Support for Your Education as a Mental Health Professional

As an Oaklawn employee, you have access to unique opportunities for loan repayment and education advancement.

Education Assistance

The Oaklawn Foundation offers a competitive grant program for employees pursuing degrees in high-priority areas. Money awarded can be used for school tuition, book fees and other expenses incurred for your education.

Loan Repayment and Forgiveness Options

National Health Service Corps (NHSC)

Oaklawn is an approved NHSC site, and Oaklawn staff who have attained a clinical license as a mental health professional are eligible for two loan repayment programs through the NHSC:

• NHSC Loan Repayment Program. Download the Application and Program Guidance.
• NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program. Download the Application and Program Guidance.

Both Elkhart and St. Joseph counties are designated Health Provider Shortage Areas (HPSA).

• Elkhart County Mental Health HPSA score is 11
• St. Joseph County Mental Health HPSA Score is 13

Learn more about the NHSC program on its website.

Indiana State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)

Oaklawn is an approved site for the Indiana SLRP as a Community Mental Health Center. To be eligible, employees must already have a clinical license as a mental health professional in Indiana and have completed at least one year of health care professional practice in a shortage area or worked at least one year at a community or migrant health center or maternal and child health clinic in a shortage area. This program is for repayment of outstanding student loans only.

Learn more about the Indiana SLRP on its website.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

Sponsored by the federal government, this program provides loan forgiveness of remaining balances due on William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Other federal loans may be eligible for forgiveness if they are consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan. Employees must have made 120 qualifying payments on those loans while employed full-time by certain public service employers, of which Oaklawn qualifies.

Learn more about the PSLF Program on the Federal Student Aid website or by contacting your federal loan servicer.