West Virginia is the state with the largest single
natural scenic and outdoor recreational area in the
eastern United States; the Allegheny Highlands. Eighty
percent of the state is forested with over 110,000 square
miles of hardwood forest, wind-swept mountains and
photo-perfect valley landscapes. West Virginia covers
24,078 square miles, with a 2012 estimated population of
1,855,413 people – with 816,822 people living in rural
West Virginia (USDA-ERS). Charleston is the state
capital. The state’s largest cities are Charleston,
Huntington and Parkersburg. According to the U.S. Census
Bureau, 94.1% of the state’s population is white, 3.5% is
Black/African-American, and 1.3% is of Hispanic/Latino
origin (2011).
There are 56 hospitals in West Virginia (Kaiser, 2010),
19 of which are identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as
Critical Access Hospitals (March 2013). There are 50
Rural Health Clinics in West Virginia (Kaiser, 2012) and
28 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at
174 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2010). 14.0% of West
Virginia residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2011).
According to the Economic Research Service, the average
per-capita income for West Virginia residents in 2011 was
$33,403, although rural per-capita income lagged at
$31,266. Estimates from 2011 indicate a poverty rate of
20.2% exists in rural West Virginia, compared to 17.5% in
urban areas of the state. 2011 ACS data reports that
20.7% of the rural population has not completed high
school, compared to 14.7% of urban populations. The
unemployment rate in rural West Virginia is 8.5%, while
in urban West Virginia, it is 7.6% (USDA-ERS, 2011).
For a national comparison, please see an overview of the
United States.
Data Sources
U.S.
Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts;
USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets;
Kaiser Family
Foundation State Health Facts;
Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
Organizations
Appalachian Community Fund (ACF)
State/regional organization
Provides resources and support to grassroots organizations working to overcome the underlying causes of poverty and injustice in Central Appalachia (East Tennessee, Eastern Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and West Virginia).
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 for Rural Health Development
Nonprofit/Foundation
Focuses on providing leadership on rural health issues and strengthening West Virginia’s rural health care infrastructure.
Great Lakes Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP)
State/regional organization
Assists rural low-income individuals and underserved populations in developing and maintaining community infrastructure to improve rural quality of life through a network of community action agencies.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: West Virginia (CDBG)
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
State/regional organization
One of the telehealth resource centers funded by the federal Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. Assists health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations. Includes Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware and North Carolina.
Mountain State Centers for Independent Living (MTSTCIL)
State/regional organization
Provides advocacy, networking, and resources to persons with disabilities and their families in the state of West 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.
Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD)
State/regional organization
One of four regional rural development centers in the nation. Focuses on rural issues including community and economic development, food systems, natural resources, and entrepreneurship. Serves a 12 state area in the Northeast region which includes CT, DE, MA, NJ, NY, RI, PA, WV, NH, ME, MD, VT.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: West 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.
USDA Rural Development West 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.
West Virginia Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
State/regional organization
Their website provides weblinks to each of the five regional AHECs in West Virginia, which facilitate rotations for health professions students, organize CE opportunities for health professionals, arrange K-12 activities to promote health careers, coordinate stipends for students in select disciplines who complete clinical rotations in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities (BBHHF)
State government
Provides support for individuals, families, and communities to ensure that positive, meaningful opportunities are available for persons with mental illness, chemical dependency, developmental disabilities and those at risk.
West Virginia Bureau for Child Support Enforcement (BCSE)
State government
Works to help West Virginia's children by supporting effective child support establishment, payment, and disbursement.
West Virginia Community Action Partnership (WVCAP)
State/regional organization
Association of community action agencies in West Virginia. Works to address the needs of low-income people in West Virginia.
West Virginia Department of Commerce Business & Work Force
State government
West Virginia's economic and community development agency works to improve quality of life by strengthening the state's communities and expanding its economy to create more and better jobs.
West Virginia Department of Education: Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning
State government
Provides services, support and leadership in special education for West Virginia.
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR)
State government
Administers programs that benefit the citizens of West Virginia, including social services, family assistance, and health programs.
West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council
State government
Provides leadership for services for both children and adults who have developmental disabilities. Contracts and funds local behavioral health and providers to offer core services and contracts with smaller providers for other services and supports.
West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)
State government
Helps people with disabilities in West Virginia prepare for, get, keep or advance in competitive employment.
West Virginia Division of Rural Health & Recruitment
State/regional organization
Serves as the focal point for rural health issues in West Virginia. Addresses rural health care needs by planning and developing policy, providing technical assistance and managing statewide coordination of rural health activities. A division of the WV Office of Community Health Systems and Health Promotion.
