Virginia Health Care Foundation

Richmond, Va. – Effective July 1, 2026, the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) has awarded more than $2.7 million in grants to 19 organizations across the Commonwealth to expand access to behavioral health, primary medical, dental, and pharmacy services for uninsured and underinsured Virginians.

The awards will help health care organizations across the Commonwealth expand capacity, strengthen school-based health services, and improve access to essential dental, medical, and pharmacy services for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. “Throughout Virginia, organizations serving uninsured and medically underserved Virginians are finding innovative ways to meet growing health care needs despite workforce shortages and increasing demand. ” said Rachel Rees, Chief Executive Officer of VHCF. “These investments strengthen the organizations that improve access to health care across Virginia, helping more people receive the care they need.” The organizations receiving grants include:

Expanding Primary Care Capacity

• Free Clinic of Powhatan: $112,500 in capital funding to expand its medical clinic, enabling it to double the number of patients served.

Expanding Behavioral Health Access 

• Arlington Free Clinic: $77,800 for a clinical expansion of AFC’s Behavioral Health Program.
• ChildSavers: $95,288 for behavioral health services for pregnant and postpartum women, and other caregivers.
• Piedmont Access to Health Services: $100,000 to hire a psychiatric nurse practitioner to expand mental health medication management services in South Central Virginia.
• The Women’s Center: $57,750 to hire a full-time Resident in Counseling to expand access to therapy.
• Youth For Tomorrow: $75,400 to expand outpatient behavioral health services in Rappahannock County by hiring a pre-licensed counselor.

Expanding School-Based Health Care

• ChildSavers: $95,228 strengthens mental health services provided at an elementary school in Colonial Heights.
• Five18 Family Services: $117,000 subsidizes pre-licensed clinicians working toward licensure while providing mental health services at an elementary and primary school in Appomattox.
• Goochland Powhatan Community Services: $113,500 underwrites a school-based mental health clinician serving students at two Goochland County elementary schools.
• Rockbridge Area Health Center: $247,500 (two grants) to hire a full-time family nurse practitioner at a new school-based health center in Buena Vista; and support counseling services at two school-based health centers in Rockbridge County.
• Tri-Area Community Health: $215,523 (two grants) to fund a full-time Family Nurse Practitioner position for a new school-based health center in Patrick County; and support mental health services at school-based health centers in Carroll and Grayson Counties.

Expanding Dental Care Capacity

• Augusta Regional Dental Clinic: $110,000 to hire a full-time dentist.
• CrossOver Healthcare Ministry: $150,000 for renovations and equipment that will expand dental capacity..
• Free Clinic of Powhatan: $21,777 to expand dental and dental hygiene capacity.
• Improving Access to Medications
• Sinclair Health Clinic: $125,000 for pharmacy renovations and equipment for its new clinic building.
• Southern Dominion Health System: $100,000 to fund a full-time pharmacist position in a new community pharmacy in Victoria, Virginia.

Project Connect Outreach and Enrollment Grants

VHCF also awarded more Outreach and Enrollment Grants  than $850,000 to fund 13 Project Connect Outreach workers across Virginia placed at eight sites. During the past year alone, these outreach specialists helped 5,463 Virginians enroll in Medicaid coverage by providing trusted, community-based enrollment assistance. Project Connect Outreach workers have been funded at the following locations:

• Cumberland Plateau Health District
• Bradley Free Clinic
• The Health Wagon
• Connect Health + Wellness
• Neighborhood Health
• Norfolk Department of Public Health
• Partnership for Healthier Communities
• Virginia Legal Aid Society

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 568 community-based initiatives throughout the Commonwealth and established multiple programs and partnerships. Combined, they have helped more than 950,000 uninsured and medically underserved Virginians obtain the health care they need.

For more information about VHCF visit www.vhcf.org.