The Urban Mental Health Professional Loan Forgiveness Program provides funds for repayment of Qualified Educational Loans. Qualified Educational Loans include government, commercial, and foundation loans for actual costs paid for tuition, reasonable education and living expenses related to the past graduate or undergraduate education of the Mental Health Professional. The program is offered to licensed mental health professionals, which includes Independent Clinic Social Workers, Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. Urban mental health professionals and urban doctors must practice within a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or in a Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P). This is a competitive selection process. Selections are made based on suitability for practice as indicated by personal and professional experience and training noted on an application, as well as preference given to those closest to completing their training. Preference will be given to applicants who document diverse cultural competencies. Participants are required to practice for at least 30 hours per week, for at least 45 weeks per year, for a minimum of three years in an underserved urban community. Selected participants shall provide direct patient care hours/client-centered services. Hours cannot be fulfilled meeting with providers, process improvement, policy development, supervising, or administering programs. Participants must begin their service obligation under this program no later than March 31 following selection. Participants must work and live in Minnesota. Participants are eligible to participate for up to four years in the program as a mental health professional in an underserved urban community. ORHPC will make an annual payment to the participant in the amount of up to (1) $29,000, not to exceed $116,000 for Psychologists and (2) $11,000, not to exceed $44,000 for Independent Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors for the maximum four-year period or the balance of the designated loan(s), whichever is less subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature for the loan forgiveness program. Please visit the award's website or contact the Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care for more information.