WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) -The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has announced a program to help retain professionals in mental health, substance use, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) services.
The $20 million Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program will help build a community-based workforce to meet growing demand for support in the state.
“We have significant workforce shortages and access challenges in mental health,” said N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “This program is a strategic investment in the people who provide critical care and support to individuals and families across our state.”
The program is designed for licensed master’s-level professionals, including counselors, social workers, psychologists and therapists.
Highlights of the program include the following:
Up to $50,000 in student loan repaymentThree-year service commitment in a rural or underserved countyFocus on non-medical, licensed professionals, including:Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC)Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialists (LCAS)Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)Licensed psychologists and psychological associates
“Licensed professionals are a large and essential part of our mental health, substance use, and disability service systems,” said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services. “We cannot build a strong system of care without a strong workforce. This program is about investing in those professionals, supporting their careers, and ensuring that people across North Carolina have access to the care they need, close to home.”
According to NCDHHS, nearly four million state residents live in a mental health professional shortage area. NCDHHS also cited a survey from KFF and CNN in 2022 that found more than a third of young adults ages 18 to 29 and one in four adults ages 30 to 49 reported their mental health as “only fair or poor.”
NCDHSS cited another survey from the American Psychological Association, which found that most psychologists do not have the capacity to take on additional patients.
To apply for the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Hold a valid North Carolina license in good standingWork at least 32 hours per weekProvide services in mental health, substance use, IDD, or TBIBe employed at an approved agency serving at least 40% Medicaid, uninsured, or underinsured individualsServe in a designated rural or underserved area
To learn more and apply for the program, visit the NCDHHS website.
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