Stay Covered: What's Going on with Marketplace Open Enrollment? 

Open Enrollment on Virginia’ s Insurance Marketplace is right around the corner! Some recent federal changes may impact eligibility for financial help and costs of coverage on the Marketplace for certain individuals and families. More information about coming changes will be available on the Virginia Insurance Marketplace website in the coming weeks. KFF Health News is providing ongoing coverage.

To ensure the best value, individuals and families with Marketplace coverage should be sure to shop during Open Enrollment to review available options for their health needs and budget. This year, Open Enrollment begins November 1, 2025, and will end on January 31, 2026.


Have questions? Enroll Virginia navigators and assisters are trained and certified to provide free, unbiased assistance with health insurance options available through Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace. You can also call the Marketplace Call Center at 888-687-1501.

SignUpNow workshops are also available to teach your staff how to help patients apply for or renew Medicaid/FAMIS health insurance. Two trainings are available (one focusing on Medicaid/FAMIS and one focusing on Virginia’s Aged, Blind, or Disabled covered groups). To learn more and register for SignUpNow workshops, click here.

Searching for Student Loan Repayment Programs to Help Recruit and Retain Providers?

The Office of Health Equity (OHE) has created an new, easy-to-use tool to help users browse their inventory of loan repayment programs! Users can search programs by eligible provider types, facility types, shortage designation requirements, FTE requirements, and more. The tool is part of the OHE's efforts to improve access to primary care and support the healthcare workforce in Virginia. 

Climate Resilience for Frontline Clinics Toolkit

This toolkit from Americares and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers practical resources to help community health centers and free clinics prepare for extreme weather events. With hurricanes and floods increasingly affecting Virginia communities, this resource provides practical guidance to reduce risks, protect patient care, and support recovery. Review individual resources focused on General Weather Guidance, Extreme Heat, Wildfire and Smoke, or Floods, or download the complete toolkit for free here. 

Funding Search Resources from the Virginia Funder's Network

The Virginia Funder’s Network (VFN) maintains an up-to-date Grant Board on its website. This is a space where you are be able to see current requests for proposals and open funding opportunities from across the Commonwealth. Are you looking to learn more about the funders in your area or across the state? The VFN website also has a membership listing!

Perinatal Mental Health

It Takes a Village - NEW Maternal Mental Health Services Now Available

Nearly one-third of Virginia’s counties are maternal health deserts, and one in eight mothers in the Commonwealth experiences a mental health condition, from persistent sadness to anxiety and hopelessness, often with serious consequences if left untreated.

It Takes a Village (ITAV) is a new state-wide initiative made possible by generous support from the Commonwealth of Virginia via the 2025 bipartisan Momnibus package.

It offers in-person and virtual therapy sessions to pregnant and postpartum Virginians at little or no cost. Cardinal Care and commercial insurance plans accepted, and sliding scale fee options available. No referral is needed and services are available in both English and Spanish.

Ready to help families access care? Visit our website to find a provider today! www.vhcf.org/ittakesavillage.

Free Virtual Training Opportunity with Postpartum Support Virg

VHCF has partnered with Postpartum Support Virginia to offer virtual training on maternal mental health for healthcare professionals serving pregnant and postpartum Virginians. This special virtual training is available at no cost to participants and will cover: identifying common perinatal mental health conditions, recognizing warning signs and symptoms, approaching clients with concerning behaviors, and connecting families to treatment and support resources.

No prior perinatal mental health experience is required, and t training is perfect for health safety net professionals, doulas, lactation consultants, community health workers, and others working with perinatal populations. Space is limited, so register early to secure your spot. The November 13th training is full, but slots are still available on December 4 (10am-3pm). Register here!

The School-Health Alliance Back-to-School Fall Learning Series Continues Through October 30! 

This Learning series started on September 30 and offers 16 sessions that explore how schools, families, and school-based health centers can join forces to support healthier, happier students. Sessions are scheduled through October 30 and are free to attend!

