Latest news with #FrankJanakovic
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Going to have a huge impact': Behavioral health professionals sound alarm on potential funding cuts
Editor's note: Federal Fallout is a Tribune-Democrat news series addressing the potential local impact of funding cuts. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Behavioral health providers are sounding the alarm regarding proposed federal cuts and the impact they may have on those who need those services. Funding cuts could mean a decrease in Medicaid spending by more than $720 billion over the next 10 years, as outlined in the U.S. House-passed proposed spending bill. Federal Fallout logo If Medicaid funding is changed, that could lead to roughly 7.6 million more people being uninsured, according to health care policy group KFF. Mental health grants for school districts could also be affected. For Johnstown mental health provider Alternative Community Resource Program, cuts could lead to a decrease in operations or limiting services, ACRP President and Executive Director Frank Janakovic said. ACRP provides 18 programs to youths in six counties, including Cambria and Somerset, with more than 270 employees. Those programs range from intensive behavioral health services and outpatient psychiatric clinics to early intervention, blended case management, family-based mental health services and in-school supports. For the past 35 years, the program has offered assistance to the community. Janakovic said 80% to 85% of the organization's annual budget comes from Medicaid and Medicare, with the remainder made up of grants and contracts with school districts. In 2024, ACRP served more than 6,000 people. That's why Janakovic is concerned with the proposed slashes in federal funding. 'That's going to have a huge impact, not only on ACRP ... but the people that most need it,' Janakovic said. He added that cuts would affect not just individuals, but families, too. 'Lifeline for many' Janakovic said Medicaid is the largest payer of mental health services and substance use disorder care in the country. The nation is still reeling from an overdose crisis as demand for behavioral health services continues to rise, especially among youth. 'Changes to our Medicaid program could jeopardize access to life-saving behavioral health care and worsen the already devastating mental health, suicide, addiction and overdose crises in rural, suburban and urban communities across Pennsylvania,' according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website. 'Families facing serious mental health challenges or addiction could see their loved ones lose critical access to treatment and recovery supports that save lives.' Proposed adjustments may also affect 'working families who are a part of the behavioral health workforce by creating more turbulence for an essential field – impacts that can extend across our economy,' the department said. According to the National Health Law Program, up to 35% of people enrolled in Medicaid have mental health conditions and more than 20% have moderate to severe conditions. The NHLP describes Medicaid expansion as 'a lifeline for many people with mental health disabilities.' Cambria County has 35,186 residents who are enrolled in Medicaid, according to state DHS data, and there are 15,487 in Somerset County. There also are 2,831 people in Cambria County who qualify for $9.2 million in Medicaid expansion assistance for behavioral health services created by the Affordable Care Act for low-income working-age adults. In Somerset County, there are almost 1,300 who qualify for that service totaling $3.7 million, the state DHS reports. Medicaid covers approximately 3 million Pennsylvanians – 39% of whom are classified as children or younger than 21. Reimbursements and staff retention Janakovic said another hurdle ACRP faces is the reimbursements that the group does receive have remained stagnant for the past year. That has a ripple effect throughout the operation, he said, that may lead to staff retention issues when there is already a shortage of available therapists. Janakovic said ACRP could reach a point where the organization cannot operate the programs without a loss. Julia Dello, Reaching Educational Achievements with Clinical Mental Health executive director, said private contracts and staffing are concerns. REACH is a nonprofit, clinical mental health counseling agency that serves school districts in Cambria and Somerset counties and one in Indiana County. Dello said the organization is not in a position to deal with Medicaid, but these changes may affect how REACH counselors refer clients to other providers. Additionally, as partner districts finished proposed budgets this spring, the nonprofit saw at least two decreased elementary services due to pending Pennsylvania budget uncertainty, as well as the potential closure of the U.S. Department of Education, as ordered by President Donald Trump. The Trump administration also announced in May a $1 billion cut to school-based mental health services grants, nonprofit First Focus on Children reported. 'The districts that we had those ending contracts have not taken their decisions lightly,' REACH Clinical Director Ang Carr said. 