Improving Health Through Community Partnerships

Serving the community by improving health is Valley Health’s mission, but we can’t accomplish this all on our own. Across our region there are many organizations that are tackling key health and wellness issues.

“We increasingly understand that health and well-being is impacted by factors outside the traditional definition of health care,” said Jeff Feit, MD, Valley Health’s Chief Community Health Officer. “For Valley Health to make our community healthier, we must work with other organizations to deploy all available resources in a way that they create the strongest impact.”

Valley Health’s Community Partnership Grant program provides eight one-year grants totaling $200,000 to area non-profit organizations that address critical health needs. One organization receives the top grant award of $100,000, two receive $25,000 awards, and five receive $10,000.

This year, Morgan County Partnership (MCP) in Berkeley Springs, WV, is the recipient of Valley Health’s top grant award. MCP is a coalition of local citizens who have a vision of creating a safe, healthy, and drug-free community. MCP includes area nonprofits, government agencies, volunteer organizations, Morgan County Schools, churches, businesses, parents and youth.

Morgan County is designated a behavioral health provider shortage area by the federal government, and like many rural counties across the nation, it lacks resources to adequately address the behavioral health needs and substance use issues of the county’s youth. The need for additional behavioral health services in the area was confirmed by Valley Health’s 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment.

Through the grant program, MCP will fund four part-time school-based counselors who will work with students in Morgan County Schools to promote healthy decision-making strategies and to identify and strengthen factors that contribute to well-being and reduce substance use.

“Morgan County Partnership is based on the idea that by working together we can make a difference in our own communities,” said Executive Director Kristen Gingery. “We believe this new initiative in our public schools will positively impact our young people. We’re excited that Valley Health sees the value in partnership and the importance of investing in Morgan County’s students.”

Community Partnership Grant Recipients

$100,000

• Morgan County Partnership

$25,000

• Page Alliance for Community Action
• Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter

$10,000

• Child Safe Center
• Concern Hotline
• Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area
• Wheels for Wellness
• Winchester Rescue Mission

Visit valleyhealthlink.com/community to learn more.