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Williamsburg Health Foundation joins other foundations to provide funding for mental health care access

Daily Press - 3/14/2023

Eighteen different philanthropic foundations throughout Virginia, including the Williamsburg Health Foundation, have contributed more than $170,000 to provide funding for mental health care training.

The funding will go towards expanding behavioral health training for primary care providers treating kids, adolescents and young adults across the state.

“The Williamsburg Health Foundation is grateful to be part of this collaborative of foundations from around the Commonwealth who are working together to address mental health,” said CEO and President Deanna Van Hersh in a news release. “We believe partnerships across organizations is critical to addressing the mental health challenges facing our children and communities.”

The purpose of the Virginia Mental Health Access Program, which is administered by the Medical Society of Virginia through a contract with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, is in part to ensure better mental health for children.

According to the release, VMAP will coordinate two REACH sessions for up to 80 primary care providers, who will participate in an intensive three-day, 16-hour interactive course to help build skills and confidence in diagnosing and treating pediatric behavioral health problems.

Following completion of the training, the providers will take part in bi-monthly calls with national primary care and child/adolescent psychiatry experts, addressing cases in their daily practices.

In addition to the Williamsburg Health Foundation, which has been striving to improve the health of those living in the Williamsburg area since 1996, participating foundations include several Richmond-based organizations like the Jenkins Foundation, the Schaberg Foundation, the Community Foundation for Greater Richmond, the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation and the Virginia Health Care Foundation, as well as other foundations from around the state.

“Our foundation partners responded quickly in a meaningful way to help us address pediatric behavioral health needs … that are growing exponentially, outpacing the availability of mental health providers,” Fairfax pediatrician and VMAP founder Sandy Chung said.

Chung added that the pandemic worsened the youth mental health crisis, with more young people suffering from anxiety, depression and thoughts of self-harm.

“With VMAP, primary care providers can be prepared with the best information to help children and their families right away,” she said.

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