LAFAYETTE, Ind. , Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Valley Oaks Health announced today that it has been awarded $828,375 through the Growing Rural Opportunities for Well-being (GROW) Region 3 Grant initiative to strengthen access to integrated healthcare services across rural communities in northwest central Indiana.

The funding is part of the Indiana Rural Health Transformation Program (Indiana RHTP), a statewide initiative designed to improve healthcare access, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, promote innovation, and support strategic partnerships that improve the health and well-being of Hoosiers.

Valley Oaks Health serves individuals and families across ten Indiana counties through a comprehensive system of behavioral health, primary care, addiction treatment, crisis intervention, care coordination, and community-based support services. The GROW award will help advance efforts to improve access to care, strengthen regional partnerships, and enhance services in rural communities where healthcare workforce shortages and transportation barriers often limit access to timely treatment.

At the community level, this funding will primarily support expansion of Primary Care access points in Attica, IN and Monticello, IN in the first half of CY2027 with further expansion planned next year.

"This investment reflects a shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of rural Hoosiers," said Dan Arens, Chief Executive Officer of Valley Oaks Health. "Through collaboration with community partners and local stakeholders, we will continue expanding access to integrated healthcare services that address both physical and behavioral health needs close to home; encouraging local healthcare relationships."

Approximately one in five Hoosiers lives in a rural community, and the Indiana Rural Health Transformation Program supports community-driven solutions that address local healthcare priorities. The five-year initiative emphasizes innovation, workforce development, infrastructure improvements, and regional collaboration to improve health outcomes across Indiana.

Valley Oaks Health remains committed to its mission of improving the health and happiness of our community, one person at a time, by delivering accessible, high-quality care regardless of an individual's ability to pay.

About Valley Oaks Health

Valley Oaks Health is a nonprofit healthcare organization serving communities across northwest central Indiana. The organization provides integrated behavioral health, primary care, addiction treatment, crisis services, and community support programs designed to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families throughout the region.

www.valleyoaks.org

This Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $206,927,896.80 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/valley-oaks-health-awarded-828-375-grow-grant-to-expand-rural-health-access-across-northwest-central-indiana-302882566.html

SOURCE Valley Oaks Health