Scholarships and Financial Support

Below are some of the many programs that offer financial assistance for students in healthcare programs of study. Be sure to read the annual guidance and update: programs change and are dependent on legislative funding decisions. Visit the linked websites and sign up for updates to get announcements of new or changed programs.

Federal Financial Aid Resources

Financial aid for students is available through a variety of sources at the federal and state level. For many scholarship programs, the first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application form. Review the detailed information on resources, planning, and completing the FAFSA at studentaid.ed.gov.

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarships

The NHSC Scholarship Program opens for applications in January each year. If you are committed to primary care and accepted to or enrolled in an accredited U.S. school in one of the following primary care disciplines:

• Physicians (MD or DO),
• Dentists,
• Nurse Practitioners (post graduate degree with clinical practice focus),
• Certified Nurse-Midwives,
• Physician Assistants.

The scholarship pays tuition, fees, other educational costs, and provides a living stipend in return for a commitment to work at least 2 years at an NHSC-approved site in a medically underserved community. Learn more at the HRSA website: https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/.

This NHSC video describes more about the NHSC scholarship, loan repayment, and Students to Service programs.

NHSC Scholarship Program for Substance Use Disorder Professionals Check the website in late autumn to confirm when to apply for this scholarship.

Students to Service Program

Are you a medical or dental student in your final year of school? The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP) provides up to $120,000 to medical (MD and DO) or dental (DDS or DMD) students in their final year of school in return for a commitment to provide primary health care full time for at least 3 years at an approved NHSC site in a Health Professional Shortage Area of greatest need. Learn more from the HRSA website.

Washington State Opportunity Scholarship

WSOS supports Scholars pursuing health care degrees from every corner and county of Washington state. A public-private partnership that believes innovative industries thrive when they reflect their own communities, WSOS works to create a college to career pipeline that provides opportunities for women and students of color.

Scholarship funds are flexible and can be used to cover tuition, fees and other costs of attendance such as housing, transportation, food and more. The Baccalaureate Scholarship application opens each year in January. The Community and Technical Scholarship application opens three times a year in May, September and January. More details on how to apply are at the waopportunityscholarship.org website.

Washington College Grant

This new grant makes education affordable for more families in Washington State. Award amounts vary based on income and grant funds can be used to cover full tuition at any in-state public college or university, including community or technical colleges, or provide a comparable amount toward tuition and other education-related costs at an approved private college or career training program. There is no separate application for the Washington College Grant. Students should complete a state or federal financial aid application.

The Washington Scholarship Coalition operates the WashBoard.org website where students can easily be matched to available scholarships specific to their situation. Assistance with financial aid application forms is also available.

Washington Health Corps gives financial support to health professionals through loan repayment and other supports. The health corps programs encourage licensed health professionals to provide primary care at approved sites in critical shortage areas. Washington Health Corps administers the state health program (SHP), the new behavioral health program (BHP), and the federal health program (FHP) (a federal grant–state match program).  If you are interested in learning more about the Washington State loan repayment options, the Washington Student Achievement Council website has additional details.

AAMC Financial Planning for Healthcare Education

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) provides a full-service loans organizer and calculator available to medical students. The MedLoans Organizer and Calculator (MLOC) is also available for other students to use in managing education debt.

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) Program. The SDS program increases the diversity of the health workforce by funding eligible academic institutions that are training health profession students. The institutions then make scholarships available to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have financial need. Students should contact their financial aid office. HRSA has $48,200,000 available to make approximately 79 awards in FY 2020. The application cycle closes on March 3, 2020. Technical Assistance webinars take place on the 6th and 20th of February.

Rural Healthcare Research Support

Rural PREP

Rural Primary-care Research Education and Practice (Rural PREP) helps fund research to improve rural healthcare, offering support to encourage and promote research and scholarly activity in rural health professions education. Find out more and apply at Rural PREP. Sponsored by the Collaborative for Rural Primary care Research Education and Practice.

AHECWW is working with partners across the state to make it easier for healthcare students to map their academic pathway to healthcare and STEM certifications and degree programs. There are a vast number of outreach programs throughout the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI) region striving to bring minorities who are underrepresented in the health care fields toward college level training in the health sciences.

Summer programs provide chances for high school students to explore degree options – scroll down for a regional list.

Northwest Health Career Path Project(NWHCP)

The NWHCP website includes information on career pathway programs in the WWAMI Region, making it accessible in a searchable database and interactive map to students, advisors, and educators via a website and app.

• Link participants and volunteers to programs
• Encourage programs to work with neighbors and create opportunities for cooperation
• Identify both areas of overlap and where there are gaps in programming
• Improve data collection and measurement of the impact of pipeline programs
• Research methods to track student outcomes

The Northwest Health Career Path Summit: originally scheduled for Friday, April 3, 2020, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 emergency.

Summer Health Professions Programs for Teens

Summer is a great time to explore and gain experiential learning. Summer programs give hands-on interactions that highlight the rewards and excitement of many types of healthcare careers

Summer Health Professions Education Program

The Summer Health Professions Education Program (formerly SMDEP) www.shpep.org sponsored by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), serves as the free, six-week academic enrichment program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Eligible students include, but are not limited to, individuals who identify as African American/Black, American Indian and Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino, and who are from communities of socioeconomic and educational disadvantage. Universities across the USA participate in SHPEP.

Learn more about the new educational opportunities provided by the SHPEP program or www.shpep.org.

University of Washington SHPEP

Participate in SHPEP at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Find details about the program at the UW School of Medicine Center for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion website. Students receive a $600 stipend and free accommodation for the program.

AHECWW is working with SHPEP to get the word out to interested health career students who may benefit. Students are encouraged to apply and take the opportunity to join this FREE, summer enrichment program that is filled with countless career development opportunities. This is a Health Careers Collaborative Opportunity for AHECs with the Association of American Medical Colleges.

