California State Stipend Program

The California MFT Stipend Program is funded through the Mental Health Services Act and administered by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to address the statewide workforce need for mental health practitioners in underserved communities of California. The long-range objective of the MFT Stipend Program is to promote public mental health as a career option for those entering the MFT profession. Towards that end, the MFT Stipend Program promotes curriculum development in MFT graduate institutions that prepares MFT graduates for public mental health practice.

The Goals of the State’s MFT Educational Stipend Program:

  1. To recruit MFT students with the capacity to serve the culturally diverse needs of persons in mental health care especially in underserved communities
  2. To recruit MFT students who are in recovery of serious mental illness and have experienced public mental health care as clients or family members of clients
  3. To recruit MFT students who are trained in the delivery of recovery-oriented mental health services and have received instruction by those recovering from mental illness
  4. To recruit MFT students who are community-oriented with career plans to practice in public mental health as an MFT intern and licensed MFT professional
  5. To recruit MFT students who are committed to provide clinical services as a stipend recipient in a county designated by the state as County of Need

The long-range objective of the MFT degree educational stipend program is to promote public mental health as a career option for those entering the MFT profession. Towards that end, the stipend program promotes curriculum development in MFT graduate institutions that prepares MFT graduates for public mental health practice.

Click here for a map displaying the stipend recipients employed by county for the CA MFT Stipend Program from 2009 through 2017. These stipend recipients secured paid employment or volunteer placement at a mental health service agency operated by or affiliated with a county mental health or behavioral health department as a mental health clinician.
 

The Mental Health Services Act

The State’s stipend program is funded through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). Enacted in 2005, the mission of MHSA is to transform California’s public mental health delivery; in part, with mental health professionals dedicated to community service and to the care of those living with mental illness, by inspiring hope in their recovery, focusing on their personal strengths, respecting their cultural perspectives and learning from their lived experiences as consumers.

California State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)

The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) is now accepting applications for the California State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP).

The California State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) serves to increase the number of healthcare providers working in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Eligible applicants may be awarded a grant to help pay off their educational loan debt, in exchange for committing to a period of service in an eligible healthcare organization.

This year, OSHPD and the SLRP are putting a particular focus on mental healthcare providers and interested, eligible mental healthcare providers are encouraged to apply. 

To learn more about the program, go to the website: https://oshpd.ca.gov/loans-scholarships-grants/loan-repayment/slrp/

The 2020 SLRP Grant Guide contains additional information about eligibility and the application process and requirements: https://oshpd.ca.gov/ml/v1/resources/document?rs:path=/Loan-Repayments-Scholarships-Grants/Documents/SLRP/SLRP-2020-Grant-Guide.pdf

The SLRP application cycle opened on July 15, 2020 and closes on September 15, 2020.

If you have any questions, email SLRP@oshpd.ca.gov.

Licensed Mental Health Services Provider Education Program (LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM)

This state loan repayment program awards up to $15,000 to repay educational loans with a 24-month service commitment providing direct consumer services and can be awarded up to three (3) times.

 

LMHSPEP applicants must be currently licensed and practicing one of the following professions:

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Associate Clinical Social Worker

Registered or Licensed Psychologist

Postdoctoral Psychological Assistant

Postdoctoral Psychological Trainee

Registered or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Marriage and Family Therapist Intern

Registered or Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

Associate Professional Clinical Counselor

 

IN ADDITION, ALL APPLICANTS MUST:

Be providing direct patient care 32 hours or more per week

Be working in a qualified facility in California

Be in good standing with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and or the Board of Psychology

Have outstanding educational debt from a commercial or U.S. governmental lending institution

Be free from any other service obligation, including other Health Professions Education Foundation programs

Be willing to continue working in a medically underserved area for up to twenty four (24) months

 

Application Cycle Open Until October 13, 2020

To check your eligibility and learn more about the LMHSPEP, go to the website: https://oshpd.ca.gov/loans-scholarships-grants/loan-repayment/lmhspep/

© 2020, Los Angeles Education Center of Campbellsville University • 19900 Plummer St. Chatsworth, CA 91311