Press Release: The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Grants $25,000 to the Missouri Rural Health Association to Support Rural Health Leadership and Mentorship Program

The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Missouri (“Molina”), has awarded a $25,000 grant to the Missouri Rural Health Association (“MRHA”) to launch the Causeway Lighthouse, a mentorship initiative connecting rural health leaders across the state. The program extends MRHA’s “Causeway,” a free, virtual community offering resources, case consultations, and legislative tracking.

Missouri’s rural communities face significant healthcare workforce challenges, with over 78% of the state’s Health Professional Shortage Areas in rural areas. A 2024 MRHA assessment of healthcare professionals found widespread professional isolation, limited access to reliable resources, and gaps in communication training, along with strong interest in a shared peer network. The Causeway Lighthouse responds directly to these findings, pairing rural health leaders through structured mentorship and peer support.

“Rural health leaders do their best work when they have peers to learn from and a structure to support their growth,” said Heidi Lucas, executive director, Missouri Rural Health Association. “Molina’s grant allows the rural health workforce a place inside the Causeway where established leaders mentor emerging ones through direct listening, hands-on onboarding, and ongoing peer support.”

The Causeway Lighthouse will operate as a centralized, virtual hub where rural health leaders connect for peer-to-peer mentorship and collaborative problem-solving. The MolinaCares grant funds recruitment and onboarding of emerging and established rural health leaders, one-on-one listening sessions, and mentor preparation.

“Consistent mentorship and peer support strengthens the healthcare workforce, thereby improving the continuum of care,” said Jay Ludlam, plan president, Molina Healthcare of Missouri. “By supporting MRHA’s Causeway Lighthouse, we are creating a practical forum for leaders where the sharing of knowledge and shared challenges results in healthier outcomes for Missouri’s rural communities.”

Interviews are underway to identify mentors for the Causeway Lighthouse community. The initiative is expected to launch in December 2026. The grant is part of Molina’s Advancing Health: Powered by Local Partnerships initiative, which invests in community-based organizations that remove barriers to care and improve health outcomes.