University of Washington – Summer Teen Program

The Summer Teen Program runs June through August for high school students aged sixteen through eighteen. Summer Teens interact in the hospital environment to greet and direct visitors, transport patients, deliver specimens to the lab and flowers and mail to patients, support the Information Desk, and assist staff with special projects

Western Washington University College Quest

A true immersive college experience – from residence hall to classroom – gives high school students the chance to take a real college course, earn 1 university credit, gain valuable college success information, and form extraordinary social connections. Students who complete this program get an advantage as they plan for their academic future

National Student Leadership Conference on Medicine & Health Care, University of Washington, July and August

At the National Student Leadership Conference on Medicine & Health Care, students perform clinical rounds, learn medical examination and surgical techniques, and participate in diagnosis and treatment while solving the mystery of a fatal outbreak of an illness sweeping the nation. High school students grapple with controversial medical issues, learn about today’s health care challenges and explore advanced scientific research in areas such as cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Providence High School Summer Program

Students in the Summer Program carry out Providence’s mission of caring for the poor and vulnerable while increasing their awareness of the healthcare field as a potential career path. Students learn the principles of sound decision-making and problem-solving skills while receiving supportive coaching and mentoring from staff. The interactive experience in a hospital environment develops key communication skills in a diverse environment made up of patients, family members, visitors and staff from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds.

MultiCare Programs for High Schoolers

MultiCare helps students interested in health care to clarify their career choices. The variety of programs includes nurse camp, Pharmacy, Imaging, Physical Therapy and more. Students gain experience and an understanding of the educational pathways to achieve the career of their dreams.

MultiCare is a not-for-profit health care organization that has been caring for Washington's communities for over a century. It’s the largest community-based, locally governed health system in the state and includes primary care, urgent care and specialty services.

COPE Health Scholars, Junior Health Scholar Program, Swedish Medical Centers – First Hill

As a Junior Health Scholar, students observe how the patient care team works together to deliver excellent care and explore what it's really like to work in a healthcare career.

What is AHEC Scholars? 

Together with AHECs across the country and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a new interdisciplinary educational program has been launched: AHEC Scholars. AHEC Scholars focuses on training a diverse culturally competent healthcare workforce that specializes in serving rural and underserved communities. 

Healthcare students apply to become AHEC Scholars and will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the two-year program. AHEC Scholars are competitively selected from applicants with priority given to students from disadvantaged backgrounds or racial/ethnic groups that are considered inadequately represented in health professions. Students from a variety of health profession degree or certificate programs comprise each cohort of Scholars.

During both years, students participate in didactic and clinical/experiential/community learning that augments their respective degree program requirements and prepares them to provide whole-person care serving rural and underserved communities.

AHEC Scholars centers around six core topic areas:

Resources for current AHEC Scholars

AHECWW facilitates the Health Professions Affinity Community (HPAC) program to encourage high school students to explore healthcare careers. HPAC is a facilitated student activity that meets at participating high schools. Students in the HPAC learn to identify community health issues under the guidance of an AmeriCorps College Access Coordinator. Activities include presentations by healthcare professionals, field trips, and tutoring. HPAC focuses on students from diverse populations that are under-represented in health professions. AHECWW launched the first HPAC in Washington State as a pilot project at two Whatcom County high schools in 2018.

History

The HPAC program began in Ohio where it currently serves about 2,000 youth in hundreds of high schools across the state. It is built around the IDEAS model of community engagement:

Identify: students identify a health concern in their community
Develop: Students design a project to address the concern
Enact: Students implement their project, conducting research, collecting data on conditions before and after
Assess: Students evaluate the results of their project
Share: Students present and report their results to their community and schools

AmeriCorps Role

The HPAC Pilot Project continues in the 2019-2020 school year, engaging College Access Coaches acting as mentors and tutors for high school students. AmeriCorps Campus Compact College Access Coaches guide activities at participating high schools. Many College Access Coaches are university or college students at regional institutions such as Western Washington University or Whatcom Community College. 

HPAC opportunities expanding

HPACs are operating at Ferndale High School, Nooksack Valley High School, and Mount Baker High School during the 2019-2020 academic year. HPAC students presented their community health project results at the Healthcare Career Pathways Summit on April 26, 2019.

For more information:

Contact AHECWW at (360) 383-3170

Resources for Career Exploration

Current and future health sciences students, and high school student exploring health career options will find resources and links for certificate programs, summer programs, and more.

Summer Health Professions Education Program

Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) is a FREE six-week academic summer enrichment program for first-year and sophomore college students who are interested in the health professions. SHPEP especially encourages applicants from groups that are underrepresented in the health professions, or from individuals from an economically disadvantaged background.

• Summer Health Professions Education Program brochure
• Summer Health Professions Education Program questions and answers

For more information, call (866) 587-6337.

 General College Resources

Big Future is a service of the College Board to help connect students to college success and opportunity. The Big Future website provides general information about the college experience, including exploring educational programs, paying for college, career search tools, and finding colleges by program type.

Scrubs Camp

High school students get a full day experiencing different Health Care Careers. AHECWW and partners host Scrubs Camps in various communities around western Washington. Spring 2020 Scrubs Camps in Tacoma and Port Angeles have been cancelled due to COVID-19, however, plans may continue for a Bellingham camp in summer.

General Training Resources

Work Source Washington provides a wealth of information about career training and programs to help you navigate career planning. The AHECWW Healthcare Training Programs document provides links and details for a wide variety of healthcare certificate and degree programs. These programs are also listed on the Educational Programs page.

Credentialing for Healthcare Professions

Learn where you can access First Aid training, and about the credentialing requirements for various healthcare professionals at the Washington State Department of Health credentialing page.

Resources for Veteran Students

The Veterans’ Resources page on the Allied Health Center of Excellence website provides information on employment initiatives for veterans, as well as resource links for veterans.

The National LGBT Health Education Center

The National LGBT Health Education Center provides educational programs, resources, and consultation to health care organizations with the goal of optimizing quality, cost-effective health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The Education Center is a part of The Fenway Institute, the research, training, and health policy division of Fenway Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and one of the world’s largest LGBT-focused health centers. (Source: https://www.lgbthealtheducation.org/).