West Virginia Head Start Collaboration Office (HSSCO)
State/regional organization
Facilitates and enhances coordination and collaboration between Head Start/Early Head Start agencies and other state and local entities that provide services to benefit low-income children from birth to age five and their families, as well as pregnant women.
West Virginia Health Information Network (WVHIN)
State/regional organization
Builds a secure electronic health information system for the exchange of patient data among physicians, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, other care providers, and other stakeholders.
West Virginia Hospital Association (WVHA)
State/regional organization
Supports its members in achieving a strong, healthy West Virginia through advocacy, education, information, and technical assistance.
West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF)
State government
Works to develop and improve housing opportunities for West Virginia's residents.
West Virginia Office of Community Health Systems: Division of Recruitment
State government
Assists West Virginia's rural and medically underserved communities in their efforts to recruit and retain qualified health care providers.
West Virginia Primary Care Association (WVPCA)
State/regional organization
Assists community health centers in delivering primary care services.
West Virginia Regional HIT Extension Center (WVRHITEC)
State/regional organization
West 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.
West Virginia Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP)
State/regional organization
Helps rural communities in West Virginia to improve community infrastructure.
West Virginia Rural Health Association (WVRHA)
State/regional organization
Works to improve the health status and health care of rural West Virginians through education and advocacy.
West Virginia University Center on Aging (WVU COA)
Academic/Research
Works to improve the health, wellbeing and security of older people and those who care for them, in West Virginia and across the nation, through research, education, clinical service, technology, and advocacy.
Tools
ERS State Fact Sheet: West Virginia
Website
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: West Virginia
Website
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM Southeastern Atlantic Region: West Virginia Resources
Website
Overview of the state, with links to state health associations and agencies and health sciences libraries in West Virginia.
West Virginia AgrAbility
Website
The WV Agrability Project works with farmers and farm families with disabilities, injuries, or other physical limitations. Website Provides information and referral services, farm assessments, and assistive technology recommendations.
West Virginia Health Centers Data
Website
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations and information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
West Virginia KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Website
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
West Virginia QuickFacts
Website
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
West 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.
See also: State-by-State Resources: Tools Funding
Appalachian Community Fund Technical Assistance Grants
Funding for technical assistance needs for community-based organizations that address underlying causes of economic and social distress in the Appalachian region.
Claneil Foundation Special Project Fund
Provides seed funding to emerging nonprofits, or to new projects of established organizations in the areas of education; environment; health and human services; and hunger and nutrition.
Georgia-Pacific Foundation Grants
Grants for organizations projects that focus on education, the environment, community enhancement, affordable housing, arts and culture, and entrepreneurship.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine Southeaster/Atlantic Region Funding
Provides funding for National Network of Libraries members located in the Southeaster/Atlantic region to assist them in conducting outreach and technology projects.
Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund
Awards grants in various rural and urban areas where Weyerhaeuser does business. Funds programs that work in the areas of affordable housing and shelter; education and youth development; environmental stewardship; and human services.
Inactive Funding
Inactive Funding Opportunities -
Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.
Documents, Reports and Other Publications
Compendium of Best Practices/Models That Work in Rural Workforce Development
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
Developed by NRHA's National Rural Task Force. Highlights rural workforce programs in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
Date: 09 / 2008
Demographic and Economic Profile: West Virginia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, health care services, and employment. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 01 / 2009
Health Care in West Virginia: A Workforce Analysis
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Rural Health Association
Provides a statewide rural health workforce plan for West Virginia including data on the supply and demand for rural health professionals
Date: 10 / 2012
Rural Dropout Problem: An Invisible Achievement Gap
Author(s): Jerry Johnson, Marty Strange, Karen Madden
Sponsoring organization: Rural School and Community Trust
Reviews high school dropout rates and related factors in rural high schools throughout 15 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia.
Date: 2010
Small Business Profile: West Virginia
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2 / 2013
West Virginia Critical Access Hospitals
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Division of Rural Health & Recruitment
Lists the state's critical access hospitals with address, phone number, certification date, and a link to their website.
See also: State-by-State Resources: Documents Success Stories
Credentialing Verification Service- West Virginia
Partners in Health Network, Inc. (PIHN) Credentialing Verification Service’s (CVS) purpose is to assist associate entities (both members and non-members of the Network) in credentialing practitioners in accordance with accreditation standards and guidelines.
West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnerships/AHEC Program
WVRHEP/AHEC is made up of 11 consortia and four Area Health Education Centers each with a local board of directors. Approximately 800 rural community leaders, local rural health providers, and higher education institutional representatives are involved in all aspects of the program.
Rural Health Outreach (Charleston, West Virginia)
This program, the only one of its kind in West Virginia, was designed to overcome some of the key rural health care access issues experienced by people with HIV/AIDS.
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