Organizations
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
Federal government
Supports economic and social development in all of West Virginia and parts of twelve other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Center Council for Rural Virginia
State/regional organization
Acts as a resource for government and private-sector partners to help them best meet the needs of the citizens of rural Virginia.
Comprehensive Health Investment Project (CHIP) of Virginia
State/regional organization
Responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of a statewide network of community-based child health and family support programs in Virginia.
Healthy Virginians
State government
Works to promote healthy lifestyles in Virginia's workplaces, schools and among families who receive health care through Medicaid.
Hispanic Committee of Virginia (Comité Hispano de Virginia)
State/regional organization
Helps Hispanic immigrants in Northern Virginia overcome barriers of language, culture, isolation, and poverty by linking them to community services and empowering them with new skills. Provides case management, job matching, and immigration consultations.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Virginia (CDBG)
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
Institute for Society, Culture and Environment
Academic/Research
Helps communities throughout Virginia assess their health needs, implement community-based programs, and evaluate healthy community outcomes. Part of the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech.
Medical Society of Virginia (MSV)
State/regional organization
Membership organization representing physicians in Virginia.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic Region (NN/LM SE/A)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to health information for health care providers, librarians, and the public in Alabama, the District of Columbia,
Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia.
Rural Health Initiative Program
Federal government
Based at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, this program focuses on improving health care for Veterans in rural areas through outreach and communication. It also partners with local health care providers and community leaders to ensure eligible Veterans receive all of their benefits.
Rural Virginia Prosperity Commission
State/regional organization
Studies Virginia's rural economies and
recommends state policies to help foster
sustainable economic growth in the state's rural areas.
Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (Southeast RCAP)
State/regional organization
Helps rural communities in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to improve community infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment.
Southeastern Rural Mental Health Research Center (SRMHRC)
Academic/Research
Focuses on improving the quality of mental health care for rural, impoverished individuals in the South.
Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC)
State/regional organization
One of four regional rural development centers in the nation. Works to strengthen the region's 29 land-grant institutions in addressing rural development issues. Serves a 14 state area in the Southern region which includes TX, LA, AR, OK, AL, MS, GA, FL, KY, SC, NC, VA, and TN.
Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium (GMEC)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to high quality primary care for citizens of Southwest Virginia by forming educational partnerships between communities, local physicians, and primary care residency programs in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Virginia (HUD)
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
University of Virginia Medical Center Office of Telemedicine
Academic/Research
Offers clinical consultations, medical education for providers and patients, and outreach projects surrounding telehealth programs.
University of Virginia School of Nursing Rural Health Care Research Center (RHCRC)
Academic/Research
Conducts and disseminates research responsive to the health care needs of impoverished individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and the elderly living in rural areas.
USDA Rural Development Virginia State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
Virginia Academy of Family Physicians
State/regional organization
Strives to ensure quality, accessible health care. Dedicated to the dignity and well being of the citizens of Virginia.
Virginia Action for Healthy Kids
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works in Virginia to address the epidemic of overweight, undernourished and sedentary youth by focusing on changes at school.
Virginia Appalachian Regional Commission
State government
Works to foster economic development and to improve the quality of life for Appalachian citizens of Virginia. Provides assistance in the longer-term development of a chronically depressed region which encompasses 23 counties and seven independent cities in Virginia.
Virginia Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
State/regional organization
Promotes health careers and access to primary care for medically underserved populations in Virginia through community-academic partnerships. This state-wide website provides information on and contact details for each of the eight regional AHECs in the state.
Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging
State/regional organization
Works to build the capacity of Virginia's Area Agencies on Aging to help older persons live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible, and to enhance elder rights.
Virginia Association of Community Service Boards (VACSB)
State/regional organization
Works to achieve a publicly-funded system of quality public and private services in Virginia that is responsive to the needs of consumers with mental disabilities and their families.
Virginia Association of Free Clinics
State/regional organization
Membership organization that provides training and technical assistance, research, resource development and advocacy to free clinics throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS)
State/regional organization
Dedicated to Virginia's volunteer rescue squads and other agencies interested in providing the finest in rescue and pre-hospital care.
Virginia Center for Health Outreach (VCHO)
State/regional organization
Supports Community Health Workers (CHWs) and works to increase people's awareness of the use of CHW programs in Virginia.
Virginia Commission on Local Government
State government
Assists counties, cities, and towns in Virginia by providing technical assistance and advisory reports. Part of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
Virginia Community Action Partnership (VACAP)
State/regional organization
State association of Virginia’s twenty-nine non-profit private and public community action agencies that work to fight poverty and build self-sufficiency, for strong families and communities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VACHA)
State/regional organization
Assists Virginia's communities and organizations to improve access to primary health care through private nonprofit community-based systems of care.
Virginia Cooperative Extension
State/regional organization
An educational outreach program that brings the resources of Virginia's land grant universities, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University into the communities. Focus areas include: agriculture ad natural resources, family and consumer science, 4-H youth development, and community viability.
