Special to IFN
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday 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.
This program is a key part of the state’s strategy to build a strong, community-based workforce that can meet the growing demand for care and support across North Carolina. NCDHHS has launched several initiatives in recent months to heighten awareness of human services careers and to support those already working in the field. Information on these programs can be found on a new web portal dedicated to workforce initiatives on the NCDHHS website.
“We have significant workforce shortages and access challenges in mental health,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “This program is a strategic investment in the people who provide critical care and support to individuals and families across our state.”
The loan repayment program is designed for licensed, master’s-level professionals—including counselors, social workers, psychologists, and therapists—who are essential to delivering services but often face financial barriers to working in high-need areas.
“Licensed professionals are a large and essential part of our mental health, substance use, and disability service systems,” said Kelly Crosbie, director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services. “We cannot build a strong system of care without a strong workforce. This program is about investing in those professionals, supporting their careers, and ensuring that people across North Carolina have access to the care they need, close to home.”
Nearly 4 million North Carolinians—about 2 in 5 people—live in a mental health professional shortage area, underscoring the urgent need to expand access to licensed providers statewide. A 2022 survey from KFF and CNN found more than one-third of young adults ages 18 to 29 described their mental health as “only fair/poor” while one in four adults ages 30 to 49 reported the same. Another survey from the American Psychological Association revealed that most psychologists do not have capacity to take on additional patients.
Highlights
Highlights of the program include:
♦ Up to $50,000 in student loan repayment
♦ Three-year service commitment in a rural or underserved county
♦ Focus on non-medical, licensed professionals, including:
♦ Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
♦ Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC)
♦ Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialists (LCAS)
♦ Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
♦ Licensed Psychologists and Psychological Associates
The Loan Repayment Program incentivizes retention, ensuring that skilled professionals remain in North Carolina’s public service sector and continue to serve communities where they are most needed.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
♦ Hold a valid North Carolina license in good standing;
♦ Work at least 32 hours per week;
♦ Provide services in mental health, substance use, IDD, or TBI;
♦ Be employed at an approved agency serving at least 40% Medicaid, uninsured, or underinsured individuals; and
♦ Serve in a designated rural or underserved area
How to Apply
Applications opened on December 1, 2025. Learn more and apply at the NCDHHS Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program page.