Posted: | February 10, 2022 11:02 AM |
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From: | Representative Anthony M. DeLuca |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Student Loan Forgiveness for Mental Health, Intellectual Disability, and Drug and Alcohol Treatment Professionals |
The need for appropriate and accessible community-based mental health, intellectual disability, and substance use disorder services has been a pressing issue for many years. Due to low wages and high turnover, there is a critical shortage of direct care professionals to provide these services. County agencies and private providers have difficulty attracting and retaining qualified employees. The results have impacted the ability of communities to provide adequate services. Many of these professionals cannot even begin to work in these fields unless they receive higher education. For many people, this means that they must take out student loans. Paying for a portion of student loans for mental health, intellectual disability, and drug and alcohol treatment professionals may help encourage new graduates to pursue careers in mental health, intellectual disabilities, and drug and alcohol addiction counseling. That is why I will be introducing legislation that will repay a portion of student loans for these professionals. Please join me in supporting these professionals by supporting this legislation. |
Introduced as HB2384