The Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program reopened for SFY24 on August 1, 2023. The program provides partial loan repayment assistance to mental health and SUD treatment professionals working in underserved areas to address our critical shortage in community-based behavioral healthcare staff. At this time, professionals must work at a “Community Mental Health Center” to be eligible. NOTE: We expanded eligibility to other BX health professionals in this year’s SB57, but the expansion is not effective until July 2024.
The Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment assistance to qualified mental health and substance use professionals. The program was designed as incentive for recruitment and retention of those who practice in underserved or rural areas. It seeks to help address the shortage of Illinois community-based behavioral workers that causes disparities in access to critical mental health and substance use services. The amount of the annual award to qualified applicants to repay their student loan debt is based on their position and may be received for up to four years.
For more details on eligibility and how to apply, click the links below. Among those eligible include LCSWs and CADCs.