New York State has announced a $4 million expansion of the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program to support licensed professionals serving children and adolescents. Administered by the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) in partnership with the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), the expansion aims to provide at least 400 awards of up to $30,000 to assist mental health professionals with repaying education loans and student debt, as long as they commit to working a minimum of three years at eligible mental health programs.
The Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program already offers substantial support for mental health professionals, including up to $120,000 for psychiatrists and up to $30,000 for other mental health professionals, provided they stay employed by licensed community mental health programs for at least three years. Eligible professionals include master and clinical social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, creative arts therapists, psychoanalysts, and psychologists.
This expansion specifically targets the child and youth behavioral health workforce, addressing the ongoing youth mental health crisis. The initiative is part of a broader effort to increase access to mental health services for children and adolescents, which is a critical area of need due to the national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. By focusing on professionals working at community programs licensed, designated, or funded by OMH or OCFS, the state aims to improve the availability of mental health care for young people.
Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the importance of attracting and retaining top-tier mental health professionals, particularly in areas serving youth. “By expanding the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment program to programs and facilities serving youth, we can help our state retain existing staff and recruit new professionals and avoid experiencing the shortages seen in many other areas of our nation,” she said.
Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, echoed the Governor’s statement, stressing the critical need to grow the youth mental health workforce. “Growing our youth mental health workforce is critical in expanding access to mental health services for our young New Yorkers,” she said. “This expansion will help us build a mental healthcare workforce that is truly responsive to our needs today and long into the future.”
This initiative is expected to provide much-needed support for mental health professionals while improving access to essential mental health services for children and adolescents across the state.
