State Office of Rural Health

January

This month features a photo of "a pier to nowhere" taken by Victoria Fox in Charles City County, VA.

The topic highlighted this month is the Virginia State Loan Repayment Program. VA-SLRP grants health
care providers educational loan repayment in exchange for at least two years of service in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) in Virginia. Available funds include $822k from the federal government and $1.5 M from the state. The VA-SLRP application cycle is open from January 1st - March 31st of each year.

To download the January calendar page, click here.

 

 

February

This month features a photo of "the morning after the snow fall looking over the Upshur Neck Bay" taken by Caroline Williamson in Quinby, VA.

The topic highlighted this month is Virginia's health care workforce. The Commonwealth's rural regions suffer disproportionately compared to the more metropolitan areas due to a shortage of health care workers. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) offers several incentive programs to attract primary health professionals to Virginia's underserved areas.

To download the February calendar page, click here.

 

 

March

This month features a photo taken by Nancy Bell rounding the bend on her way to work one cool morning in Franklin County, VA.
The topic highlighted this month is nutrition and food security. Eating healthy and nutritious food is essential to the growth, development, and maintenance of a healthy body and overall well-being. The Healthy Harvest Community Garden of Halifax County distributes fresh produce and provides education on nutrition to community members who otherwise may not have access to nutritious food.

To download the March calendar page, click here.

 

 

April

This month features a photo of "Daisy" exploring on a sunny day in Lake Anna, VA, taken by Darlene Wampler. Daisy is a baby goat born on the Wampler farm in the spring of 2021.

The topic highlighted this month is maternal health. Maternal health is influential in determining the overall health outcomes of both mother and baby, making a woman’s preconception health and ability to access maternal healthcare extremely important. Also featured is the Nurse-Family Partnership®, an organization dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable first-time moms and their babies.

To download the April calendar page, click here.

 

 

May

This month features a photo of a pretty pink flower in Boydton, VA taken by Miranda Ellis.
The topic highlighted this month is mental health awareness. People in rural areas face certain barriers in accessing mental health care- accessibility, availability, affordability, and acceptability. Also highlighted is the Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP), a statewide initiative that helps health care providers take better care of children and adolescents with mental health conditions through provider education and increasing access to child psychiatrist, psychologists, social workers, and care navigators.

To download the May calendar page, click here.

 

 

June

Summer is right around the corner! Stephanie Kahrs captured this photo of five shells perched on a piece of driftwood along the Potomac River at Leesylvania State Park, featured in this month's calendar spread.

To download the June calendar page, click here.

 

 

July

Every year, during the first weekend of July, Rockbridge County hosts an annual hot air balloon festival. Percita Ellis took this photo, capturing an awesome view of the festival.

To download the July calendar page, click here.

 

 

August

Robert MacDonald took this artistic shot of a bridge on the water in Tappahannock, VA.

To download the August calendar page, click here.

 

 

September

 Tiffany Thomas took this photo in Smyth County, capturing the undeniable beauty of "fall in far Southwest Virginia."

To download the September calendar page, click here.

 

 

October

Virginia's foliage is showing off in this photo taken by Reisa Sloce in the Flag Rock and High Knob and Norton Reservoir area of Norton, VA.

To download the October calendar page, click here.

 

 

November

Stephanie Kahrs took this photo while admiring the gorgeous fall view of the Shenandoah River from Culler's Overlook in the Shenandoah River State Park.

To download the November calendar page, click here.

 

 

December

There is nothing more peaceful than a sunset on the beach. Jon Richardson took this photo of the changing tide at sunset on Silver Beach in Northampton County, Virginia.

To download the December calendar page, click here.