FYI.
APA Education Government Relations Office Information Alert
New Funding Available for Psychologists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) signed by the President on February 17, 2009, $500 million was set aside to address health professions workforce shortages across the nation. $300 million of the $500 million will be going to the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Of the monies allocated to NHSC, almost $200 million will be directed to loan repayment awards for new applications and renewals. $75 million will remain available specifically for loan repayment renewals in 2011. ARRA also allocated $24 million for new NHSC Scholarships and $20 million for state loan repayment programs to be allocated by states. NOTE: Psychologists are eligible for the loan repayment program but not the scholarship program.
This new money could potentially fund 4,000 new loan repayment awards, which would double the number of clinicians participating in the NHSC.
There is a very short time period to fill these spots, only 18 months, and so the NHSC plans to fill the positions as soon as possible. Applications will be available in April and will be evaluated on a rolling basis throughout the year. Because of the additional monies, the NHSC expects that institutions with very low Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores will now become eligible for NHSC scholars and loan repayors.
For further information on the NHSC Loan Repayment Program visit: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/members/loan_repayors/
Sheila Lane Forsyth
Lane Forsyth Associates
Advocacy & Grassroots Consulting
Phone: 703/855-6669
Fax: 202/336-6063
Email: slforsyth@cox.net
