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Men’s Mental Health: 7 Facts You Should Know (and What You Can Do to Help)
When we think about mental health, men often get left out of the conversation. Whether it’s due to stigma, societal expectations, or silent suffering, men are less likely to speak up—and more likely to experience the consequences in silence. This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re spotlighting some lesser-known facts about men’s mental health—and offering tips
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What Are Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and Why Do They Matter?
What Are Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)? When we think about health, many of us picture doctor visits, prescriptions, or hospital stays. But health is about much more than just “being sick” or accessing medical care. So what does SDOH actually mean?Social determinants of health are non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. More broadly, they
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Meeting People Where They Are
When someone’s power gets shut off, it’s easy to say, “Just call the utility company.”When a neighbor misses dialysis appointments, the system might not even notice.But Community Health Workers (CHWs) do. CHWs are connectors. They don’t sit behind desks waiting for people to show up — they meet people where they are. They listen. They help navigate
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The Power of Connection Through CHWs
Sometimes the smallest acts create the most lasting impact. That’s something Lucas, one of United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge’s Community Health Workers (CHWs), knows well. During a routine food box delivery, Lucas visited Ms. Jones, an older adult living alone in Franklin County. As he always does, he asked if there was anything else
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Who Will Be There When Crisis Strikes?
Lashara, one of our dedicated Community Health Workers (CHWs), received a referral about a mother and her 25-year-old son who had been walking for three months from Myrtle Beach, experiencing homelessness. While passing through Franklin County, tragedy struck—the son was hit by a vehicle and killed. Alone, grieving, and without support, the mother had nowhere to
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Financial Security in the Blue Ridge: A Path Forward
For many households in the Blue Ridge, financial insecurity is a daily reality. The 2024 VA ALICE Report reveals that over 43% of households in our region are working hard but still struggling to cover the basics. That means nearly half of our neighbors, coworkers, and friends are facing tough financial decisions every day—often forced
We have officially moved our administrative offices to 3800 Electric Road, Suite 406, Roanoke, VA 24018
