The Colorado Community Health Network (CCHN) is excited to announce that the Kaiser Permanente Educational Loan Repayment for Safety Net Clinical Support Staff program is officially open. The application cycle is open from January 6-31, 2014.
CCHN was funded by the Kaiser Permanente Community Health Fund to administer a loan repayment program for clinical support staff working at Community Health Centers (CHCs), ClinicNET Safety Net Clinics, and Rural Health Clinics in Colorado. Loan repayment will help ease the burden of prior educational debt for clinical support staff in exchange for a one year service commitment to the safety net clinic. The Kaiser Permanente Educational Loan Repayment for Safety Net Clinical Support Staff program will help modernize and expand the safety net workforce by supporting recruitment and retention of high performing clinical support staff committed to serving in underserved areas.
There are two ways to complete applications:
Online - Access the online application here, or
Hard Copy - Access the hard copy application here.
Listed below is more information regarding eligibility, requirements and terms, and application materials. For more information, please review the entire application document here.
Eligibility: Clinical support staff who have worked for at least six (6) months at CHCs, ClinicNET Safety Net Clinics, and Rural Health Clinics in Colorado are eligible to apply.
Clinical support staff may include professions such as:
Dental assistant, dental hygienist, expanded duties dental assistant, lab technician, licensed practical nurse, medical assistant, nursing aide, pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, ultrasound technician, and x-ray technician. (Please note that this is not an exhaustive list; however, CCHN cannot issue loan repayment for positions higher than a registered nurse or requiring more than a bachelor’s degree).
Applicants are eligible for up to $10,000 in loan repayment, dependent on their completed years of service at their place of employment. Awardees are not eligible to reapply for additional loan repayment in future repayment cycles.
Requirements and Terms: Applicants who submit all required paperwork by January 31, 2014, will be considered for loan repayment. Applicants will be notified within one month of the application due date. Loan repayments will be made directly to the loan servicing companies in one lump sum approximately in April 2014.
Applicant must be employed at their current safety net clinic for at least six months and be in good standing with their employer.
Applicant must have successfully completed a certificate or degree at an accredited health professional training institution.
Applicant is required to complete an employment commitment to the safety net clinic of one year, upon receipt of the award and as specified in a contract.
Loan repayment requests must be for education expenses related to the health professions training and the applicant’s current position.
Debt must be in good standing. CCHN will make loan repayments directly to the lending institution or loan servicing organization. Payments will not be made to private parties or debt collectors.
Awardees are required to attend one CCHN financial learning webinar and 4 of 6 leadership and skill development webinars during the one year service commitment. These webinars will be recorded and available online for viewing at the awardee’s convenience.
Awardees who do not complete a year of service to their safety net clinic after their award for any reason other than death, disability or the written permission of CCHN, will be required to pay full loan award plus a 10% administrative fee back to CCHN.
Application Materials: Along with the application, applicants are required to submit the following information.
- Applicant Information & Employment Information
- Loan Repayment Information & Proof of Educational Debt
- One Supervisor Letter of Recommendation
- Personal Statement, Signed and Dated
- Documentation of Successful Completion of Education/Training Program
- Signed and dated Executive Leadership Sponsorship
- Signed and Dated Applicant Obligation Statement
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Angela Rose at 303-867-9511 or at Angela@cchn.org, or you can contact Stephanie Auxier at 303-867-9514 or at SAuxier@cchn.org.
