South Carolina Rural Behavioral Health Professional Incentive Program

retention@scahec.net

The South Carolina Rural Behavioral Health Professional Incentive Program provides financial incentives to behavioral and mental health professionals who contract to practice in non-urbanized areas of South Carolina.

Program fact sheet

Eligibility requirements:

• Have completed an accredited graduate training program and hold a valid and active license or work for the South Carolina Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Office of Mental Health as a Mental Health Professional (MHP)
• Work in an eligible profession/role:
  • Clinical nurse specialist in psychiatry/mental health (APRN, CNS)
  • Nurse practitioner in psychiatry/mental health (APRN, NP)
  • Physician assistant in psychiatry/mental health (PA, PA-C)
  • Psychiatrist (MD/DO)
  • Psychologist (PhD, PsyD)
  • Social worker (LMSW, LISW)
  • Licensed professional counselor (LPC)
  • Marriage and family therapist (LMFT)
  • Licensed addiction counselor
  • Mental Health Professional (MHP) employed at the South Carolina Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Office of Mental Health
• Provide behavioral/mental healthcare in an outpatient setting in a non-urbanized area
• Work 36 hours/week to qualify for full-time incentives, 20 hours/week for part-time incentives
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Not have an outstanding contractual service obligation to the federal government, the state government, or any other entity
• Not previously received funding from the Rural Provider Incentive Program

Priority for the program will be given to those practicing in areas of greatest need (most medically underserved).

Incentive amounts:

• $15,000 per year for up to 4 years ($60,000 total) for qualified behavioral health professionals practicing full-time in non-urbanized areas of South Carolina
• $7,500 per year for up to 4 years ($30,000 total) for qualified behavioral health professionals practicing part-time in non-urbanized areas of South Carolina

Application information will be posted on the program website when applications are being accepted.

Program handbook