'That's why they waited until the last moment. They didn't want to have to choose between a teacher and a school counselor from REACH.' 'Not having access' She also said moving the focus from helping students to potential funding or program adjustments is detrimental. 'It comes down to a lot of students not having access to what they need,' Carr said. REACH began in 2018, and this is the first year any district has chosen not to renew a contract. Dello said every school the counselors work with values the mental and behavioral health programs provided by the group. Services range from an embedded clinician in a school building or district to crisis assessments, mental health awareness campaigns and safety planning. The clinicians greet the students in the morning and wish them well when they leave for the day. 'The relational part is all that the students see,' Carr said, adding that REACH counselors become trusted adults on whom students rely. That's especially important for elementary-age students, to whom the counselor teaches emotional coping and similar strategies, she added. 'If they don't have access to (mental health supports),' Carr said, 'whether it's in school or out of school, the impact is going to be across the whole person and who that student is.'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnstown officials update downtown makeover plans during address
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — The annual State of the City Address, delivered by the Johnstown Mayor and the City Manager, touched on several projects, such as the Main Street and Central Park redesigns, as well as other plans, such as a new municipal website. Frank Janakovic, the Mayor, and Art Martynuska, the City Manager, discussed many subjects during their hour-long presentation Thursday at Ace's in the Cambria City section of Johnstown, according to our media partners at The Tribune-Democrat. Martynuska focused on providing updates on the Main Street and Central Park projects. The remakes are part of a larger initiative that will also include work on the Johnstown Train Station, the Johnstown Inclined Plane and the Downtown Intermodal Transportation Center. The U.S. Department of Transportation's 'Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity' discretionary grant money supplied more than $24 million for the projects. The renovation of Central Park is expected to start later this year and be completed in 2026. An original design was done by a New York City-based architect with assistance from a local firm, with the local firm taking the lead on the project now. Johnstown has also made changes to its code enforcement, with Laurel Municipal Services set to join in enforcement with city code officers and firefighters. There are also plans to either repair the Public Safety Building or construct a new building entirely, with renovations expected to cost $10 million and a new building priced around $20 million. Janakovic, in his third and last term as mayor, touched on developments made over the past years that have contributed to the city's improving economic condition. Specifically, he pointed to the city selling its sewer system to the Greater Johnstown Water Authority, with the money then used to shore up the police, fire and municipal workers' pension funds. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnstown City Council accepts winning bid for playground work, plans upgrades at Sargent's Stadium
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Upgrades are expected to soon be made to Sargent's Stadium at the Point and two Johnstown neighborhood playgrounds using federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars. New concrete will be put down in the Point's outfield area, while an awning will be installed by the entrance to create a TV display location. A batting cage will also be incorporated. Meanwhile, at the Wood Street playground in the Hornerstown section of town, basketball hoops, playground equipment and borders will be installed, along with asphalt repairs being done. Significant changes will be made to the skate park at the Bheam School playground along Fairfield Avenue in the West End. Up to two pickleball courts and a bike ramp will be installed. The asphalt center will be replaced with grass. The existing walking path will be repainted. 'The city's just kind of moving forward with trying to start and finish some projects this year, particularly in our parks and our playgrounds and those sorts of things,' Mayor Frank Janakovic said after the construction contract was awarded Wednesday during a special meeting of Johnstown City Council. 'We have an optimistic look of moving forward with a lot of these projects being completed this year.' Straw Construction, from Somerset County, came in with the winning bid of $391,970. All six council members present voted to have Johnstown City Manager Art Martynuska execute the agreement. The funds are from the more than $30 million the city received in ARPA money for COVID-19 pandemic relief. 'It's been our process since we got the ARPA money that we allocated a good chunk of it toward playgrounds. … We've been redoing playgrounds with the ARPA money, Minersville (playground) was worked on,' Johnstown City Councilwoman Marie Mock said. 'We're going to just keep moving along.'
