NYC Health + Hospitals receives $5 million to recruit and retain behavioral health staff
The donation from Black Family Philanthropies is one of the largest the health system has ever received.
$4 million of the donation will be used to support the BH4NYC loan repayment program, which provides a three-year commitment to the health system in exchange for debt relief for medical personnel, nurses, social workers and other staff.
More than 120 behavioral health providers at NYC Health + Hospitals will receive up to $75,000 in student loan forgiveness
July 29, 2024
NYC Health + Hospitals today announced it has received $5 million to support the behavioral health workforce through a donation from Black Family Philanthropies, one of the largest donations the health system has ever received. $4 million of the funding will directly support student loan relief for behavioral health staff in exchange for a three-year commitment to NYC Health + Hospitals as part of the Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program (BH4NYC). An additional $1 million in funding will be used to retain staff through career advancement and workplace safety initiatives, representing a critical capacity-building strategy to complement recruitment efforts. The program is designed to attract and retain clinicians who care for New Yorkers in need of mental health or substance use treatment at a time when the United States faces a national shortage of mental health professionals. The loan repayment program will be launched in 2022 with a first-time $1 million donation from Three Cairns Group and was first announced by Mayor Adams. Additional donors include the Lewis and Rachel Rudin Foundation. Some of our previous donors share their experiences receiving student loan forgiveness in the video you can watch here: New Yorkers can support this effort by donating to NYC Health + Hospitals.
“Black Family Philanthropies is proud to partner with NYC Health + Hospitals to support the professionals whose compassion and care are essential to addressing our city’s behavioral health crisis.” Kelvin Chan, PHD, MTS, MPH, Executive Director, Black Family Philanthropies“This donation represents Black Families’ belief that financial support for those who provide behavioral health treatment and care is essential. They hope that by freeing these individuals from the burden of student loan debt, they will be able to continue their commitment to caring for community members and serving the city. We hope this donation will inspire others to take action and join us in supporting NYC Health + Hospitals and its important mission of caring for the people of New York.”
“This investment in our behavioral health services and staff will benefit not only the more than 120 people who receive student loan forgiveness, but also the thousands of patients they care for.” Mitchell Katz, M.D., President and CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals“NYC Health + Hospitals is incredibly grateful to Black Family Philanthropies for this groundbreaking donation.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals is pleased to expand this important program for two more years and to include more behavioral health areas.” Omar Fattal, MD, MPH, Co-Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Behavioral Health System Director, NYC Health + Hospitals“This program gives us a unique opportunity to recruit and retain critical staff so we can provide the highest quality care to New Yorkers. We are grateful for Black Family Philanthropy’s generosity and commitment to our services, our city, and New Yorkers affected by mental illness.”
Over the next two years, more than 120 behavioral health workers at NYC Health + Hospitals will receive up to $75,000 in student loan debt relief depending on their field. For the first time, nurses, licensed creative arts therapists, and correctional health services staff working in behavioral health settings are eligible for funding. Other eligible fields include psychiatrists, psychiatric physician assistants, psychiatric nurse practitioners, licensed clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers. On average, early career psychiatrists have $190,000 in student loan debt, psychologists $80,000, social workers $68,000, and psychiatric nurse practitioners $56,000. In 2023, the first wave of the Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program provided $1 million in debt relief to 28 providers, including new and existing employees serving 25,000 patients annually.
The remaining $1 million will support staff retention through career progression and workplace safety initiatives and key capacity development strategies to complement recruitment efforts, including an early career fellowship for psychiatric nurses, a new initiative launched in partnership with the Community Health Network, new online training on preventing and managing violent behavior using medications, brief treatment interventions and behavior management plans developed in partnership with the New York State Psychiatric Institute’s Center for Practice Innovation, and multiple multi-channel recruiting campaigns focused on high-demand areas.
“Today marks a transformative step forward in our mission to strengthen behavioral health care across New York City.” Deborah Brown, JD, MSW, Chief External Relations Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals“We are deeply grateful to Black Family Philanthropies. This $5 million gift will not only allow us to ease the student loan burden, but also invest in the professional growth and safety of our dedicated behavioral health workers. Donors like these enable us to build a stronger foundation to serve our communities and meet the city’s urgent mental health needs. They set an example of leadership for all New Yorkers, and we are grateful for their support of our mission.”
“Loan repayment is a great way to motivate behavioral health professionals to contribute to the health care system.” NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem Chief Executive Officer Georges H. Leconte, MPA, FAB. “With the rising costs of student loans, this is a surefire way to get the best and brightest minds committed to alleviating our city’s behavioral health crisis through patient care. We thank them for their generous donation to such an important cause and for understanding the important role NYC Health + Hospitals plays as New York City’s largest provider of mental health and substance use services.”
“Being selected for the Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program changed my life,” she said. Marie Lewiska, RN, is a psychiatric emergency department nurse at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem and a recipient of student loan forgiveness through the BH4NYC program.“I am a mother of two children, ages 5 and 1, and everything is becoming more and more expensive. With this award, I no longer have to save money to pay off my student loans. I am also looking to buy a house. It means a lot to me. I hope that one day I can donate and help someone else.”
NYC Health + Hospitals recognizes the burden that student loan debt places on its employees and is committed to implementing programs to help ease that burden. Relieving student loan debt in exchange for three years of services is one way NYC Health + Hospitals is bridging the gap between the number of behavioral health clinicians and the number of New Yorkers who need behavioral health care.
As part of the largest municipal health care system in the country, NYC Health + Hospitals provides approximately 60 percent of behavioral health services for children and adults in New York City. NYC Health + Hospitals’ public hospitals and community health centers offer a wide range of exceptional mental health services to promote recovery from all types of mental illness. Additionally, NYC Health + Hospitals offers the highest quality alcohol and drug use recovery programs as part of its behavioral and mental health services, along with effective, individualized, compassionate treatment plans for each patient.
New Yorkers needing mental health or substance use support can schedule an appointment with NYC Health + Hospitals by calling 844-NYC-4NYC, visiting expresscare.nyc or calling 631-EXP-Care (631-397-2273) to contact Virtual ExpressCare, NYC Health + Hospitals’ 24/7 telehealth service.
If you would like to donate to NYC Health + Hospitals, please visit this link on our website.
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contact address
NYC Health + Hospitals: Press Office
Black Family Philanthropy: Whit Clay, 917-601-6012
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the nation’s largest municipal health system, serving more than one million New Yorkers annually at more than 70 patient care locations across the five boroughs of New York City. A robust network of outpatient, community-based primary and specialty care centers underpins care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agencies and MetroPlus Health Plan, all supported by 11 vital hospitals. Our diverse workforce of more than 43,000 is singularly focused on helping every New Yorker, without exception, live the healthiest life possible. Learn more at www.nychealthandhospitals.org. Connect with us on Facebook. twitterInstagram, LinkedIn, etc.
