Virginia Health Care Foundation

11/14/2025

🎉 Celebrating National Nurse Practitioner Week

VHCF is grateful for the dedicated Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who help make access to health care possible across the Commonwealth. Thank you for all you do!💙

Are you a NP interested in providing mental health services? VHCF offers the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Psych NP) Scholarship to NPs interested in pursuing a post‑Master’s PMHNP Certificate. VHCF covers full tuition and fees, up to $26,000, enabling NPs to advance their education while expanding access to mental health care across Virginia.

📅 Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If you plan to begin your post‑Master’s PMHNP Certificate program in Spring 2026, we encourage you to apply today.

Contact PsychNP@vhcf.org or visit https://www.vhcf.org/for-those-who-help/resources-for-providers/psych-mental-health-np-scholarship/ for more information.

11/13/2025

The Pharmacy Connection (TPC) Program Manager, Lisa Hueston, visited GoochlandCares to provide one-on-one TPC training with key medical center staff. During her visit, Lisa was treated to a tour of the clinic and of the area recently cleared for a future campus expansion.

If your clinic is interested in learning more about The Pharmacy Connection, visit https://www.vhcf.org/for-those-who-help/the-pharmacy-connection/

11/11/2025

Today we honor our nation's veterans for their service and sacrifice.

11/10/2025

Not able to attend a previous It Takes a Village Lunch and Learn? You have three more opportunities to discover how to refer those in need of maternal mental health counseling to available services.

During the session you will:
✔️ Learn about VHCF’s new state-wide initiative, It Takes a Village (ITAV)
✔️ Meet ITAV therapists and hear about their expertise
✔️ Understand options for making referrals

Register today:
November 12, 2025 from 12:00 – 12:30pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bvwYZSj1SmO4fVlB_PlgUQ #/registration

November 20, 2025 from 12:00 - 12:30pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CSQrrKmlR8iLvYGmlEkQpA #/registration

November 21, 2025 from 12:00 - 12:30pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xlHbOmP3RKOJbY1miU1zDw #/registration

It Takes a Village is made possible by generous support from the Commonwealth of Virginia via the 2025 bipartisan Momnibus package.

For more information: https://www.vhcf.org/ittakesavillage/

11/07/2025

Full Circle Grief Center is offering a no cost training opportunity for medical and mental health professionals working with perinatal patients to help them understand how to best support a patient experiencing perinatal loss. Register here: https://fullcirclegc.org/trauma-informed-perinatal-loss-training/

Last chance! 📣 Join us for the last offering of our workshop, "Strategies for Providing Trauma Informed Support During and After Perinatal Loss" on Friday, November 14th. 🌼

This workshop is a perinatal loss professional development opportunity, made possible in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), appropriate for medical and mental health professionals, hospital chaplains, and anyone who works within this scope of care.

Please note that this workshop is offered free of charge, but registration is required. More information on registration at our website linked below. 🔗

Full Circle Training and Resources | Trauma Informed Perinatal Loss
https://fullcirclegc.org/trauma-informed-perinatal-loss-training/

11/05/2025

The demand for behavioral health services continues to outpace capacity across the Commonwealth. VHCF is one of many organizations committed to growing Virginia's behavioral health workforce to ensure everyone who needs help can access it.

Charlottesville Tomorrow highlighted the journey of four families struggling to seek behavioral health care for their children as well as the various initiatives and programs aiming to close the gap in services.

Read the full article:

Mothers described navigating long waits, limited providers and a system stretched thin as youth mental health needs rise.

11/05/2025

VHCF is thrilled to share that 100 Counselors are now licensed and providing mental health services in the Commonwealth after participating in Boost!

Boost! is a special initiative of VHCF designed to remove financial barriers to licensure for Masters-prepared therapists by paying for required supervision hours. To date, Boost! has supported 162 Counselors and Social Workers on their journey to licensure, with over 200 more enrolled and working toward licensure.

Boost! is made possible by funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, as well as private donors.

Pictured: VHCF staff Trinette Randolph, MSEd and Taylor Black, MPH who work tirelessly to ensure the Boost! program is a success. We are grateful for their hard work!

To learn more, visit: https://www.vhcf.org/boost200/

11/04/2025

Don't forget to vote!

On November 4, polls are open 6am - 7pm. Confirm your polling location. Bring valid ID that matches your voter registration. Plan to register same-day to vote a provisional ballot if you need to update your voter registration or register to vote. Check your voter eligibility at Vote.Virginia.gov.

11/03/2025

Join VHCF in welcoming Dr. Sara Chehreh, one of our "Sign Up, Pay Down" dentists to her new role at Health Center in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Dr. Chehreh began her dental career as an assistant and receptionist while completing her bachelor’s at Virginia Commonwealth University and master’s at Georgetown University. She later earned her dental degree from Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Before joining Greater Prince William, Dr. Chehreh practiced at multiple health centers across the New River Valley in Southwest Virginia. Her deep commitment to service is demonstrated through her volunteer work with programs like Mission of Mercy and the American Association of Women Dentists.

Dr. Chehreh is dedicated to delivering compassionate, comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and we are thrilled she chose to return to Northern Virginia and remain a part of the dental safety-net community.

Sign Up, Pay Down is made possible by generous support from Concordia Dental and Delta Dental of Virginia . This initiative addresses the significant challenges facing Virginia’s dental safety-net clinics recruiting dentists in a highly competitive market.

Learn more about Sign Up, Pay Down: https://www.vhcf.org/2023/06/13/8563/

10/31/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Justin Gravely-Strayhorn, a newly licensed Boost! participant.

When asked about his experience with Boost!, he stated, “Boost! was a critical stepping stone in my journey. By alleviating the financial strain of supervision hours, it allowed me to focus wholeheartedly on developing clinical competence and deepening my impact. It gave me room to grow without compromising my commitment to serve.”

Boost! pays for the licensure-required Supervision of motivated Residents in Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy and Supervisees in Social Work. Boost! is a special initiative of the Virginia Health Care Foundation, funded by the Virginia General Assembly and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and private donors.

Learn more here: https://www.vhcf.org/boost200/

10/29/2025

Do you work with pregnant and postpartum Virginians? Join VHCF for an upcoming Lunch and Learn to discover how to refer those in need of maternal mental health counseling to available services.

Sign up for an upcoming session to:
✔️ Learn about VHCF’s new state-wide initiative, It Takes a Village (ITAV)
✔️Meet ITAV therapists and hear about their expertise
✔️Understand options for making referrals

Register today:
November 5, 2025 from 12:30 – 1:00pm https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9HhKBPz3Si6BTRupBLgL7Q #/registration

November 7, 2025 from 12:00 - 12:30pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9v2kqiZ2RPOeIsr6Otjwjg #/registration

It Takes a Village is made possible by generous support from the Commonwealth of Virginia via the 2025 bipartisan Momnibus package.

10/27/2025

Registration for the Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics' 2025 Annual Conference in Roanoke on November 16-18 is closing soon – don’t miss out on this opportunity to network with peers and learn about financial and operational sustainability.

VAFCC members are eligible to apply for one FREE registration through VHCF’s Professional Development Assistance Program. Apply here: https://www.grantrequest.com/SID_6008?SA=SNA&FID=35010 (Note: you must first create an account to complete the form.)

Registration closes November 3 – Register today: https://www.vafreeclinics.org/annual-conference

The premier educational and networking meeting for Virginia’s free and charitable clinics and their safety net partners and advocates held annually in the fall.