During and post the COVID-19 Pandemic, human services organizations, community assessments, parents, and other community activists have repeatedly called for an increase of mental health practitioners to address the problematic mental health status of adults and children. Unfortunately, the mental health professional pool has been unable to satisfactorily meet the requisite demand. To do so in the future, it is essential to encourage and support those individuals who are interested in becoming a mental health provider. To mitigate against the rising costs of undergraduate and graduate education, loan forgiveness subsidies are a strong incentive for students to pursue an undergraduate and graduate social work education.

New York State social workers are encumbered with high amounts of student loan debt, and low base salaries; making it nearly impossible for social workers to achieve loan forgiveness.  Furthermore, the existing LSWLF program limits eligibility to licensed social workers (LMSW). 

Expand the existing program for all New York State social workers. Social workers at all levels, including Master of Social Work (MSW), Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) should be eligible to receive loan forgiveness opportunities.

• NASW-NYS/NYC Chapter requests an amendment to the authorizing legislation that changes eligibility criteria to include Master of Social Work in the Title. 
• A new/revised budget bill that includes the following eligibility: The awardee agrees to work in or work within an agency for three consecutive years that provides services to designated workforce shortage areas.