By: Follow South Jersey Staff
SOUTH JERSEY — The Department of Human Services (DHS), Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) recently announced a new student loan redemption program to benefit health care, behavioral health, and social services professionals serving those with medical needs, behavioral and/or mental health conditions, and disabilities, according to the NJ Department of Children and Families.
The new Home and Community-Based Services Provider Loan Redemption Program will allow eligible workers to receive up to $50,000 in loan relief in exchange for one year of service at an approved home- and community-based services provider agency or as a self-directed employee the DCF stated.
“Uplifting our healthcare workers is mission-critical to delivering on the needs of New Jersey residents,” Governor Phil Murphy stated in a press release from the DCF. “This student loan redemption program further bolsters our home and community-based services workforce, and it is key in supporting qualified service providers to bring their skills and expertise to communities across the state. In addition to alleviating the financial burdens of this workforce, this program also builds the capacity to deliver care in the community for more New Jerseyans.”
Eligible professionals include psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed clinical social workers, psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists, board certified behavior analysts, board certified behavior analysts-doctoral, licensed clinical or certified alcohol and drug counselors, licensed professional and associate counselors, licensed or associate marriage and family therapists, DCF care managers, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses. Self-directed employees are also eligible to apply.
To qualify, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be employed full-time in an eligible profession by a State-funded home- and community-based provider agency;
- Maintain a current license/board certification, as applicable, to practice in New Jersey throughout participation in the program;
- Maintain employment at the State-funded home- and community-based provider agency for at least one year, pursuant to the terms of a contract with HESAA;
- Not be in default on any eligible qualifying student loan; and
- Not currently be participating in any other student loan redemption program or in the federally-administered National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.
Program funding comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is part of a $100 million, FY24 strategic investment by DHS in home- and community-based services.
“As with all student loan redemption programs that HESAA administers, the goal of this new program is to encourage professionals to start and continue working in high-need fields,” HESAA Executive Director Margo Chaly, Esq. said in the press release. “By incentivizing eligible experts to serve in home and community-based settings, our state will ensure more residents can receive the mental health and social supports that they need.”
For more information on the program and to apply once the application opens, click here.
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