RADFORD – The Radford University School of Social Work in the Waldron College of Health and Human Services recently received more than $90,000 from Virginia Health Care Foundation’s (VHCF) Project Connect grant to revitalize its Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan (FAMIS) Outreach Project. The RU program is designed to identify and help enroll 1200 uninsured eligible children and pregnant women in state-sponsored health insurance programs such as Children’s Medicaid; Pregnancy Medicaid; FAMIS, Virginia’s program that helps families provide health insurance to their children; and FAMIS MOMS, a state program that provides health care coverage for pregnant women.

Effective April 1, the 18-month VHCF grant will fund a full-time outreach worker, a part-time coordinator and graduate assistants who will provide education, outreach, problem solving and enrollment assistance in the RU program. Since 1999, VHCF’s Project Connect grant has provided funding to outreach programs designed to increase enrollment of eligible children and pregnant women in state-sponsored health insurance programs. The project is made possible through funding from the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation and VHCF. Several area agencies, including the Free Clinic of New River Valley and the Virginia Employment Commission, have pledged support of the RU FAMIS Outreach Project, offering the use of office space, utilities, supplies and phones.

“This funding means the most for the New River Valley and surrounding communities,” said Rhonda Seltz, coordinator of the RU FAMIS Outreach Project. “The funding will allow families to gain access to health coverage that they otherwise would not be able to access. This translates into saved lives and better quality of life for many Southwest Virginia children. It will also translate into more prenatal care and healthier babies.”