HIV/AIDS and First Aid Training

Learn more about requirements for HIV/AIDS training requirements at the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) website. You are required to have AIDS education if you (1) work as a health care professional or in a state licensed or certified health care facility in Washington, or (2) want to get a license, certification or registration to practice a regulated health care profession in Washington state. The DOH site lists details on HIV/AIDS trainings in the state.

Mental Health First Aid

AHECWW offers periodic Mental Health First Aid trainings for professionals and community members throughout western Washington. Learn more about these trainings in the Resources for Communities section below. The National Council for Behavioral Health lists Mental Health First Aid classes throughout the country at the Mental Health First Aid website.

Rural Opioid Educational Resources

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health has developed a compendium of all Rural Opioid Educational Resources available across their website to aid individuals looking for education, tools, and other resources. This includes reports, webinar presentations, meeting presentations, and a compendium of resources and lessons learned from grantees of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy’s Rural Opioid Overdose Reversal (ROOR) grant program. As new resources become available, more information will be added. Visit the NOSORH page.

The National Council for Behavioral Health has compiled a new list of resources to support those working with vulnerable populations. Resources include toolkits, websites, webinars, and articles. Topics range from supporting immigrant children and families, trauma informed care for unaccompanied children, and working cross culturally with families. 

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board published a toolkit in May 2019, “Celebrating Our Magic: Resources for American Indian/Alaska Native transgender and Two-Spirit youth, their relatives and families, and their healthcare providers.”

Resources for Practice Improvement

Advancing Trauma-informed Primary Care

From the National Council for Behavioral Health and Kaiser Permanente, click to access Fostering Resilience and Recovery: A Change Package for Advancing Trauma-informed Primary Care. This field-informed guide developed by the nation's most influential leaders shaping trauma-informed approaches gives actionable guidance to create a framework to implement a trauma-informed initiative, along with scripts, tools, concrete strategies and recommendations that will help you create a healthier work environment, develop trauma-informed approaches and improve patient outcomes. Because trauma is a nearly universal experience.

Toolkit for Indian/Alaska Native Transgender and Two-Spirit Youth

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) features Celebrating Our Magic, a toolkit created for American Indian/Alaska Native youth who identify as transgender or Two-Spirit, their relatives, and health providers who care for them. The goals of the publication include reducing disparities in access to healthcare and increasing tribal clinic capacity and awareness.

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice

The NWCPHP has launched a collaborative project to improve public health policy: Laboratory for decision making. With support from the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, NWCPHP embarks on a five-year project to assist rural public health leaders in better using data to promote health equity. With rural areas hard hit by the opioid epidemic training materials and other resources are a great resource provided by NWCPHP.

Washington Physicians Health Program

The Washington Physicians Health Program is an independent, non-profit organization that was established in 1986. It is a physician-led program with an experienced staff dedicated to helping healthcare professionals while promoting patient safety. WPHP assists healthcare professionals with medical conditions that may affect their ability to practice medicine safely. These conditions include substance use and behavioral health disorders, as well as physical and cognitive disorders. WPHP is a confidential resource to the maximum extent provided by law. Visit WPHP.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement Open School is a not-for-profit global learning community offering online courses, project-based learning, and learning community. Some courses are paid for through subscription, but the IHI Open School also contains free videos and case studies with discussion questions, a list of other resources on patient safety, quality improvement, leadership, and system design, and tips/resources related to publishing work.

Guidance for Practices Considering Telepsychiatry

“Key Considerations for Implementing Telepsychiatry Services”– a new tool from the Practice Transformation Support Hub – can help practices considering telepsychiatry make an informed decision about what is right for their practice, and their unique implementation needs. The six-page guide is available on the Hub Resource Portal. The UW Psychiatry Consultation Line may also be a useful resource at (877) 927-7924.

CMS Expands Coverage for Telehealth for COVID-19

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) directed an additional expansion of telehealth services so that doctors and other providers can deliver a wider range of care to Medicare beneficiaries in their homes, reducing risk of exposure to COVID-19. Details on are available at the CMS.gov website.

Research and Consultation

The Weitzman Institute

The Weitzman Institute is the first community-based research center established by a Federally Qualified Health Center. It is dedicated to quality improvement and research in primary care for the underserved. They test promising innovations in primary care delivery and establish research priorities for Community Health Center, Inc. (CHCI). Visit the Weitzman Institute to learn more about the resources they offer, including practice transformation support, Project ECHO for Chronic Pain and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), eConsult, QI education, and workforce development. Though offices are located in Colorado and Connecticut, Weitzman Institute programs have a presence in 37 states (including Washington), bringing services to health centers and practices across the country.

The National LGBT Health Education Center

The National LGBT Health Education Center provides educational programs, resources, and consultation to health care organizations with the goal of optimizing quality, cost-effective health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

The Education Center is a part of The Fenway Institute, the research, training, and health policy division of Fenway Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and one of the world’s largest LGBT-focused health centers.

HEAL WA

HEAL WA is the on-call library for Washington state practitioners, and is a free resource for any healthcare provider licensed in Washington state.

Staffing and Training

Job Opportunities in Washington State

3RNet (National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network) is a non-profit listing healthcare job openings and opportunities in Washington State. Register and use the 3RNet job board to find current openings from a user-friendly public service organization. A valuable partner for professionals who want to serve in rural and underserved areas in Washington, 3RNet helps you navigate loan repayment programs and more.

The J-1 Visa Waiver Program is administered through the Washington State Department of Health.

Loan Repayment

The Washington State Health Service Corps was established by the Legislature to address health professional shortages in rural and underserved urban communities. The program helps the state attract and retain licensed health professionals to serve in our state by providing a Loan Repayment Program (LRP) to eligible providers serving at pre-approved sites. There are currently three LRPs available:

• the State Health Program (SHP),
• the Federal Health Program (FHP),
• the new Behavioral Health Program (BHP).

If you are interested in learning more about the Washington State loan repayment options, the Washington Student Achievement Council website has additional details.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) provides scholarships and loan repayments to encourage primary care and other clinical care providers to serve in health professional shortage areas, addressing the scarcity of health professionals in needy communities. There are a variety of loan repayment program (LRP) options offered annually to address health profession shortages. The primary NHSC LRP service commitment is two years, with full-time and part-time options for a variety of health professionals. If you are interested in applying for the National Loan Repayment Programs, sign up for email updates and read the program guidance carefully.