Virginia Council of Churches: Rural Family Development
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to enable children and adults of farmworker and other rural households to achieve their potential.
Virginia Council on Indians
State government
Advisory board to the Governor and the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Makes recommendations to the Commonwealth on issues regarding Virginia Indians.
Virginia Dental Association (VDA)
State/regional organization
Works to improve the quality of dental education and treatment within the state of Virginia. Their website contains resources for learning about the profession and practices, plus press releases and a job bank.
Virginia Department for the Aging
State government
Works with local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and other public and private organizations to help older Virginians, their families and loved ones find the services and information they need.
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
State government
Promotes the economic growth and development of Virginia's agriculture, encourages environmental stewardship, and provides consumer protection.
Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
State government
Provides leadership and service to improve Virginia's system of quality treatment, habilitation, and prevention services for individuals and their families whose lives are affected by mental illness, mental retardation, or substance use disorders.
Virginia Department of Education: Office of Special Education & Student Services
State government
Administers education programs and services for Virginia students with disabilities.
Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
State government
Protects the lives and property of Virginia's citizens from emergencies and disasters by coordinating the state's emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery efforts.
Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
State government
Works to achieve and maintain optimum personal and community health in Virginia by emphasizing health promotion, disease prevention and environmental protection.
Virginia Department of Health Professions
State government
Works in Virginia to enhance access to and the delivery of safe and competent health care by licensing health care providers and enforcing standards governing their practice.
Virginia Department of Health: Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy (OMHPHP)
State government
Identifies health inequities and their root causes, and addresses them by promoting social justice, influencing policy, establishing partnerships, providing resources and educating the public. Office includes the Division of Primary Care and Rural Health.
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
State government
Works to make Virginia's communities safe, affordable, and prosperous places in which to live, work and do business.
Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
State government
Works to provide a system of high quality comprehensive health services to qualifying Virginians and their families.
Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
State government
Works in partnership with people with disabilities and their families to help individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and full inclusion into society.
Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS)
State government
Provides assistance to citizens of Virginia through programs that address poverty, abuse and neglect, and achieving self-sufficiency.
Virginia Department of Veterans Services
State government
Provides support and information related to veteran benefits, veterans education, care centers, veterans cemeteries, and the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program.
Virginia Economic Development Partnership
State government
Works to enhance the quality of life and raise the standard of living for all Virginians, in collaboration with Virginia communities, through aggressive business recruitment, expansion assistance, and trade development.
Virginia Employment Commission
State government
Provides workforce services for businesses, employers and citizens, job opportunities, and labor market information in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
State/regional organization
Membership organization of organization of farmers and rural families in Virginia. Works to support its members through legislative lobbying, leadership programs, commodity associations, rural health programs, products, insurance, and marketing.
Virginia Head Start Association (VHSA)
State/regional organization
Offers information on Head Start/Early Head Start programming, collaborative services/projects, access to resources and publications, and the ability to locate local Head Start and Early Head Start services in your community.
Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Foundation supporting projects to make primary health care more available to uninsured and medically underserved Virginians.
Virginia Health Information (VHI)
State/regional organization
Works with private organizations and public bodies to use health data to meet the varied needs of the citizens of Virginia. Provides access to information on: assisted living facilities, continuing care, retirement communities, HMOs, home care providers, hospitals, nursing facilities, physicians and other providers.
Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (VAHCC)
State/regional organization
Works to empower Hispanics in the Virginia business community by building economic, social, and cultural bridges between Virginia and its growing Hispanic community.
Virginia HIT Regional Extension Center
State/regional organization
Virginia State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA)
State/regional organization
Has 41 member health systems and hospitals, representing 106 community, psychiatric, rehabilitation and specialty hospitals throughout Virginia. Their mission is to improve the health status of the communities they serve.
Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA)
State government
Virginia's mortgage finance agency that works to help low- and moderate-income Virginians attain quality, affordable housing.
Virginia Joint Commission on Health Care (Virginia JCHC)
State government
A legislative commission dedicated to ensuring that the greatest possible number of Virginians receives quality, cost-effective health care services.
Virginia Justice Center for Farm and Immigrant Workers
State/regional organization
Supports low-wage immigrant workers throughout Virginia in their efforts to be treated fairly in the workplace. A program of the Legal Aid Justice Center.
Virginia Network for Geospatial Health Research, Inc.
Academic/Research
Facilitates continuity of funding and provides flexibility in support of both public and private sector initiatives throughout Virginia using geospatial analysis of health and health care relevant data.
Virginia Office of Mental Retardation Services
State government
Supports the development of communities that support and affirm all persons with developmental disabilities and their families as participating and contributing members.
Virginia Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources
State government
Oversees twelve state agencies which provide services to individuals with disabilities, the aging community, low-income working families, children, caregivers and the provider network in Virginia.
Virginia On the Move
State/regional organization
Promotes lifelong physical activity and healthy eating for Virginians. Site offers county-level data on how many pounds of carbon was saved due to lifestyle changes made to reduce their carbon footprint.
