Mental Health Update

As we continue to strategize about workforce funding and other innovative ideas, we often speak about Loan Repayment Programs. We support OMH in responding to workforce issues by providing loan repayment to LMSWs, LCSWs,  LMHCs, LMFTs, LCATs and CMHLRP.  We will continue to advocate for additional  opportunities like this one for Community Mental Health Programs as well as supporting the workforce of paraprofessionals in our field.

The New York State Office of Mental Health has issued a Request for Application (RFA) for a minimum of five-hundred (500) OMH Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program (OMH CMHLRP) awards with the purpose of recruitment and retention of licensed master social workers (LMSWs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), licensed creative arts therapists (LCATs), licensed psychoanalysts, and licensed psychologists. Of the total $5M available, $1M has been set aside specifically for each (1) diversity, equity, and inclusion and (2) priority mental health assignments. These funds will support a minimum of 500 awards for additional titles working in eligible mental health programs as follows:

• For licensed master social workers (LMSWs), the OMH CMHLRP provides up to $30,000 in loan repayment over a three-year period.
• For licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), the OMH CMHLRP provides up to $30,000 in loan repayment over a three-year period.
• For licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs), the OMH CMHLRP provides up to $30,000 in loan repayment over a three-year period.
• For licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), the OMH CMHLRP provides up to $30,000 in loan repayment over a three-year period.
• For licensed creative arts therapists (LCATs), the OMH CMHLRP provides up to $30,000 in loan repayment over a three-year period.
• For licensed psychoanalysts, the OMH CMHLRP provides up to $30,000 in loan repayment over a three-year period.
• For licensed psychologists, the OMH CMHLRP provides up to $30,000 in loan repayment over a three-year period.

This funding is separate from the $9 million annually set aside starting FY 2022-23 for the recruitment and retention of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and psychiatric physician assistants in mental health settings, which can be applied for in OMH CMHLRP Round 2.

Providers of licensed community mental health programs in one of the two below specified program categories may apply on behalf of eligible staff.

• Inpatient/CPEP: Licensed providers of Article 28 hospital inpatient psychiatric units, Article 31 freestanding inpatient hospital programs, Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs (CPEPs), and Residential Treatment Facility – Children & Youth.

• Outpatient/Crisis Residence: Licensed providers of Article 31 outpatient programs including Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams, Continuing Day Treatment (CDT), Children’s Day Treatment, Children’s Mental Health Rehabilitation Services (CMHRS), Partial Hospitalization (PH), Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS), Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services (MHOTRS), and Crisis Stabilization Centers (Intensive & Supportive) or licensed providers of crisis residence programs including Children’s Crisis Residence, Intensive Crisis Residence, and Residential Crisis Support.

OMH has assigned an Issuing Officer for this project. The Issuing Officer or a designee shall be the sole point of contact regarding the RFA from the date of issuance of the RFA until the issuance of the Notice of Conditional Award. To avoid being deemed non-responsive, an applicant is restricted from making contact with any other personnel of OMH regarding the RFA. Certain findings of non-responsibility can result in rejection for a contract award.