Their mission is to collaborate with community partners to improve the quality of life for children and families in Carbon County.

Ways to further strengthen the local community were discussed during the Carbon County Collaborative’s 16th annual Human Services Priorities Breakfast on Friday morning at the American Legion Post 314 in Lehighton.

This year’s presentation was Carbon’s Connection to Essential Health Services, and speakers presented in panel format issues relating to availability, accessibility and gaps as well as resources available in the county.

Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein welcomed the crowd of over 100 and noted it featured the many “movers and shakers” of the county.

“This is a true example of people working together to make things happen,” Nothstein said.

A panel discussion led by Jill Geissinger, Children & Youth Services, included Jennifer Williams, Carbon County Mental Health; Anne Horrigan, Carbon County Area Agency on Aging; Lorianne Roke, PathStone Head Start; and Dr. Tonya Cook, Star Community Health.

The panelists spoke about their experience working in Carbon County essential services; what they or their agency has done to create or build services to our community; how they have connected or collaborated within Carbon County systems to provide services to the community; essential services mostly funding through government, how do they prioritize funding and retention to keep their essential service; how to combat the complex cases (gaps of needs and wait lists) in their agencies; and how to promote comment on the resilience of our community.

Afterward, Judge Joseph Matika commended the panelists for their presentations, as well as their agencies for providing services to residents of the county.

Matika noted that the county continues to see struggles with mental health issues.

Nothstein said that he believes the first step in trying to find more providers to come into Carbon County to fill in the gaps is to raise awareness by educating people at the local level to try to attract more mental health services.

Scholarship award

In addition to the panel discussion, Sharon Alexander, Carbon County Community Foundation, presented the 2025 Carbon Collaborative Health & Human Services Scholarship.

Alexander said that the scholarship was started last year as a way to support the future generation of workers in the field represented by the Carbon Collaborative members. The recipient receives $1,000 to support his or her future education.

This year’s scholarship went to Macy Didario, a senior at Palmerton Area High School.

“She has a passion for getting involved in the community and has logged 150-plus hours in volunteer service, dedicating her time to EPDSC, a nonprofit supporting families and individuals with Down syndrome,” Alexander said. “She has also volunteered with retired veterans, community clean ups and local families fighting against poverty.”

Didario will be attending Lafayette College in the fall to major in psychology. Her long-term goal is earning her doctorate in forensic pathology and ultimately working with the FBI or in a courtroom.

Service Award

Tina Clymer, Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health & Developmental Services, also introduced the winners of this year’s Carbon County Collaborative Human Services Priorities Breakfast Community Service Award as Joe and Abbie Guardiani of Nesquehoning.

“I will tell you, it was very difficult to create a brief introduction of two people who have done so much for their community through their chosen careers and through volunteer work,” Clymer said. “This intro could be pages long.”

Clymer added “their life choices reflect everything that Human Services represent.”

Clymer noted that Joe Guardiani worked for many years for the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission, and then for St. Luke’s, formerly Blue Mountain Health System, as a development officer, while Abbie Guardiani spent her career as a nurse for the Lehighton Area School District.

They both have represented their communities by participating in things like the Carbon Interagency Collaborative/Partners for Progress, Blue Mountain Dental Van, D&L Trail on the trail program and the Bo Tkach Foundation.

Clymer said “Joe and Abbie improve the quality of life for Carbon County residents.”

“Throughout their lives, they have been fierce advocates for those who live in our communities,” she said. “They worked diligently to reduce stigma and lend a helping hand whenever needed.

“Over the years, they have collaborated to address issues including substance use and addiction, mental health prevention, treatment and recovery, food insecurity, physical health and wellness, and many other initiatives designed to improve quality of life in their/our communities.”

Additionally, Clymer said it’s all that background along with their current leadership in the Panther Valley Blueprint Community that earned them the distinction.

Clymer said that Joe and Abbie Guardiani have led the community through the Panther Valley Blueprint Community application and implementation, and noted the Blueprint Community includes Nesquehoning, Summit Hill, Lansford and Coaldale.

“Only 15 communities in Pennsylvania have received this prestigious opportunity to plan and sustain county efforts that will improve the overall infrastructure and well-being of these four communities and our entire county,” Clymer said. “The vision of this group is to work together for a thriving tomorrow. Four communities, one collective dream.”

Joe Guardiani was present to accept the award on behalf of he and Abbie.

“Collaboration to me is so very important in building partnerships,” he said.