Virginia Rural Health Association (VRHA)
State/regional organization
Strives to improve the health of Virginia's rural residents by providing care, and planning for the delivery of care and health care services.
Virginia Rural Health Resource Center (VRHRC)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Provides technical assistance, facilitates rural health research and collaborates with various public and private organizations to identify and address rural health issues in Virginia. Website offers access to the Virginia Rural Health Data Portal.
Virginia State Office of Rural Health
State government
Collects and disseminates information; provides technical assistance; helps coordinate rural health interests state-wide; and supports efforts to improve recruitment and retention of health professionals.
Virginia Tech Rural Economic Analysis Program (REAP)
Academic/Research
Provides the results of economic analyses and conducts educational programs to help ensure competitiveness, economic viability, and quality of life in rural communities throughout Virginia.
Virginia Telehealth Network (VTN)
State/regional organization
Works to advance the adoption, implementation and integration of telehealth and related technologies into models of healthcare statewide.
Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electrical Cooperatives (VMDAEC)
State/regional organization
Membership association of consumer-owner electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Coordinates activities surrounding issues considered at the national level by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC).
Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
Academic/Research
Provides policy analysis, applied research, technical assistance, leadership development, survey research, consultation, and training for Virginia's state and local officials, community leaders, and the general public.
Tools
3RNet Virginia
Database
A searchable database that helps health professionals locate practice sites in rural and underserved areas throughout Virginia. Includes a contact person who can assist health professionals and their families identify the resources necessary to meet the personal and professional requirements they seek.
AgrAbility Virginia
Web site
Helps individuals with disabilities in Virginia overcome barriers to continue in their chosen profession in agriculture.
CLAS Act Virginia: Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Health Care Services Resource Guide
Web site
Provides general, language, and research resources related to providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health care in Virginia. Includes a calendar of events for training and conferences.
Commonwealth's Healthy Approach and Mobilization Plan for Inactivity, Obesity and Nutrition (CHAMPION)
Web site
Information and resources related to Virginia's statewide plan addressing prevention and control of obesity.
ERS State Fact Sheet: Virginia
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Family Access to Medical Insurance Security
Web site
Provides information about three of Virginia's health insurance programs: FAMIS, the Children's Health Insurance Program; FAMIS MOMS for pregnant women; and FAMIS Select - Premium Assistance Program. Includes information about eligibility and how to apply to the programs.
Insure More Virginians
Web site
Information and resources related to health insurance and the uninsured in Virginia. Includes regional health insurance resources and data within Virginia.
My Water's Fluoride: Virginia
Web site
Information on fluoridated drinking water in Virginia's cities and counties.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Virginia
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM Southeastern Atlantic Region: Virginia Resources
Web site
Overview of the state, with links to state health associations and agencies and health sciences libraries in Virginia.
Oral Histories: Report from a Dental Fair Video
Web site
This video profiles patients attending a dental fair in rural Virginia and highlights the impact of lack of coverage for oral health services.
Prescription Drug Assistance Programs Available In Virginia
Web site
Provides contact information, eligibility and benefits for prescription drug assistance programs in Virginia.
Primary Practice Opportunities of Virginia
Web site
Comprehensive health care provider resource designed to assist in the recruitment of health care providers throughout Virginia.
SeniorNavigator: Virginia's Resource for Health and Aging
Web site
Provides access to nearly 19,000 health and aging resources for Virginia's seniors, their families and caregivers.
VCU Department of Family Medicine Inner City/Rural Preceptorship
Web site
Provides information about the program, which provides enrichment activities for students interested in practicing in medically underserved communities in Virginia.
Virginia Adult Education Health Literacy Toolkit
Web site
Designed to help instructors and administrators better understand the problem of health literacy as it affects their adult learners. Provides resources to aid in curriculum and lesson plan development for use in adult health literacy education.
Virginia Atlas of Community Health
Web site
Provides access to population, economic and health indicators by town and ZIP code in Virginia.
Virginia Grants and Funding
Web site
Information about state and national funding programs to support community health in Virginia.
Virginia Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
Virginia J1 Visa Waiver Information
Web site
Overview of the J-1 Visa Waiver program in Virginia, how to apply, and which areas of Virginia are eligible. The J-1 Visa Waiver allows International Medical Graduates who complete medical training in the United States to stay and practice primary care in a shortage area.
Virginia KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Virginia QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Virginia Rural Health Data Portal
Research instrument
Provides access to various information and data sources related to rural health in Virginia in one place. Users can create custom charts, graphs, and maps from data sets based on the Virginia State Rural Health Plan.
Virginia State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
Web site
Supports Virginia residents that are veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard or the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members on their road to recovery from the effects of stress-related injuries (such as post traumatic stress disorder) or traumatic brain injuries.
Virginia's State Rural Health Plan
Web site
Highlights a three to five year strategic plan designed to strengthen the health care infrastructure in rural areas in Virginia.
See also: Resources for All States: Tools
