Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program - The Virginia Rural Health Association (VRHA) is proposing to develop the Cumberland Plateau Perinatal Health Network (PHN) under the Special Track of the HRSA Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, with a focus on maternal health. This project will serve the rural counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell in Virginia, areas within the Cumberland Plateau Health District. These counties experience significant health disparities, particularly among women who use substances during pregnancy, leading to poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. Through strategic workforce investments, targeted supportive services, and a deep appreciation for sustainable, community-driven models, the PHN is proposing to not only fill existing gaps but also lay the foundation for long-term health and well-being across the region that will improve access, utilization, and outcomes for maternal and perinatal health in the CPHD. VRHA is requesting funds from this grant opportunity to fulfill the goal of improving access to integrated, coordinated perinatal health services for families in the rural Cumberland Plateau region of Virginia. This goal will be met through the following objectives: 1. By April 30, 2029, the PHN will improve expectant and postpartum individuals’ ability to navigate the complex healthcare system by investing in peer support, doulas, and community health workers for the Cumberland Plateau Health District; 2. By April 30, 2029, the PHN will support learning opportunities through community trainings, forums, and a perinatal health project ECHO; and 3. By April 30, 2029, the PHN will develop innovative, multi-sectoral approaches to ensure the continued availability and sustainability of affordable perinatal services in the service area. To ensure the proposed project remains grounded in current best practices for health care, community outreach, and maternal health, VRHA has designed an intervention that incorporates a number of well-established evidence-based models as the foundation, including 1) Project Echo 2) Community-Based Doulas 3) Resource Navigation/Community Health Workers 4) TCU Partners in Parenting and 5) Trauma Informed Care Training. Additionally, a team of CHWs, doulas, and resource navigators will provide personalized support for at-risk women during and after pregnancy, ensuring a continuum of care for up to one year postpartum. Expected outcomes include improved access to maternal health services, increased provider capacity for trauma-informed and culturally competent care, reduced rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome, and enhanced health equity for rural underserved populations. The proposed initiative will also strengthen the local workforce through training and retention of CHWs and doulas, addressing gaps in service delivery across the region. The Virginia Rural Health Association (VHRA) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization working for the 2.5 million people who call rural Virginia their home. Established in 1995, VRHA is a grassroots advocacy organization with over 1,000 members statewide. Its members represent the broad spectrum of rural healthcare: hospital executives, academic faculty, clinic staff, health professions students, community advocates, government officials, consultants, and more. VRHA has a 30-year history of bringing together rural health stakeholders in Virginia to develop strategic plans, provide educational opportunities, and implement projects. VRHA is requesting a funding preference based on Qualification 1: Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). According to the HRSA Data Warehouse, of the 4 rural counties in the service area that are eligible to participate in funding from this program, all qualify for the Qualification 1 funding preference because the service area is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).