For a general overview of loan repayment options, please visit the Washington Health Workforce Gateway site  to learn more about each option.  Program details are subject to change including overall program funding, award amounts, contractual obligations and rules.  Be sure to read reference and program guides carefully.

Credentialing for Health Care Providers

Learn about the credentialing requirements for various healthcare professionals, from Washington State Department of Health.

Credentialing for Nurses

The Washington State Department of Health website provides specifics for Nurse Licensing and Continuing Education Competency Audits. Suicide Prevention continuing education training has been required since July 2017.

COVID-19 note: In March, the Nursing Commission worked with the Governor’s office to give top priority to temporary practice permit applications for nurses from out of state to address increased needs during the virus spread. Application and directions available at: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/6000/669419.pdf.

Behavioral Health Resources

Rural Suicide Prevention Toolkit

The Rural Health Information Hub provides an evidence-based on-line toolkit to support organizations working to prevent suicide in rural communities across the U.S. A series of seven modules contain focused resources on developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining rural suicide prevention programs. The toolkit was produced by the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center.

Depression screening tools: Access screening tools for anxiety disorders and depression, from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. These screenings are meant to be used by patients as a screening tool that can be shared with a provider.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, contains a wealth of information on treating substance use disorders and mental health disorders. Click on “publications” to access many free resources geared towards providers. The National Health Service Corps offers loan repayment support for Substance Use Professionals working at eligible clinics: read the guidance document for 2020 here.

Resources for Telemental Health during COVID-19

The National Council for Behavioral Health offers links to a series of FREE short videos with tips that will help clinicians continue to serve the customers who need help most while providers are operating from home.To access these videos, please visit MTM Service’s COVID-19 Resource Page for information about providing telehealth service on topics like:

• Crisis Planning – How to respond to a crisis in the telehealth environment.
• Just in Time Scheduling Adjustments – Find out how you can support consumers – including those who need prescription medicine – during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

National Council’s COVID-19 page offers the latest policy changes, funding opportunities and tax incentives and other updates

Rural Opioid Educational Resources

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health has developed a compendium of all Rural Opioid Educational Resources available across their website to aid individuals looking for education, tools, and other resources. This includes reports, webinar presentations, meeting presentations, and a compendium of resources and lessons learned from grantees of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy’s Rural Opioid Overdose Reversal (ROOR) grant program. As new resources become available, more information will be added. Visit the NOSORH page.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Upcoming Seminars and Training

Palliative Care Education Series Panels through September 22, 2020: Monthly presentations on topics including tools to support discussion of serious illness, tele-monitoring using TapCloud app, workflows for telemedicine in patient homes and more.

PrEP Train the Trainer Interactive Virtual Training - June 17, 2020, 10 am - 1 pm (PDT). Mountain West AIDS Education and Training Center hosts online training  to increase health care providers' capacity to provide high quality HIV/AIDS care within the region's health care systems. Registration information will be posted at MWAETC.org.

HRSA Fiscal and Grants Management Best Practices for Health Centers - Session 1 of 2
June 17, 2020. 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. (EDT). Submit questions ahead of time to OFAMFTA@hrsa.gov
Health Resources and Services Administration. Session 2 takes place on June 23, 2020.

Increasing Capacity and Joy in Precepting
June 25, 2020. 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (EDT) Preceptors in rural practice sometimes find it difficult to precept even one learner. Precepting more than one might seem impossible. But in fact come preceptors have found joy in just that! In this professional development webinar Dr. Schmidt will share her experience and lessons. Presented by: Rural PREP

Linking COVID-19 Data to Social Determinants of Health in Your Community Using HealthLandscape
June 30, 2020. 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. (CDT). The COVID-19 Patient Profile allows you to upload ZIP Code level COVID-19 data and link these to dozens of social determinant of health and health outcome indicators.
Presented by HealthLandscape.

2020 3rd Annual National Native Health Research Training Initiative: Session 2 - VIRTUAL
July 15, 2020.  2:00 - 4:00 p.m. (EDT) The annual NNHRT initiative contributes toward the growth of a Native health research community, honoring tribal decision-making processes, building trust through tribal community participation and guided by tribal cultural knowledge and values. Session themes: Academia, Cell Biology, COVID19, and a Long Path Traveled for the Navajo Nation American Indian Higher Education Consortium, Indian Health Service, Native Research Network.

Training for COVID-19 Contact Tracers - Introductory online course for entry-level COVID-19 contact tracers, for use by health agencies in rapid training of new contact tracers. CE certificate available on completion.

Telehealth Resources for COVID 19 Northwest Regional Telehealth Resources Center (NRTRC) focused news and guides. Featured resources include:

• NRTRC COVID-19 and Telehealth Resources a comprehensive, easy to use guide incorporating the most pertinent resources into one document.
• NRTRC Quick Start Guide to Telehealth for use during the current public health emergency.

Behavioral Health Resources for COVID 19: The National Council for Behavioral Health provides a recorded webinar: “Preparing Behavioral Health Organizations for Coronavirus.”

Conferences:

Northwest Regional Primary Care Association Virtual Conference - June 16 - July 9, 2020. NWRPCA offers a training series online to provide support to health centers addressing COVID-19 needs. Learn and share with one another through a series of weekly educational tracks, one session every week from 12:00-1:30pm PDT. We are offering sessions on governance, workforce, care model optimization and more.

National Rural Health Association Annual Conference online - June 16 - 19, 2020. The nation's largest rural health conference will be online this year, featuring virtual event offerings in over 85 concurrent sessions, 9 topic tracks, live interaction with over 200 speakers, live keynote with extended Q&A. The annual Rural Medical Education Conference and Health Equity Conference (formerly the Rural Multiracial and Multicultural Health Conference) will both be held directly prior to the Annual Rural Health Conference.

