Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

09/15/2026

For uninsured women, access to preventative healthcare can be the difference between early detection and a late-stage diagnosis. Regular screenings for breast and cervical cancer shouldn't depend on insurance status. Free and charitable clinics serve as a vital entry point for women who would otherwise face significant barriers to access essential care.

Spotlighting Lackey Clinic in Yorktown for recently hosting a Healthy Women’s Day which provided 51 uninsured women with breast and cervical cancer screenings in partnerships with Riverside, Virginia Department of Health, and Here for the Girls, Inc.

09/14/2026

We hope you'll make plans to join the Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics its 2026 Annual Conference this November 15-17 at the Westin Richmond. As the premier educational and networking meeting for Virginia’s free and charitable clinics, their safety net partners, and healthcare advocates, this event is an opportunity to learn, share, and connect with partners from across the Commonwealth.

Registration is open now through November 6 with early bird savings available through November 6!

https://www.vafreeclinics.org/annual-conference

09/11/2026

Accessing healthcare just got a bit easier at the Fauquier Free Clinic which recently participated in an official ribbon-cutting for a new bus stop shelter opening at their facility.

Lack of transportation options is an often-cited barrier that prevents vulnerable patients from getting the care they need. This new shelter will make traveling to and from clinic appointments much more accessible, reliable, and comfortable. We love seeing our member clinics collaborate with local community partners to eliminate barriers to care!

09/09/2026

Fredericksburg Christian Health Center has expanded its mental health services by partnering with the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative to offer free virtual therapy to uninsured and underinsured patients in the city of Fredericksburg and Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George counties. Confronted by rising demand and limited local staff, the clinic is now able to connect patients to virtual appointments or provide on-site teletherapy access for those without home internet. Marcela Gallo-Churchill, Director of Outreach and Development, shared, “This way, we can make sure people who otherwise couldn’t afford it are able to get the care they need.”

A new partnership with Virginia Telemental Health Initiative aims to boost clinic's reach, services.

09/08/2026

The Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics continues its partnership with the Virginia Community Healthcare Association to deliver an innovative program designed to support current and future leaders in Virginia's healthcare safety net. The Community Health Center University (CHCU), a year-long program delivered through the University of Richmond, offers participants a range of essential leadership skills from evaluation and compliance to strategy and growth as well as one-to-one leadership coaching.

"CHCU has been one of the most rewarding professional development experiences I've had. The coaching sessions helped me gain a clearer understanding of my leadership vision and provided practical strategies to help me achieve my goals."

https://www.vafreeclinics.org/blog_home.asp?Display=134

09/05/2026

Our friends at Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority are offering a Labor Day Sale. Get the training you need to become a CHW, CHW Supervisor, QMHP, BHT, or DSP for 50% off any of training. Sale ends September 7th at 11:59pm! Use coupon code: VHWDALABOR26

For more information, visit: https://buff.ly/uHGi0WI.

09/04/2026

Join us in welcoming the Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics' newest member, Radford University CARES Mobile Health Clinic (CARES MHC). This faculty-led, student-run initiative delivers high-quality, compassionate care directly to communities across both Roanoke and New River Valleys and Southwest Virginia. Through strong partnerships with local organizations, CARES MHC expands healthcare and mental health access to rural and underserved areas.

"We joined to connect with a network of organizations dedicated to improving healthcare access and health outcomes for rural and underserved communities. We are committed to expanding access to care through innovative community partnerships and mobile healthcare delivery. Our membership will provide opportunities for us to learn from fellow clinics, access valuable resources, engage in advocacy efforts, and identify best practices that strengthen our ability to serve rural populations," shares Amanda Hudgins, Clinic Director.

https://www.vafreeclinics.org/blog_home.asp?Display=135

09/03/2026

Of an estimated 100,000 people whom state health leaders predicted were vulnerable to losing their Affordable Care Act insurance in Virginia, 94,000 have dropped it so far this year, according to new numbers from the State Health Benefit Exchange. The reduction is attributed in part to the expiration of subsidies that had helped expand the ACA marketplace to people whose incomes are further below the federal poverty level.

https://buff.ly/x22iW40

The reduction is attributed in part to the expiration of subsidies that had helped expand the ACA marketplace to people whose incomes are further below the federal poverty level. Debate over the issue triggered a government shutdown last year and Congress ultimately elected to let the subsidies laps...

09/02/2026

Virginia was well represented at the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) Symposium in Washington, DC! The Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics was pleased to have so many of our member clinics and partners in attendance including the Arlington Free Clinic, Charlottesville Free Clinic, CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, Culmore Clinic, Free Clinic of Culpeper, Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic, NOVA ScriptsCentral, Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic, Northern Neck - Middlesex Free Health Clinic, ODU Community Care, Rx Partnership, Sinclair Health Clinic, Virginia Telemental Health Initiative, and Western Tidewater Free Clinic.

From August 23-25, clinic leaders, volunteers, providers, pharmacy teams, partners, and advocates from across the country come together for learning, connection, and in celebration of NAFC's 25 years of strengthening the charitable healthcare community.

09/01/2026

Last month, U.S. Senator Mark Warner visited the Bland Ministry Center Dental Clinic to tour the facility and hear how federal cuts to the ACA and Medicaid will impact the number of uninsured seeking care at the state's free and charitable clinics. During his visit, clinic leadership also shared plans for an expansion to serve those in need. Once completed, Brushy Mountain Dentistry will feature seven operatories that will help to cut down on the current six-to-twelve-month waitlist.