Tag: health disparities

Cumberland Plateau Health District Receives Grants to Support Rural Health Care Services

September 22, 2025
Media Contact: Victoria Bartfai, victoria.bartfai@vdh.virginia.gov

Cumberland Plateau Health District Receives Grants to Support Rural Health Care Services
$2.2 Million Awarded to Benefit Southwest Virginia Mothers and Infants

TAZEWELL, Va. – The Virginia Rural Health Association (VRHA), serving as the backbone organization for the Cumberland Plateau Perinatal Health Network (CPPHN), has been awarded two major grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to strengthen maternal and infant health services across Southwest Virginia. The following grants were awarded to the Virginia Rural Health Association to support the expanding efforts of the Cumberland Plateau Perinatal Health Network:

  • HRSA Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program – $300,000 per year for four years, awarded specifically to the Cumberland Plateau Health District (Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell counties). This funding will support expanded prenatal and postpartum care, workforce investments, and innovative outreach programs designed to improve access and outcomes for mothers and babies in rural communities.
  • Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) – $1,000,000 for the first award year (renewable for up to four years), awarded to serve the broader Southwest Virginia region, including the Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts. The Network will coordinate this effort to expand perinatal services, train and deploy community health workers and doulas, integrate telehealth systems, and strengthen coordination among healthcare providers.

“It is such an honor to be selected as an RMOMS grantee,” said Beth O’Connor, Executive Director of the Virginia Rural Health Association. “Our tiniest Virginians deserve to have every opportunity for a healthy life.”

“We are honored to have received these two grants that will provide mothers and children with the vital resources needed to benefit their overall health and well-being.” said Victoria Bartfai, Maternal and Child Health Coordinator for the Cumberland Plateau Health District.

Both awards will be used to address the on-going health disparities throughout the region, including high rates of substance use during pregnancy, geographic isolation, and limited access to maternity care. Through these investments, the Cumberland Plateau Perinatal Health Network will help fill existing gaps, strengthen partnerships, and lay the foundation for long-term improvements in maternal and perinatal health.

This achievement reflects the collaborative efforts of the Cumberland Plateau Title V team, Virginia Department of Health’s Central Office Title V team, the Institute for Public Health Innovation, and VRHA.

To view the data on maternal and child health outcomes, visit the Virginia maternal and child health overview dashboard at https://dashboards.mysidewalk.com/vdh-mch-dashboard/impact-of-maternal-and-child-health

The Central Shenandoah Health District, in partnership with Sentara RMH Medical Center and Church World Service, to conduct Community Health Assessment

September 16, 2024

Media Contact: Rachel Dumene, Rachel.dumene1@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-480-4998

The Central Shenandoah Health District, in partnership with Sentara RMH Medical Center and Church World Service, to conduct Community Health Assessment

STAUNTON, Va. – The Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD), along with Sentara RMH Medical Center and Church World Service (CWS), will be conducting a Community Health Assessment (CHA) over the next two months within the counties of Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Augusta, and the City of Harrisonburg.

This assessment is a process that collects and analyzes data about the health status of our community. The data is then used to determine health-related strengths and weaknesses, identify health disparities, and influence health improvement programs and services within our service area.

This CHA will consist of a survey that can be completed individually on paper or on a participant’s electronic device or computer. In addition to distributing the survey at local community events, CSHD, Sentara RMH Medical Center, and CWS will be hosting community focus groups in early 2025 to supplement the data collected from the survey.

The survey is available in both English and Spanish online and can be provided in Arabic and Russian on paper to those who need it. The survey will be open through November 22, 2024.

“Through surveying people in our district, we hope to identify areas that are in need of extra support to improve the health of the community. We can use this information to enhance healthcare access and community resources. Participation from a broad range of community members is important to ensure we deliver care to those who need it most,” says Dr. Allison Baroco, health director of CSHD.

“The health needs assessment helps guide us in expanding and developing services and targeting resources where they can be most impactful for our community,” says Doug Moyer, president of Sentara RMH Medical Center. “This survey is critical in helping us work with our community partners to dismantle barriers to healthcare services and provide greater access to those resources.”

The survey can be accessed on the Central Shenandoah Health District website, or at the following link: https://redcap.link/13vtsosu