Social Workers needed to ensure the continuation of the Loan Forgiveness Program

NASW and its Alliance partner, 1199/SEIU, are now seeking additional funding from the New York State Legislature for 160 more social workers to participate in the New York State Social Work Loan Forgiveness Program. Your help is urgently needed in the effort to secure these funds from the State Assembly.

Student loan forgiveness, in exchange for service, has been identified as an effective strategy to recruit and retain trained social workers in critical human service areas. The addition of 160 social workers will increase the total number to 320 statewide who can receive assistance through this program.

The Alliance introduced and lobbied for the Social Work Loan Forgiveness Program, which was funded in its first year at $1 million for 160 New York State professional social workers. The Program was designed to encourage the recruitment and retention of professional social workers in the critical human services areas of health, mental health, substance abuse, aging, HIV/AIDS and child welfare, as well as in multi-lingual communities.

The initial $1 million is now available for 160 NYS social workers to receive up to $6,500 per year for up to four years to offset outstanding loan obligations incurred for graduate studies in social work.