STATEN ISLAND, NY — New York City is launching a new student loan forgiveness program for behavioral health providers, thanks to an anonymous $1 million donation.
Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals announced Sunday that the new debt relief program, called the Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program (BH4NYC), will help attract and retain physicians, nurse practitioners and other physicians who serve to New Yorkers with mental health needs or substance use disorders.
“Behavioral health professionals in our public health system work tirelessly to support the most vulnerable New Yorkers living with mental illness and alcohol and substance use disorders,” said Adams. “Too often, these healthcare workers graduate with crippling debt and have no choice but to work in the private sector to pay their bills. Especially at a time when the nation is facing a shortage of these life-saving professionals while also facing an increased need for these professionals due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this loan forgiveness program will help us attract and retain top talent to continue serving New Yorkers. through the city.”
NYC Health + Hospitals will offer licensed psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists and clinical social workers between $30,000 and $50,000 in debt relief in exchange for a three-year commitment to serve the public health system.
It will be available to eligible employees and new hires for the next year or until the $1 million donation has been distributed.
Applications open on Monday a www.nychealthandhospitals.org/BH4NYC/.
Applications will be accepted in two rounds: from July 25 to November 25. January 25, 2022 and January 1 to May 1, 2023, for current employees, and reviewed the second and last Friday of each month for new applicants. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Eligible applicants must commit to working a minimum of three years full-time at NYC Health + Hospitals. Physicians will be eligible for a maximum of $50,000 in loan forgiveness and non-physician physicians will be eligible for a maximum of $30,000 in loan forgiveness.
The program ends when the city reaches $1 million in total loans forgiven and is limited to one year.
“As we continue to see an increasing number of New Yorkers struggling with mental health and substance use disorder, the essential services of our behavioral health team are more necessary than ever,” said President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, Dr. Mitchell Katz. “This donation will allow us to recruit and retain extraordinary physicians to help address the current mental health crisis.”
Here’s who qualifies for the debt relief program:
- Graduated from a relevant degree program, including those from outside the United States. (Programs accredited by the Commission of their discipline)
- They are licensed and/or board certified within five years of completing training. The board certification requirement may be waived in some cases.
- They are in good standing with the licensing body for their clinical discipline.
- They are committed to working full-time for NYC Health + Hospitals for at least three years.
- You are a physician with a minimum of $50,000 in school loan debt.
- You are a non-physician practicing physician and have a minimum of $30,000 in school loan debt.
- They do not participate in or receive loan forgiveness from another source.
- I have never received loan forgiveness or repayment through NYC Health + Hospitals employment.
- You are a US citizen or permanent resident alien who possesses an I-155 or I-551 card.
According to the city, the city’s network of public hospitals provides about half of all behavioral health services for children and adults in New York City.
As part of the nation’s largest municipal health care system, NYC Health + Hospitals public hospitals and neighborhood health centers offer a wide variety of excellent mental health services to promote recovery from mental illness of all kinds, according to New York City. In addition, NYC Health + Hospitals offers high-quality alcohol and substance use recovery programs as part of its behavioral and mental health services, with personalized and caring treatment plans that are effective for each patient.
There are currently no public NYC Health + Hospital hospitals on Staten Island. There’s a health center in Stapleton, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbiltlocated at 165 Vanderbilt Ave., and a long-term care facility at NYC Health + Hospitals/Ocean Viewlocated at 460 Brielle Ave.
New Yorkers in need of mental health or substance use support can call 844-NYC-4NYC to make an appointment at NYC Health + Hospitals or contact new york good online.