Connect

In 2025, UVA Health allocated more than $297,000 in grant funding to 38 local nonprofit organizations. These funds support our communities' most vulnerable populations. Grant awardees are partners who provide resources that address identified needs within the communities we serve. Now, Connect takes a closer look at how Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS), one of the 2025 awardees, is benefiting from the UVA Health grant it received:

Aligning to Care for Our Most Vulnerable Populations

Providing services that span from childhood education and workforce development, to housing and healthcare, to those facing poverty in Northern Virginia, NVFS was chosen as a $25,000 Community Strong grant recipient for their efforts in expanding access to care. They provide comprehensive, inclusive care for low-income families and focus on reducing healthcare costs through preventive services and education, and their work in enhancing healthcare access for underserved populations by addressing barriers like cost, language, and cultural differences complements our consideration of social determinants of health. 

Much like many of our patients, NVFS clients face barriers such as language differences, lack of transportation, limited access to inclusive services, and financial hardship, which often can prevent residents from seeking needed support. NVFS Vice President of Development Sara Kreitzer comments, “With support from partners like UVA Health, NVFS’ programs address these interconnected challenges through highly accessible and culturally-tailored services that strengthen families, support youth, and promote healthier, more resilient communities.” 

What started as a small group of people working to help their neighbors meet basic needs has grown for more than 100 years, now serving an average of 40,000 people each year. Their work is centered on helping people not only stabilize, but thrive, and their mission is to work alongside others to uplift lives and cultivate community cooperation. With an integrated approach and a reputation for quick and compassionate crisis care, NVFS combines research with trauma-informed care to provide personalized support and ensure that people do not have to navigate confusing systems on their own.

A History and a Future of Stability, Health, and Community

Ultimately, NVFS works to reduce barriers, offer holistic support that addresses the complex needs of those with low incomes, and align with collaborative partners to deliver equitable and informed care tailored to the unique needs of diverse populations, with a focus on language access and building trust in underserved communities. 

UVA Health’s Community Strong Grant is helping NVFS continue its comprehensive care services in Northern Virginia, including healthcare assistance, mental health care, and support for at-risk youth. Since receiving the grant, NVFS already has been able to help hundreds of at-risk clients navigate Medicaid and the Virginia Insurance Marketplace, access primary care while uninsured, pursue mental health support, and receive education and prevention expertise. 

Moving forward, they aim to continue providing such outreach, working to connect underserved community members with expanded health insurance options, case management, and culturally-informed counseling. More specifically, they plan to connect at least 950 individuals experiencing poverty to low-cost medication and supplies, medical care, or mental health services by June 30, 2026.

Through these efforts, the goals of NVFS’ goals strongly correspond with UVA Health’s dedication to fostering the overall health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities in Northern Virginia and Culpeper. Kreitzer adds, “Support from UVA Health’s Community Strong Grant will support NVFS’ health goals by strengthening access to care for underserved and unserved populations.”

Collaborating with organizations like NVFS is crucial to UVA Health’s focus on providing socially responsible healthcare and addressing the health needs of all those we serve. This grant and others like it highlight the importance and impact of expanding access to care and fostering community support, especially for vulnerable community members.