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As the Largest Provider of Behavioral Health Services in NYC, Health + Hospitals Will Offer $30,000 to $50,000 in Loan Assistance to Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Nurses, and Practitioners nurses who have committed to serve for three years.
New Yorkers Can Help the Effort by Donating as the Program Expands
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the launch of a new student loan forgiveness program for behavioral health providers, which is matched by a $1 million donation from a non-profit it is not known. The new program is designed to help attract and retain doctors, nurses, and other clinicians who care for New Yorkers with mental health or substance use needs as the United States faces a national shortage of mental health professionals. NYC Health + Hospitals will offer psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists, and licensed social workers between $30,000 and $50,000 in loan payments in exchange for years of commitment three for service to the public health system.
NYC Health + Hospitals provides nearly half of all behavioral health services for children and adults in New York City. The loan forgiveness program will be available to eligible employees and new employees for the next year or until the $1 million contribution is distributed. Applications open tomorrow, Monday, July 25, 2022, and New Yorkers can support this effort by donating directly to NYC Health and Hospitals.
“Behavioral health workers in the public health system work tirelessly to support the poorest New Yorkers struggling with mental illness and alcohol and substance abuse,” the mayor said. Adams. “Many times, these health workers graduate with crippling debts, and have no choice but to engage in self-employment to pay their bills. The need for these professionals due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this program Loan forgiveness will help us attract and retain top talent to continue serving New Yorkers across the city. Businesses and individuals should get involved if they can to support this important cause.”
“As we continue to see a growing number of New Yorkers struggling with mental health and substance abuse, the critical services of our behavioral health team are needed more than ever,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “This donation will allow us to hire and retain the best mental health professionals.”
“This loan forgiveness program is a great way to invest in our mental health workforce,” said Dr. Charles Barron, assistant chief medical officer, Office of Mental Health, NYC Health + Hospitals. “With less debt to worry about, our mental health teams can focus on doing what they do best: providing quality mental health support to New Yorkers.”
“We are extremely grateful for our donor’s generous investment in this project,” said Deborah A. Brown, senior vice president for external and legal affairs, NYC Health + Hospitals, JD, MSW. “With this transformative donation, we hope to inspire more interest in philanthropy and create a pipeline of support for top behavioral health professionals in the years to come.”
“Early on in my education, I came across a quote that read, ‘Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.’ This has been true for me, as working as a clinical social worker with NYC Health + Hospitals has allowed me to fulfill my career goals and take great pride in doing so as a “public servant in my city,” said Adriana Rodriguez-Boseman. , clinical social worker, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Roberto Clemente Institute. “However, the cost of these professional goals comes with a high price. The future is always uncertain, but loan forgiveness will make these dreams come true.”
“The statewide shortage of health care workers is affecting facilities and providers across the country, at a time when concerns about the spread of COVID-19 have increased the need for services,” said New York State Health Commissioner Dr. . Ann. Sullivan. “The anonymous grant announced today by Mayor Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals President Mitch Katz will help NYC Health + Hospitals recruit and retain healthcare professionals, which is good news for New Yorkers. . Congratulations to Dr. Katz, and sincere thanks to our generous anonymous donor.”
“With nearly 300,000 New Yorkers suffering from serious mental illness, the city’s top priority must be investing in our behavioral health workforce to meet the needs of them,” he said. said Linda Lee, New York City Councilwoman, Chair of the Mental Health Committee. Disabilities, and Addictions. “No matter how much we invest in services, we cannot meet the demand without training dedicated mental health workers to do the work on the ground. As a social worker myself , I know firsthand the challenges of attracting and retaining mental health professionals, which is why I have been an advocate for this proposal for so long. While this is a positive step, I look forward to working with and the city council, the mayor, and the rest of the mental health community to expand these opportunities for non-Medical + Hospitals Mental health affects each of us, and I am grateful for the generosity of the donor who anonymously, and under the leadership of Mayor Adams, to hear the needs of community providers and the community they serve.”
“The student loan forgiveness program for behavioral health providers will certainly help retain health professionals here in New York City, where their skills and willingness to serve are greatly needed,” said the New York City Council member. Mercedes Narcisse. “I commend Mayor Adams for his efforts to reduce the crippling student debt that many of these workers face, which in many cases drives them out of their jobs at public hospitals. Let me also thank the New Yorker for not His name will not be disclosed based on this donation, which will make them stop working in our hospitals. allow our city to attract and retain licensed psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and clinical social workers on our hospital staff.”
“If we want to meet the growing need for mental health services, especially for underserved communities, we must address workforce development,” said Dan H. Gillison Jr., President, National Alliance on Mental Illness. “Giving loans can help relieve the financial burden of mental health professionals, who are already at risk for burnout, and provide more opportunities for people from historically underrepresented communities to entering the workforce. We applaud these efforts to increase the workforce and address the pressing mental health issues our communities face. If we want more mental health services, we must invest in people that gives them.”
“Mental Health America is pleased to announce this announcement by Mayor Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals of a student loan repayment program for mental health professionals,” said Schroeder Stribling, president and CEO, Mental Health America. “We know that our national mental health emergency is due in part to a lack of qualified professionals to meet the needs of people seeking help. This new student loan repayment program will provide incentives and a pathway for individuals people who want to join. It will also create a more diverse balance of people who enjoy the culture they have and are ready to respond to the call to all those who need it, regardless of their status of insurance or other access problems. and important plan.”
Nathaniel M. Fields, President, Urban Resource Center (URI) said “Urban Resource Center applauds NYC Health + Hospitals’ new loan repayment program that will be awarded to psychiatrists, nurses, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals,” said Nathaniel M. Fields, President, Urban Resource Center (URI). ). “As a leading provider of social services, URI is aware of the challenges facing the mental health sector, which have been exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19. They provide critical services to their New York City clients such as homeless families. and the survivors of domestic violence that URI serves. We look forward to continuing to work with the Adams administration to attract the most talented and ethically competent individuals.”
First-time psychiatrists have an average of $190,000 in medical school debt, nurses have an average of $56,000 in debt, social workers have an average of $68,000 in debt, and psychologists have an average of $80,000 in debt.
As part of the largest metropolitan health care system in the country, NYC Health + Community Hospitals and Community Health Centers provide a wide variety of health services to promote recovery from illness. intelligence of all kinds. In addition, NYC Health + Hospitals offers the best alcohol and substance abuse recovery programs as part of behavioral and mental health services, with personalized care plans that are effective for each the patient
New Yorkers who need support for mental health or substance use can call 844-NYC-4NYC for an appointment at NYC Health + Hospitals or contact NYC Well online.