2025 Virginia Health Catalyst Annual Summit

The Summit will take place on Friday October 17th at the Westin Richmond. It will bring together stakeholders from across the Commonwealth, and this year's theme is Healthy Systems, Thriving Communities: Advancing Solutions for All. Virginia Health Care Foundation is excited to once again offer reimbursement for one registrant per dental safety net practice at the early bird rate. Submit a VHCF reimbursement request here. 

Virginia Commonwealth University's Career Fair

On Monday, October 20th from 5-7pm, the VCU Career Fair will offer an opportunity to connect with eager students. D3 and D4 dental students, residents, hygiene students and assisting students from VCU and other local community college programs will be in attendance. Click here for more information.

When Teens Lead the Way: Evidence of School-Wide Impact in Peer-Led Mental Health

Hosted by Our Minds Matter, this webinar will share new research teen peer-to-peer mental health initiatives, and dig into the implications for the youth mental health ecosystem. It will feature a panel conversation moderated by Aras Jizan, Senior Program Officer at the Gates Foundation, alongside researchers, school partners, and teen leaders. The webinar will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, October 21 from 1-2:15 pm. RSVP here to receive the Zoom link.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month- Check Out These Webinars!

The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association is hosting a special webinar series this October in recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Each session will focus on practical strategies and best practices to help protect your organization, your employees, and your data in an increasingly complex digital landscape. The next one is on October 22! Read more about the webinars and register here. 

Rural Health Voice Conference


The Conference will take place November 12-20 at Wintergreen Resort. Rural Americans face a unique combination of factors that create disparities in health care not found in urban areas. Economic factors, cultural and social differences, educational differences, lack of recognition by legislators and the isolation of living in remote rural areas all conspire to impede rural Americans in their struggle to lead a normal, healthy life. This event focuses on the opportunity for rural health stakeholders to hold in-depth conversations about how the issues in our communities can be addressed. Learn more about the conference here. 

Community Health Worker Supervisor Training


A Community Health Worker (CHW) Supervisor is responsible for managing a team of CHWs to ensure that they deliver adequate services while meeting organizational goals. CHW Supervisors provide a community-centric approach, training and professional development, communication and feedback, monitoring and evaluation, and emotional and psychological support. The Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority is offering an online and self-paced training for CHW Supervisors. The cost ($200) is eligible to be covered by VHCF’s Professional Development funds for staff of health safety net organizations. 

Special Conservators of the Peace (SCOP) program is being piloted in Winchester

SCOPs are court-authorized officials who can carry out some limited law enforcement duties involving individuals experiencing mental health crises, in order to avoid having the police take people to hospitals. The pilot is part of Gov. Youngkin's "Right Help, Right Now" initiative. 

With therapy hard to get, people lean on AI for mental health. What are the risks?

This article from NPR dives into some examples of the novel ways individuals are using AI chatbots to replace hard-to-find (or hard-to-afford) therapy, as well as the risks and limitations.  

• Are you seeking to empower your team or self with professional development? Is your organization embarking on a new strategic plan? VHCF offers funds toward both these endeavors. Click here to learn more about professional development funding for your organization and here for on strategic planning funds.

• Upcoming virtual trainings for both new and experienced users on how to use The Pharmacy Connection (TPC) are available. To register for a training, click here.

• The Behavioral Health Hub listserv is a venue to share new resources, tips, and opportunities related to the delivery of services. With 1,000+ members from all regions of Virginia and a wide variety of organizations, the Hub is a great way to stay connected and updated on the latest news and trends in behavioral health. Subscribe here.
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• The Tooth Talk listserv connects Virginia’s dental safety net providers to learn about new resources and grants, pose and answer questions about providing dental care to the uninsured, and keep up-to-date on important issues.

• VHCF also has a variety of informational resources to help you and your staff meet your goals. Don't see what you are looking for? Let us know!

• Does your organization have any innovative programs or creative solutions to share? Are there are other resources you hope to gain from this newsletter? Please contact Andrea Lancaster with your advice!