banner with a happy mother and child and the word 'driven'

Agency News

Healing Patch Supporters Featured on Central PA Live

Patched Together Committee Chairperson Kent Tonkin and representatives from St. Francis Enactus organization were part of today’s Central PA Live broadcast on WTAJ to promote Patched Together 2015 and share about Children’s Grief Awareness Day. Patched Together 2015 Published 11/19 2015 05:28PM Join St. Francis University this weekend for the 5th annual Patched Together Benefit Concert! Patched Together  is set for Sunday, November 21 from 2:00 pm until 10:00 pm at the Bavarian Hall in Altoona. It will feature music, raffles, giveaways,

Read More »

Helping Hands: Nurse-Family Partnership Gives Assistance to First-Time Moms

Helping hands: Nurse Family Partnership gives assistance to first-time moms10/28/2015By Patricia Doty Nurse Family Partnership is a life-changing program that combines compassion with science. Operating quietly within Home Nursing Agency are three dedicated nurses who have embraced this idea. Kim Bahnsen, Tammy Hughes and myself are Centre County’s stewards of the program. NFP is a nationally recognized, evidence-based community health program for soon-to-be new mothers. “All mothers have questions. ‘What is normal in pregnancy? How do

Read More »

Home Nursing Agency Featured in Altoona Mirror Caregivers Edition

Home Nursing Agency was a vital part of the recent Caregivers edition of the Altoona Mirror, sharing the cover photo with local patient Joyce Rourke McNeal, her caregivers, and HNA occupational therapist Ann Scheeler. The piece also included an article by Bill McManus, Vice President of Home Health Resource, Private Duty Home Care, and Adult Day Services, about how to approach difficult conversations with loved ones who may need additional care.

Read More »

Nurse-Family Partnership Featured in WTAJ News Story on Preparing Children for School

The Agency’s Nurse-Family Partnership® program, including NFP Supervisor Lois Schultz and client Toccara Thomas Smith, were featured in a recent WTAJ broadcast sharing the program’s success of preparing children for school by equipping first-time mothers with the resources and confidence they need. Program helps new parents get kids ready for school By Christian Heilman | cheilman@wtajtv.com Some schools in our region want to make sure kids get started on the right path early.School administrators in Johnstown say some

Read More »

WTAJ Airs Story on Local Donor Support of Nurse-Family Partnership

A recent broadcast of WTAJ news shared the story of the Michael E. Ward family’s support of the Agency’s Nurse-Family Partnership program, along with a local family sharing how the program has helped them as new parents. Local family’s gift to help new families in need By Carolyn Donaldson | cdonaldson@wtajtv.com A program for first-time mothers that pairs them with a nurse for the first 2 years of their babies’ life received a special gift recently. 

Read More »
volunteers will always be the heart of hospice - national volunteer week - april 21 - 27, 2024

A Special Thank You to Our Volunteers!

April is Volunteer Recognition Month! We are grateful for the commitment of those who volunteer with the Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program and Family Hospice. Healing Patch Volunteers are the heart of the Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program. Without them, these free services could not exist for the grieving children and families of our community. It takes a special type of person to absorb the tragic stories children share at the Healing Patch. While volunteers must understand they are unable to “fix”

Read More »
Cambria Teen Room Volunteer Madison Follansbee

Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program Invites New Volunteers

The Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program is now recruiting volunteers to serve at family group sessions at the Healing Patch centers in Altoona and Ebensburg. Volunteers serve as facilitators for groups of grieving children aged 3-18, young adults aged 18-25 or adults who bring children or adolescents to the program. Tales of Two Volunteers Blair Adult Room Volunteer Joe Bilka “I am there to guide discussions,” explains Adult Room volunteer Joe Bilka. “It takes a

Read More »
group of mournful attendees at a bereavement support session

Family Hospice Offers Grief Support Options This Spring

Family Hospice, Part of UPMC, is offering free grief support options this spring throughout West Central Pennsylvania. Groups are open to any community members grieving the loss of a loved one. Space is limited, so registration is required. Please register with facilitator as listed below for each location. Bedford County Location: UPMC Home Healthcare/Family Hospice office, 227 Hospital Dr., Suite 2, Everett (rear of Pennwood Family Medicine)Dates: Mondays from March 18-April 22Time: 3-4 p.m.Facilitator: Family Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Jennifer CoxRegister by

Read More »