Addiction Health Services Research Conference 2020: online October 2020. The AHSR will host virtual plenary speakers and virtual poster sessions, as well as a virtual poster slam featuring Early Career Researchers during the month of October. A monthly workshop series will continue engagement through the year. Abstract submissions for virtual posters are open until June 1! Find out more and submit your poster here!

Social Determinants of Health and Rural Risk of Stroke Mortality Journal of the American Heart Association report documenting correlation of geography and rates of recovery from stroke.

Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid classes will soon be available in online and hybrid format for communities in western Washington. AHECWW will be offering these CE certificate courses from the National Council for Behavioral Health in partnership with community organizations. Participants receive a Mental Health First Aid resource manual and a certificate valid for three years.

HPV Vaccine: Cancer Prevention Education

The National AHEC Organization received funding to educate health professionals on the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The HPV project offers three educational fliers for clinics, staff, and educators to use and distribute:

• Vaccination is effective: data summary
• Basics on HPV Vaccine
• Vaccine Safety summary

HPV and Immunizations: An Oncologist's Perspective: Learn about the HPV virus from an oncologist's perspective, and how the vaccination can help prevent related cancers. Recorded webinar available online (from January 10, 2020).

Workforce Development Council Resources

The Workforce Development Council has several helpful “Map Your Career” paths including a Career Path in Healthcare with a visual map.

Career Bridge

Career Bridge is brought to you by the state’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Career Bridge is a website where you can explore careers, view job trends, and find education programs.

Stackable Certificates Programs

Stackable certificate programs are comprised of a series of certificates that can be “stacked” together for a degree. Check the AHECWW Education Programs page for the full list.

Washington Physicians Health Program

The Washington Physicians Health Program is an independent, nonprofit organization that was established in 1986. It is a physician-led program with an experienced staff dedicated to helping healthcare professionals while promoting patient safety. WPHP assists healthcare professionals with medical conditions that may affect their ability to practice medicine safely. These conditions include substance use and behavioral health disorders, as well as physical and cognitive disorders. WPHP is a confidential resource to the maximum extent provided by law.

Other training courses that The Washington Physicians Health Program offers so that physicians can better serve others include Mindfulness for Healthcare Providers, Compassion Cultivation Training, and Mind Body Medicine. Visit the WPHP website for more information.

Psychiatrist Consultation Line

The University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences launched a new service to help prescribing providers in Washington — including providers in the UW Medicine Accountable Care Network — receive clinical advice regarding adult patients (18+) with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Funded by the Washington State Legislature, the UW Psychiatry Consultation Line (PCL) helps address the severe shortage of mental health professionals in the state by providing consultation to providers working in primary care clinics, community hospitals, emergency departments, and county and municipal correctional facilities.

Partnership Access Line for Moms

The University of Washington Partnership Access Line for Moms (PAL for Moms) is a free telephone consultation service for health care providers caring for patients with mental health problems who are pregnant, postpartum, or planning pregnancy. Any health care provider in Washington State can receive consultation, recommendations, and referrals to community resources from a psychiatrist with expertise in perinatal mental health. The consultation line is now open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (Pacific). Providers can call at any time and receive a call back within one working day. Call 877-725-4666 (PAL4MOM). You can also email with any questions or to schedule a consultation (ppcl@uw.edu). Visit the UW Maternal-Child Mental Health Program website for more information about the PAL line and other programs supporting maternal-child mental health.

Seattle Children's Partnership Access Line

The Partnership Access Line (PAL) supports primary care providers (doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants) with questions about mental health care such as diagnostic clarification, medication adjustment or treatment planning. Our child and adolescent psychiatrists are available to consult during business hours.

PAL has a master’s-level social worker available to assist with finding mental health resources for your patients. PAL is also partnered with Washington’s Mental Health Referral Service for Children and Teens, where families can speak directly with a referral specialist.

Call 866-599-7257 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific time, to be directly connected to a PAL child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Project Goal

The Northwest Health Career Pathways program (NWHCP) works to create a health workforce that reflects the communities it serves with the primary goal of helping underrepresented community members and students in healthcare to connect to programs, resources, pathways to health careers, and leadership positions.

Project Summary

The project creates collaboration among a wide spectrum of career outreach programs to help form “career pathways” throughout our region. Health career pathways provide an opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds to explore health careers through experiential learning. 

Annual Summit

The NWHCP hosts an annual Summit to engage our stakeholders and provide a mutually beneficial event which includes opportunities for networking, professional development, learning from student perspectives, and exploring promising practices for connecting community members and students in healthcare to programs and resources that can assist them in overcoming barriers to health career pathways.

Summit Objectives

• Provide an annual event for networking among professionals in the health career pathway system to clarify and align initiatives and resources for underrepresented community members and students in healthcare.

• Create a venue for discussions on how programs can link together to form equitable health career pathways.

• Gain a clearer view of other services/programs in regions and specialty areas - allowing organizations to identify gaps and bridge them.

• Provide opportunity for professional development.

• Hear student stories from those underrepresented in the health workforce.

• Achieve greater success by coming together to form a collaborative community.

Summit Planning Committee:

AHECWW helps sponsor Mental Health First Aid trainings for professionals and community members throughout western Washington.

Trainings consist of a full 8-hour day (usually from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm) with a lunch break. Those who successfully complete the full day are eligible for a Mental Health First Aid certificate issued by the National Council for Behavioral Health. The certificate remains valid for three years. Class size is limited to 30, and, through grant funding from the State Department of Health, the trainings are often offered free of charge (value $170). The class is great for people of all backgrounds. Students in allied health courses of study are encouraged to consider this training.

There are two main certification levels: one for adults who interact with youth (Youth Mental Health First Aid) and one for adults generally (Mental Health First Aid).

Continuing Education Credits

AHECWW provides certificates to document Continuing Education (CE) credits for attendees. The National Council for Behavioral Health reports that dentists, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are eligible to receive continuing education credits (CEUs) for all Adult Mental Health First Aid courses. The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has approved the Adult Mental Health First Aid course for a total of 8.0 contact hours, or 0.8 CEUs.

