offering counseling services in partnership with the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. “This innovative program addresses a critical need across the Commonwealth, particularly for Virginians whose income levels put vital mental health services out of reach,” said Nelson Smith, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (DBHDS), a key supporter of the initiative. “VTMHI reflects our underlying commitment toward ensuring the most vulnerable and overlooked populations in Virginia have access to the highest quality care, including in the critical realm of mental health services." 

VTHMI provides services virtually through a telehealth arrangement to enrolled patients at participating free and charitable clinics. Since launching in January of 2023, the program now works with the following clinics: 

• 10-7 Farms (Bowling Green)
• ADAMS Compassionate Healthcare Network (Chantilly)
• Arlington Free Clinic
• Augusta Regional Dental Clinic (Fishersville)
• Blue Ridge Free Clinic (Harrisonburg)
• Bradley Free Clinic (Roanoke) 
• Brock Hughes Medical Center (Wytheville) 
• Charlottesville Free Clinic 
• Chesapeake Care Clinic
• CrossOver Healthcare Ministry (Richmond)
• Culmore Clinic (Falls Church)
• Fauquier Free Clinic (Warrenton)
• Free Clinic of Central Virginia (Lynchburg)
• Free Clinic of Culpeper
• Free Clinic of Franklin County (Rocky Mount)
• Free Clinic of Powhatan  
• GoochlandCares
• Greene Care Clinic (Stanardsville)
• Guadalupe Free Clinic (Colonial Beach)
• Health Brigade (Richmond) 
• Health Wagon (Wise)
• Ledwith-Lewis Free Clinic (Tappahannock)
• Mother of Mercy Medical Clinic (Woodbridge)
• Ohlen R. Wilson Health Center (Galax)
• Page Free Clinic (Luray)
• Shenandoah Community Health Clinic (Woodstock)
• Sinclair Heath Clinic (Winchester)

“Virginia's network of free and charitable clinics provides an important safety net of holistic health care services to many underserved populations across the Commonwealth who lack health insurance or who are underinsured,” said Rufus Phillips, CEO of VAFCC. “As a VTMHI partner, we are pleased to serve as the critical link between patients and providers in this important work to combat the rising need in behavioral health, helping our free and charitable clinics deliver the kind of mental health services that can change people's lives.”

The program not only benefits patients in need today, but also sets up a broader provider base that is lacking in Virginia. Providers are pre-licensed volunteers who have completed their graduate level courses and are in the process of completing their clinic licensure requirements. Through this process, these volunteers will be earning supervised clinical hours as well as free training. 

For more information about eligibility requirements and how Virginia residents can access mental health services through VTMHI, visit https://virginiatelementalhealth.org/accesscare/.

For more information about VTMHI, visit https://virginiatelementalhealth.org/.