South Dakota Rural Healthcare Facility Recruitment Assistance Program

800.738.2301
605.773.2706

The Rural Healthcare Facility Recruitment Assistance Program offers a financial incentive to certain healthcare professionals who complete a 3 year service agreement at a rural facility in South Dakota. Facilities apply for matching funding to help with their recruitment efforts.

Eligible professions include:

• Dietitian or nutritionist
• Nurse (LPN or RN)
• Occupational therapist
• Respiratory therapist
• Medical/Laboratory technologist
• Pharmacist
• Physical therapist
• Paramedic
• Medical/Clinical laboratory scientist
• Radiology technologist
• Speech therapist
• Healthcare social worker
• Dental hygienist

The health professional must be a new employee at an eligible facility. New employee is defined as one who has been employed for no longer than 9 months prior to the date the SD Office of Rural Health receives the application. The eligible facility must be located in a community with a population of 10,000 or less.

Eligible facility types include:

• Licensed hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Federally certified home health agencies
• Chemical dependency treatment facilities
• Intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities
• Community mental health centers
• Community support providers
• End stage renal dialysis facilities
• Ambulance services
• Federally Qualified Health Centers
• Dental practice

A $10,000 payment is made to each participating health professional.

Facilities in communities with a population under 2,500 must contribute 25%, and those with a population over 2,500 must pay 50% of the award amount.

The community portion of the payment can be made to the health professional at any time. The state payment occurs only after completion of the 3-year service obligation.

Health professionals cannot submit applications. South Dakota eligible facilities must submit applications on behalf of health professionals.

A link to the application is available on the program website.

Completed applications may be submitted by:

Email:
DeAnn.Sprenger@state.sd.us

Mail:
Office of Rural Health
600 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501

Fax:
605.773.5683

Recipients are selected on a first-come, first-served basis through the last business day in December or until the annual quota has been met, whichever comes first.