Why Mental Health First Aid?

• Enroll in a Mental Health First Aid course to learn a five-step action plan to help loved ones, colleagues, neighbors and others cope with mental health or substance use problems.
• Similar to traditional First Aid and CPR, Mental Health First Aid is help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis resolves.
• Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based public education and prevention tool – it improves the public’s knowledge of mental health and substance use problems and connects people with care for their mental health or substance use problems.

Mental Health First Aid is a project of the National Council for Behavioral Health

Why mental health first aid? Mental Health First Aid was originally created in Australia in 2001 under the auspices of the University of Melbourne, and is now international with programs in countries such as the United Kingdom, China, Canada, Finland and Singapore.

The National Council for Behavioral Health – a national trade group with more than 2,500 member organizations serving millions of Americans nationwide – helped bring Mental Health First Aid to the United States in 2008 with the goal of making it as common as traditional First Aid and CPR are today.

Find more Mental Health and Behavioral Health under "Special Healthcare Needs"

The Palliative Care Institute at Western Washington University participated in the Northwest Life Passages Coalition to draft a blueprint to transform palliative care in Whatcom County and support our human responses to living and dying. The Institute's goal is to create a healing community by providing a space where people living with serious illnesses or facing the end of life don’t have to be cured to heal. AHECWW partners with the Institute to build on collaborations among those both inside and outside of the medical industry, reclaiming palliative care as a community responsibility.

The Palliative Care Institute, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, the Chuckanut Health Foundation, and community activists host an annual event to encourage advance care planning across all decades, including college-aged students. A video recording of presentations from the 2017 event is available at Palliative Care 101.

National Alliance on Mental Health: COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide

Resources the prevent domestic violence and child abuse during COVID-19

Stay-at-home orders have disconnected many from community resources and support systems, and created widespread stress, uncertainty, and panic, all of which can contribute to violence in the home. SAMHSA provides this document featuring information and resources for healthcare providers to help families and communities address intimate partner violence and child abuse in this difficult time.

Toolkit for American Indian Transgender and Two-Spirit Youth

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) features Celebrating Our Magic, a toolkit for American Indian/Alaska Native youth who identify as transgender and Two-Spirit, their relatives, and healthcare providers. The goal of the publication is to increase access to healthcare and reduce disparities among transgender youth and to increase awareness and capacity among tribal healthcare providers.

Information on Personal Care Services

Rural Opioid Educational Resources

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has developed a compendium of all Rural Opioid Educational Resources available at their website to aid individuals looking for education, tools, and other resources. This includes reports, webinar presentations, meeting presentations, and a compendium of resources and lessons learned from grantees of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy’s Rural Opioid Overdose Reversal (ROOR) grant program. As new resources become available, more information will be added.

CARE Suicide Prevention training on-line

Confident Action and Referral by Educators (CARE) is a web-based course to provide educators and other school staff guidance to help students who may be going through difficult times. The program is designed to give educators the tools and confidence to identify students who may be at risk for emotional or behavioral distress, including suicide, substance use, violence, and sexual abuse. The course is a free, one-hour, online module that meets the criteria set forth by RCW 28A.320.127 which requires educators receive training on how to recognize and respond to students experiencing emotional or behavioral distress. CARE may be taken individually or in a group, and a Facilitator Guide is provided to guide staff through the specific examples, discussion questions, additional resources, and role play exercises. Join here: k12.wa.us/CAREModule.

Publications from the Department of Health

The Washington State Department of Health has a wide variety of publications available on hundreds of topics. Visit their website to see a categorized list of topics and/or request publications.

COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation.
Get the latest public health information from CDC: https://www.coronavirus.gov .
Get the latest research from NIH: https://www.nih.gov/coronavirus.

Washington State Loan Repayment Programs

Healthcare sites can apply to become eligible loan repayment sites at the Washington Health Corps website. Loan repayment programs help clinics address workforce shortages in rural and underserved communities. The site application period is generally open from October until the end of December each year.

The program helps clinics attract and retain licensed health professionals by providing financial support to those who commit to serving at eligible underserved and rural sites. In return for the funds, recipients sign a contract committing them to either a two-year (Federal/State funded- FSLRP) or a three-year (state funded – HPLRP) full-time equivalency service obligation.

The Washington Student Achievement Council page contains guidance for providers and sites on the State Health Program (SHP), the Federal Health Program (FHP), and the new Behavioral Health Program (BHP). The Reference Guides provide essential detail and updates. 

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP) helps clinics to apply to become an eligible site for loan repayment assistance. As an eligible site, clinics gain the benefit of attracting healthcare professionals wishing to serve in rural or underserved communities. In exchange for loan repayment, providers serve at least two years in an NHSC-approved site in a designated Heath Professional Shortage Area. Applications for sites are available from about October to December each year. Sign up on the NHSC website to receive updates and check the guidance for details.

For a general overview of loan repayment programs, please visit the Washington Health Workforce Gateway site  to learn more.  Program details are subject to change including overall program funding, award amounts, contractual obligations and rules.  Be sure to read reference and program guides carefully.

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (Nurse Corps LRP)

The 2020 Nurse Corps LRP will re-open for facility applications in December 2020. Eligible Critical Shortage Facilities (CSFs) located in, designated as, or serving a mental health or primary medical care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) may wish to reference the below resources to prepare to apply.

To determine the eligibility of your CSFs, all potential applicants and administrators are encouraged to check and verify sites by using the Health Workforce Connector and the HPSA Find databases.

• The Health Workforce Connector is a searchable database for all Nurse Corps LRP approved service sites.
• The HPSA Find allows participants to find shortage areas by address.

Eligibility: Facility administrators are invited to apply for eligibility annually in early December to CSF_Request@hrsa.gov. Notifications of facility eligibility are generally confirmed via email by the Nurse Corps staff in late December. All notifications will be sent to the email address initiating the request.

For additional information on CSFs and site types, read the 2020 Nurse Corps LRP Application and Program Guidance. Questions? Contact Customer Care Center at 1-800-221-9393, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays), 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.

