Virginia Health Care Foundation

Contact:
Debbie Oswalt, Executive Director
Virginia Health Care Foundation
(804) 828-5804
doswalt@vhcf.org

Richmond, Virginia, December 11, 2024 – The Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) has awarded $824,889 in grants to eleven Virginia organizations for increasing access to behavioral health, medical and dental services for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians.

“From Northern Virginia to Southwest Virginia, all of these grantees are addressing urgent and ongoing needs,” said Deborah Oswalt, VHCF’s Executive Director. “The current shortage of Medicaid and dental professionals, along with Virginia’s mental health crisis require an ‘all hands-on deck’ approach to ensure all Virginians have access to the care they need.”

A list of the grants awarded by VHCF follows:

Behavioral Health: The organizations listed below are taking a well-planned approach to increasing greatly needed behavioral health services in Virginia.

• Bath Community Hospital: $75,500 to help support the salary of a full-time Behavioral Health clinician who will increase telehealth services and reduce wait times for those seeking mental health care in the city of Covington and Bath, Highland, and Alleghany Counties.
• Youth For Tomorrow: $98,663 to support the salary of a pre-licensed behavioral health clinician in Dumfries and the salary of a Licensed Professional Counselor in Warrenton.
• Safe Harbor: $45,000 to help fund the salary of a pre-licensee therapist to provide counseling services to both adults and children in Henrico County.
• Fredericksburg Christian Health Center: $42,188 to support the salary of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to provide behavioral health services.

Dental: Each of the following grants is expanding the availability of oral health services.

• Bland Ministry Center – Big Walker Dentistry: $120,000 to help support the salary of a dentist and capacity and treat more patients in Wythe County.
• Free Clinic of Central Virginia: $100,600 to fund the salary of a full-time dental hygienist, who will provide preventive care and increase capacity to serve more patients in Lynchburg.
• Central Virginia Health Services: $56,250 to help support the salary of a dentist at its Hopewell-Prince George location and in a school-based health center at Hopewell High School.
• Community Access Network: $55,688 to help support the salary of a full-time dentist serving the Lynchburg community.

Medical: The following grants expand the availability of primary medical services in their communities.

• Blue Ridge Medical Center: $89,000 to help fund construction and equipment costs for 10 new exam rooms which will help expand primary care capacity in Arrington.
• Tri-Area Community Health: $75,000 to help support the salary of a full-time Family Nurse Practitioner in an underserved part of Grayson County.
• Culmore Clinic: $47,000 to help support the salary of a full-time Nurse Practitioner providing primary care in the Bailey’s Crossroads.

The Virginia Health Care Foundation is a non-profit public/private partnership with a mission to increase access to primary health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. The Foundation was initiated by the General Assembly and its Joint Commission on Health Care in 1992. Since its inception, it has funded 549 community-based initiatives throughout the Commonwealth and established multiple programs and partnerships. Combined, they have helped more than 850,000 uninsured and medically underserved Virginians obtain the health care they need.

For more information about VHCF visit http://www.vhcf.org. For information about its behavioral health initiatives visit https://www.vhcf.org/who-and-how-we-help/behavioral-health/ or call (804) 828-5804.

Last Updated on December 11, 2024