North Carolina Launches Student Loan Repayment Program To Strengthen Mental Health, Substance Use, I/DD & TBI Workforce

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced the launch of the Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program, a $20 million initiative to recruit and retain licensed professionals who provide mental health, substance use, intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) services in rural and underserved communities. The Loan Repayment Program incentivizes retention, ensuring skilled professionals remain in North Carolina’s public service sector and continue to serve communities where they are most needed.

The loan repayment program is designed for licensed, master’s-level professionals—including counselors, social workers, psychologists, and therapists—who . . .