Resources for Practice Improvement

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice

The NWCPHP has launched a collaborative project to improve public health policy: Laboratory for decision making. With support from the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, NWCPHP embarks on a five-year project to assist rural public health leaders in better using data to promote health equity. With rural areas hard hit by the opioid epidemic training materials and other resources are a great resource provided by NWCPHP.

Washington Physicians Health Program

The Washington Physicians Health Program is an independent, non-profit organization that was established in 1986. It is a physician-led program with an experienced staff dedicated to helping healthcare professionals while promoting patient safety. WPHP assists healthcare professionals with medical conditions that may affect their ability to practice medicine safely. These conditions include substance use and behavioral health disorders, as well as physical and cognitive disorders. WPHP is a confidential resource to the maximum extent provided by law. Visit WPHP.

Support for Practice Improvement

Institute for Healthcare Improvement

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement Open School is a not-for-profit global learning community offering online courses, project-based learning, and learning community. Some courses are paid for through subscription, but the IHI Open School also contains free videos and case studies with discussion questions, a list of other resources on patient safety, quality improvement, leadership, and system design, and tips/resources related to publishing work.

Practice Transformation Support Hub

Managed by the Washington State Department of Health, the Practice Transformation Support Hub (Hub) is accelerating the dissemination and implementation of practice changes toward value-based care, providing support and assistance to help healthcare providers adopt and adapt. Source: https://www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/healthier-washington/practice-transformation-support-hub.

Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center

NRTRC provides technical assistance, program support, education and information to Telehealth Networks in our seven-state region. Increasing the use of Telehealth service throughout the region, especially to underserved populations, by providing no-cost assistance to Telehealth providers. Source: https://www.nrtrc.org.

Qualis Health

Qualis Health is one of the nation’s leading population healthcare consulting organizations, partnering with our clients to improve care for millions of Americans every day. Qualis works with public and private sector clients to advance the quality, efficiency and value of healthcare. Qualis Health is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with regional offices located in Alabama, Alaska, California, Idaho, the District of Columbia and New Mexico. Source: www.qualishealth.org.

The National LGBT Health Education Center

The National LGBT Health Education Center provides educational programs, resources, and consultation to health care organizations with the goal of optimizing quality, cost-effective health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The Education Center is a part of The Fenway Institute, the research, training, and health policy division of Fenway Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and one of the world’s largest LGBT-focused health centers. Source: https://www.lgbthealtheducation.org/.

Support for Staffing and Recruiting

The Society for Human Resource Management

SHRM is the world’s largest HR professional society. This website contains helpful resources and articles on HR related topics. Some available for free, some require membership. Visit the SHRM website.

Resources for Hiring Veterans

The Career Resources for Military Veterans page is on the Allied Health Center of Excellence website. This page contains many links to helpful veterans resources.

Employing People with Disabilities

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) provides information on employing individuals with disabilities. This report from the NCSL contains federal and state policy information. The Washington State Department and Industries’ Stay at Work program, which pays employers to help injured workers stay on the job, explains how medical providers can help support this effort.

Research and Consultation

The Weitzman Institute

The Weitzman Institute is the first community-based research center established by a Federally Qualified Health Center. It is dedicated to quality improvement and research in primary care for the underserved. They test promising innovations in primary care delivery and establish research priorities for Community Health Center, Inc. (CHCI). The Weitzman Institute website offers information on practice transformation support, Project ECHO for Chronic Pain and MAT, eConsult, QI education, and workforce development. Weitzman Institute programs are operating in 37 states (including Washington), bringing services to health centers and practices across the country. The Institute has offices in Colorado and Connecticut.

Sentinel Network

The Sentinel Network is an information network linking the healthcare industry with partners in education and training, policymakers and workforce planners to collectively identify and respond to new and changing demand for healthcare workers, skills and roles. Part of the Healthier Washington initiative, the Sentinel Network is a collaboration of state’s Workforce Board and the University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies, with funding from Washington’s Health Care Authority. Source: www.wtb.wa.gov/HealthSentinel/.

Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions (AIMS) Center

The AIMS Center at the University of Washington is a group of faculty, staff and consultants dedicated to improving the health of populations by advancing the research and implementation of Collaborative Care, a specific model of integrated care developed at the University of Washington to treat common and persistent mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Bureau of Health Workforce

Link to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce page, where you can read more about scholarship and loan opportunities, health professions training grants to support institutions, strategic partnerships, shortage designation, health workforce analysis, and access the national practitioner data bank.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement Open School is a not-for-profit global learning community offering online courses, project-based learning, and learning community. Some courses are paid for through subscription, but the IHI Open School also contains free videos and case studies with discussion questions, a list of other resources on patient safety, quality improvement, leadership, and system design, and tips/resources related to publishing work.

Guidance for Practices Considering Telepsychiatry

“Key Considerations for Implementing Telepsychiatry Services”– was developed in 2017. It is  available on the Practice Transformation Support Hub to help practices considering telepsychiatry make an informed decision about what is right for their primary care practice, and their unique implementation needs. The six-page guide is available on the Hub Resource Portal.

HEAL WA

HEAL WA is the on-call library for Washington state practitioners, and is a free resource for any healthcare provider licensed in Washington state.

Staffing and Training

Credentialing for Health Care Providers

Learn about the credentialing requirements for various healthcare professionals, from Washington State Department of Health.

Credentialing for Nurses

The Washington State Department of Health website provides specifics for Nurse Licensing and Continuing Education Competency Audits. Suicide Prevention continuing education training has been required since July 2017.

Continuing Education

Check the Continuing Education section under Resources for Professionals (above) for upcoming webinars offering free CME and Continuing Education credits for healthcare professionals. Sign up to receive AHECWW's periodic updates on free and low-cost CME and CE trainings.

Behavioral Health Resources

Access screening tools for anxiety disorders and depression, from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. These screenings are meant to be used by patients as a screening tool that can be shared with a provider.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, contains a wealth of information on treating substance use disorders and mental health disorders. Click on “publications” to access many free resources geared towards providers.

