PDF of our 2021 financial report.

Download a PDF of our 2022 financial report.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Josh Yoder, Chair CCDC, Executive Director, Community Action Partnership
Susan Mann, Vice Chair CCDC, President 1889 Foundation
Terrence Shook, Fiscal Agent CCDC, CPA, Barnes, Saly and Company
Brandon Bailey, Director of Educational Services, Richland School District
Amy Bradley, President and CEO, Cambria Regional Chamber
Thomas Chernisky, President Cambria County Commissioner
Chad Miller, Captain of Police, City of Johnstown Police Department
Jeannine McMillan, Executive Director, Pathways Community HUB, 1889 Jefferson Center for Population Health
Fred Oliveros, Administrator, Cambria County Drug and Alcohol Program
Tracy Selak, Administrator, Behavioral Health/Intellectual Disabilities/Early Intervention Program
Jeanne Spencer MD, Chair Family Medicine, Director, Family Medicine Residency, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
Gerald Zahorchak DEd, Associate Professor of Education and Division Chair, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Durean Coleman, Interim Executive Director, Peniel Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center
Diane Chesnutwood, Human Resources Director, National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining

STAFF

Natalie Kauffman, Executive Director
Nichole Rousell, Project Coordinator
Aly Bender-Murgas, Botvin LifeSkills Training Programs Administrator
Peggy Beppler,  Administrative Support Specialist

“The CCDC will bring together law enforcement, treatment, and prevention. Law enforcement works to take down dealers who bring this plague into our neighborhoods. Treatment provides support for those addicted who want to be clean and build a future for themselves and their children. Finally, prevention programs will give young people the skills to avoid addiction and develop pro-social behaviors through engaging programming.”

Tom Chernisky • President Commissioner of Cambria County