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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515, jvanness@communityplans.net

ACAP Recognizes Shalom Farms With
Fifteenth Annual Supporting the Safety Net Award

WASHINGTON – Today, the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) presented its fifteenth annual Supporting the Safety Net Award to Shalom Farms. The organization was nominated for the award by Virginia Premier Health Plan.

Shalom Farms supports communities in need through food distribution and nutrition programs. Their mission is to ensure access to healthy food and the support to live healthy lives. Virginia Premier counts Shalom Farms as an important partner in efforts to address the social determinants of health in the community. Last year, the organization provided Virginia communities with more than 527,000 servings of fresh produce.  

“ACAP’s member Safety Net Health Plans rely on partnerships with community organizations that focus on the social determinants of health to provide well-rounded support for their members,” said ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray. “By addressing food insecurity at its roots—providing fresh, healthy food to Virginia’s food deserts—Shalom Farms directly impacts the health of Virginia Premier members. We’re thrilled to recognize its commitment to community health today.” 

The Supporting the Safety Net Award recognizes a community-based organization or individual that goes beyond expectations for care by implementing programs to meet the health needs of underserved populations. These role models exemplify best practices and represent an innovation in health care. 

In addition to providing over 100,000 lbs annually to hunger-relief organizations, Shalom Farms runs innovative programs including the Richmond Healthy Corner Store Initiative and Grown to Go Mobile Markets, which provide fresh produce to low-income communities with limited access to healthy food, and the Prescription Produce Plan, a service that helps families with chronic disease overcome barriers to healthy eating and living through hands-on cooking experiences. 

“We are very proud to be one of Shalom Farms’ partners and we are pleased with the success of our collaboration,” Virginia Premier Health Plan said in its nomination letter.  “Their mission closely aligns with Virginia Premier’s to inspire healthy living in the communities we serve with a focus on those in need. They have been a valuable ally as we work to address Social Determinants of Health for our members and the community.” 

For more information, visit www.communityplans.net. 

 

About ACAP:

ACAP represents 77 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 20 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.

 

About Shalom Farms:

Shalom Farms is a regional food access and community development project started in 2008 by United Methodist Urban Ministries of Richmond (UMUMR). The concept grew out of conversations with Camp Westview on the James and other community partners, who recognized the need for broader food justice work and a desire to use Westview’s rural resources to better serve urban Richmond.

 

About Virginia Premier:

Founded in 1995 as a Medicaid HMO, Virginia Premier is the first and only nonprofit managed care organization in the Commonwealth, now serving more than 280,000 members statewide. It offers Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance exchange plans. Virginia Premier is jointly owned by the integrated, not-for-profit health system Sentara Healthcare, based in Norfolk, Va., and VCU Health System based in Richmond, Va.

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