Rural Opioid Educational Resources

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health has developed a compendium of all Rural Opioid Educational Resources available across their website to aid individuals looking for education, tools, and other resources. This includes reports, webinar presentations, meeting presentations, and a compendium of resources and lessons learned from grantees of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy’s Rural Opioid Overdose Reversal (ROOR) grant program. As new resources become available, more information will be added. Visit the NOSORH page.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

3RNET Academy Webinar Series for Recruitment and Retention

3RNet Academy is offered annually in the fall/winter. Check the 3RNet website for updates on the next trainings. The 2019 Academy provided six webinar sessions discussing various points of Recruiting for Retention Hierarchy: Building the Foundation. Each session has been recorded for on-going reference. More information can be found here at the WA State Dept of Health website.

3RNet provides a wealth of resources and it's free to register and post job openings. Visit 3RNet and review the Employer's Guide to Workforce Programs.

National Rural Recruitment & Retention Network (3RNet)

3RNet (National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network) is a nonprofit organization that connects health professionals searching for jobs in rural or underserved areas with health care facilities. The website offers tips on recruitment and retention, posting jobs, and as a guide to workforce programs.

Recruitment and Retention Tips: A Resource list to help organizations better recruit and retain health professionals is available. A guide to best practices for attracting and retaining needed workforce is also available.

Washington Health Workforce Gateway 

Washington Health Workforce Gateway works to ensure that the healthcare system in Washington State has the professionals needed to help build healthy communities. Visit the site to find resources for employers regarding loan repayment options that can help attract healthcare professionals. Loan repayment program applications are offered annually. Washington Resources Group manages the website for Washington Health Workforce Gateway.

Family Physician/Osteopathic Physician/Internal Medicine Job Boards

• Washington Wyoming Alaska Montana Idaho (WWAMI) Network
• Washington Association of Family Physicians
• American Academy of Family Physicians Careerlink
• American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• Washington Osteopathic Medical Association (WOMA)
• Practice Link

Ob/Gyn Job Boards

• American College of ObGyn

Psychiatrist Job Boards

• American Psychiatric Association
• Washington State Psychiatric Association

All Behavioral Health

• Washington Council for Behavioral Health
• MentalHealthWork.com
• Mental Health America

Psychologists

• PsycCareers
• Psychology Jobs.com

Licensed Counselors

• iHireMentalHealth

Clinical Social Workers

• National Association of Social Workers
• iHireSocialServices

Marriage and Family Therapy

• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

• Washington Association of Physician Assistants (to find jobs, see sidebar “jobs feed”)
• American Academy of Physician Assistants
• MEDEX Northwest

• Washington State Dental Association
• National Network for Oral Health Access
• University of Washington School of Dentistry
• American Dental Association
• AT Stills University/Arizona School of Dentistry

• NP Board
• Nurse.org
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners
• NPJobs
• ARNPs United Washington State

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP) allows licensed primary care clinicians in eligible disciplines to apply to receive loan repayment assistance. In exchange for this loan repayment, providers serve at least two years in an NHSC-approved site in a designated Heath Professional Shortage Area.

The application cycle for 2020 is open through Thursday, April 23, 2020, 7:30 pm (ET).

Health Professions Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are designated by HRSA as having shortages of primary care, dental care, or mental health providers and may be a geographic area (a county or service), a population (e.g., low income or Medicaid eligible) or a facility (e.g., federally qualified health centers, or state or federal prisons). The HPSA search aids with your loan repayment research.

Visit the Washington Student Achievement Council website (WSAC) to learn more about Washington Health Corps. WSAC administers the state health program (SHP) and the new behavioral health program (BHP).

WSAC also administers the federal health program (FHP), which is a federal grant–state match program, under Washington Health Corps. These two programs offer licensed health professionals in a variety of disciplines loan repayment in exchange for providers working at eligible sites.

Both programs are administered at the state level by the Washington Student Achievement Council. The Federal-State Loan Repayment Program uses matching federal grant funds for awards; Health Professional Loan Repayment Program uses only state dollars for awards. 

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (Nurse Corps LRP)

The 2020 Nurse Corps LRP for facilities opens the application annually in December. Eligible Critical Shortage Facilities (CSFs) must be located in, designated as, or serving a mental health or primary medical care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

To determine the eligibility of your CSFs, all potential applicants and administrators are encouraged to check and verify sites by using the Health Workforce Connector and the HPSA Find databases.

• The Health Workforce Connector is a searchable database for all Nurse Corps LRP approved service sites, including those with current job openings.
• The HPSA Find allows participants to find shortage areas by address. Include the street address, city, state and zip code. P.O. Box addresses cannot be used.

Eligibility: Facility administrators are invited to apply for eligibility annually in early December to CSF_Request@hrsa.gov. Notifications of facility eligibility are generally confirmed via email by the Nurse Corps staff in late December. All notifications will be sent to the email address initiating the request.

For additional information on CSFs and site types, read the 2020 Nurse Corps LRP Application and Program Guidance. Questions? Contact Customer Care Center at 1-800-221-9393, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays), 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.

 For nurses: Nurse Corps Scholarship Program: Application due date extended! Deadline: May 21, 2020.

Are you a medical or dental student in your final year of school? The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP) provides up to $120,000 to medical (MD and DO) or dental (DDS or DMD) students in their final year of school in return for a commitment to provide primary health care full time for at least 3 years at an approved NHSC site in a Health Professional Shortage Area of greatest need.

Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are designated by HRSA as having shortages of primary care, dental care, or mental health providers and may be geographic (a county or service area), population (e.g., low income or Medicaid eligible) or facilities (e.g., federally qualified health centers, or state or federal prisons). The HPSA search can aid your loan repayment research.

Washington Resources Group (WRG) is a collaborative partnership that engages in direct recruitment efforts for healthcare facilities located in rural and underserved areas statewide. AHECWW is a member of the WRG, whose goal is to ensure that the healthcare system in Washington State has the professionals needed to help build healthy communities. WRG delivers presentations to students and residents regarding loan repayment options listed in this section. Loan repayment programs applications are offered annually. WRG manages the website for Washington Health Workforce Gateway.