Virginia Health Care Foundation

Happy #nationalflossingday! Here's a little flash back to the Floss Cutting at Halifax Dental Clinic April, 2013 A true celebration 11 years ago as the long-awaited Halifax Regional Dental Clinic opened to serve children and families in Halifax County, an area with no dental safety net clinic and few dentists at the time. Bridget Brown, a Halifax County native, was the Founding Dentist. The Halifax Regional Dental Clinic is one of the 150 dental safety net clinics funded by VHCF. To date, VHCF has invested more than $18 million in helping to build Virginia’s Dental Safety Net clinics. Learn more about our work in the dental safety net: https://lnkd.in/ejCXBzuT

Happy #therapistthursday! Meet Dan Cimo, LCSW. Dan is a newly Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia with a special focus on working with LGBTQ+ mental and relational health. "The Boost 200 program has allowed me to receive an astoundingly high level of quality supervision while working towards my clinical license. Without the support of the Boost 200 initiative and the Virginia Health Care Foundation, I would be in further crushing debt and would not have had the chance to get licensed as quickly and swiftly as I did... I would also not have found myself able to bring my work and training to the marginalized, underserved populations I am privileged to work with. Being part of the Boost 200 program has deepened my identity as a social worker and professional agent of change. I could not be more grateful for this opportunity, and look forward to a long and rewarding career of service to my clients." To learn more about the Boost 200 program, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eQ22st3Y

?? Celebrating Nurse Practitioner Week! ?? Meet Johna Jenkins, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke! Since joining the team in March, Johna has been making a profound impact, providing full-time, high-quality care to patients in need. Thanks to funding from the VHCF, Johna’s role allows the clinic to meet time-sensitive behavioral health needs more efficiently, expand capacity, and enhance overall patient satisfaction. Her collaborative approach within the clinic’s integrated care team ensures patients receive the comprehensive, continuous care they deserve—helping improve both their mental health and quality of life. We're grateful for Johna's dedication and the difference she's making in our community! ?? #NPWeek #NursePractitioner #BehavioralHealth #MentalHealthCare

Margaret Vanderhye, VHCF Board Chair, visited with our VHCF staff this week! With a professional background in national security and economics, she has held a range of positions throughout her professional life including leading the Virginia Commission for the Arts, serving as a member the Virginia House of Delegates, working at the White House, serving on a number of state boards and commissions, co-founding EduTutorVA, and more. We are fortunate to have her as a leader as we work to make a difference in the lives of countless Virginians every day.

Open Enrollment to buy health insurance on Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace runs from November 1 – January 15 each year. Virginians who buy their insurance through the Marketplace can receive financial help with the cost of their monthly premiums, and with the cost of using their insurance (to visit a doctor or pick up a prescription). To get help applying for health insurance through the Marketplace, find a Navigator or Certified Application Counselor at Enroll Virginia: https://lnkd.in/grVaizj3

VHCF is excited to share that 71 of the original 200 participants in Boost 200 are now licensed therapists and are practicing in Virginia! To learn more about the program, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eQ22st3Y

Happy Veterans Day! Stop and take a moment to honor the sacrifices that Virginia’s veterans have made for our country. If you’re a veteran needing health care, please check out https://lnkd.in/euCfxYkh, run by VirginiaNavigator .

In recognition of National Diabetes Education Week, we are sharing one of VHCF’s grantees successful Diabetes education program. Launched in 2011, Daily Planet Health Services Diabetes Impact Program pairs weekly medical and pharmacy appointments with health education. This program has been so effective in helping patients manage their A1c through medical interventions and education that DPHS expanded it to a new target population at DPHS’s other location, the Southside Health Center. The Southside Health Center serves many patients who are Spanish-speaking, uninsured, and from working families who often share housing. One day a week, Silvia Ortiz, a Physician Assistant who is a native Spanish speaker and an immigrant herself, teams up with a medical assistant, nurse clinic supervisor, health educator, and pharmacist to lead a 10-week Spanish language Diabetes Impact cohort. It focuses on improving A1c levels, increasing diabetes knowledge, self-management, and self-care behaviors, all with a culturally appropriate perspective and delivery. The program is having an impact with the percentage of Hispanics with uncontrolled diabetes decreasing over the past year.

Happy #electionday! Don’t forget to vote. Poll hours are open in Virginia from 6 a.m to 7 p.m. Find your nearest polling location: https://lnkd.in/gWkpz3R9

Nearly 80 nurses practitioners have been awarded a VHCF Psych NP Scholarship. More than half are now a Psych NP, providing critical behavioral health services for Virginians. Think you may like to join their ranks? Now is the time to apply! Applications close November 15. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dfpBdRju