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State Mental Health Loan Assumption Program Now Accepting Applications
As an objective of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the California Department of Mental Health (DMH) has partnered with the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development/ Health Professions Education Foundation (Foundation) to develop and implement a statewide loan repayment program, which aims to strengthen California’s Public Mental Health System (PMHS). The Mental Health Loan Assumption Program (MHLAP) provides up to $2.5 million annually to individuals employed in California’s hard to fill or retain mental health professions. Eligible Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers, Psychiatrists, or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners may receive up to $10,000 in exchange for a one-year service commitment in the Public Mental Health System.
Alameda County Allocation and Applicants
During the Winter 2010 application cycle, Alameda County has $84,900 available to award for the MHLAP, which will allow a minimum of 9 awards locally. ACBHCS county and contracted mental health, community-based organization (CBO) staff can apply if they meet the state eligibility requirements.
Application Process
MHLAP PowerPoint describes the application process in detail
MHLAP Program Flyer identifies eligible applicants
The MHLAP Application must be completed by all interested applicants and is also available on the Foundation’s website:
http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/HPEF/MHLAP.html
Application Deadline
The MHLAP has an upcoming postmark deadline of January 24, 2010. Please note that the Alameda County Mental Health Director must confirm each applicant’s employment in a hard to fill or retain position in the Public Mental Health System. In order to allow sufficient time for Counties to verify this information, all County Employment or Volunteer Verification Forms must be postmarked to the Alameda County Mental Health Director by December 10, 2009.
Dr. Marye Thomas has asked Toni Tullys, the ACBHCS Workforce Development Manager, to serve as her proxy and to receive the completed verification forms on her behalf. Forms must be postmarked by December 10, 2009 and should be sent to:
Toni Tullys, Workforce Development Manager
ACBHCS
2000 Embarcadero Cove, Suite 201
Oakland, CA 94606
State MHLAP Technical Assistance Conference Calls
The Health Professions Education Foundation (HPEF) will be hosting statewide technical assistance conference calls regarding the winter cycle of the Mental Health Loan Assumption Program. Following are the dates and times of the four calls which are targeted to applicants:
- 11/30 from 12 to 1 p.m.
- 11/30 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
- 12/3 from 12 to 1 p.m.
- 12/3 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The call-in number will be (877) 213-1782. Interested applicants should RSVP to Judy Melson at JMelson@oshpd.state.ca.us in order to obtain their participation code. The HPEF needs to keep track of how many people will be on each call, so early reservations are advised. FAQs and a power point presentation will be sent out to people on the call.
Questions?
Please feel free to contact Judy Melson at JMelson@oshpd.state.ca.us or (916) 326-3648. Or please contact Toni Tullys, Workforce Development Manager for Alameda County, at ttullys@acbhcs.org or (510) 639 -1209.
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