Kentucky Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative

KSLRP@uky.edu

The Kentucky Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative (KBHWI) is a loan repayment program to help alleviate the shortage of behavioral health professionals practicing in Kentucky. Selected applicants are required to commit to working full time for 2 years at an eligible site.

Eligible applicants include behavioral and mental health specialists including physicians, social workers, counselors, psychologists, therapists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychiatric nurse specialists, and alcohol and substance use disorder counselors.

• Be a U.S. citizen (either U.S. born or naturalized) or U.S. national and live in Kentucky
• Have been trained and licensed to provide direct patient care in one of the program's eligible disciplines and specialties
• Have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted professional license, certificate, or registration in Kentucky in the discipline in which they are applying to serve
• Be employed at an eligible practice site, or have accepted an offer of employment at an eligible site where service will begin no later than January 1, 2024
• Work in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (MHPSA)
• Practice full time, as defined by a minimum of 40 hours per week for a minimum of 45 weeks per year, providing primary care health services at an eligible site
• Participate or be eligible to participate as a provider in the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs, as appropriate

Participants must have a 1:1 match from a sponsor source. Sponsors can include the participant's employer at their practice site, private foundations, corporations, community organizations, philanthropies, and rurally-oriented organizations requesting that their funds be used to support the placement of practitioners in rural areas.

Total loan repayment awards can range from $20,000-$50,000 a year, based on provider type, level of loan indebtedness, and sponsor commitment level.

Links to additional guidance, application instructions, and the application are available on the program website.

Email completed applications in a single pdf file to KSLRP@uky.edu.