Our Funding

The Southern Rural Access Program is a long-term investment by RWJF to increase access to healthcare to medically underserved rural residents in eight southern states. The eight participant states include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, (East) Texas and West Virginia. Between 1998 and 2001 about $13.6 million in grants were awarded to agencies in each of the eight states to support other program components designed to improve the state’s primary care and rural health infrastructure. In January 2002, the RWJF Board of Directors reauthorized the program for a four-year period beginning April 1, 2002. The reauthorization makes available $18.9 million in funds for participating states over the course of the next four years. Overall direction and technical assistance support for the program is provided by the Rural Health Policy Center of the Penn State College of Medicine.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Southern Rural Access Program is funded by the Princeton, NJ- based Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The Foundation is the largest philanthropy in the nation devoted exclusively to health and healthcare. It concentrates its grantmaking in four goal areas:

To assure that all Americans have access to basic health care at reasonable cost.
To improve care and support for people with chronic health conditions.
To promote healthy communities and lifestyles.
To reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse -- tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs.

More information on The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation can be obtained by visiting its website at www.rwjf.org.

Other Funding Partners

Alabama: ADECA, Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Alabama Blue Cross/Blue Shield Caring Foundation, Alabama Power Foundation, Alabama State AHEC, Auburn University, Avon Breast Care Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Escambia County Health Department, Hope Unity Fund, Judson College, Perry County Commission, Tuskegee Area Health Education Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

Arkansas: Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, Arkansas Department of Economic Development, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Development Finance Authority, Arkansas Medical Society, Arkansas State Legislature, Dolores and Thomas Bruce Foundation, Catherine's Legacy, Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, Kellogg Foundation, Mississippi Delta Rural Development Network, Sisters of Mercy Health System, Inc., Southern Financial Partners, Snyder Foundation, University of Arkansas College of Medicine, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences and School of Nursing and Winthrop Rockefeller Trust.

Georgia: Albany State University, Development Corporation of Middle Georgia, East Georgia Health Cooperative, Georgia Department of Community Health's Georgia Division of Medical Assistance, Georgia State Legislature, Medical College of Georgia, Mercer University School of Medicine and Robert W. Woodruff Foundation.

Louisiana: Abbeville General Hospital, Americorp, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana Public Financing Authority, Louisiana State Legislature, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Pfizer Foundation, Rapides Foundation, United Way of Arcadia and Vermillion Parish Police Jury.

Mississippi: Am South Bank, Bank Plus, Bower Foundation, Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi, Housing Authority of the City of Tupelo, Kellogg Foundation, Lee County Supervisors, Mississippi Department of Health, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Hospital Association, Mississippi Hospital Equipment and Facility Authority, Mississippi State Legislature, Mississippi Primary Health Care Association, Phil Hardin Foundation, State Board of Community and Junior Colleges, Trustmark, Tupelo Women's Club and United Way of Northeast Mississippi.

South Carolina: Beaufort County, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina, Duke Foundation, Liberty Corporation, Low Country Health Care Network, Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust, South Carolina AHEC System, South Carolina Office of Rural Health, South Carolina Medical Association, South Carolina State Legislature, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Specialty Clinics and Wachovia Bank.

Texas: Kennedy Memorial Foundation, Meadows Foundation, Northeast Texas Economic Development District, State Office of Rural and Community Affairs, Texas Department of Health, Texas Institute for Health Policy Research, Texas Primary Health Care Office, Trinity Mother Frances Health System and University of Texas Health Center.

West Virginia: Appalachian Regional Commission, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Marshall University School of Medicine, Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, West Virginia Small Business Development Center, West Virginia State Legislature and West Virginia University College of Medicine. Federal Government: Bureau of Primary Health Care, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Human Resources Office of Rural Health and Small Business Administration