Existing law authorizes any licensed mental health service provider, as defined, including a marriage and family therapist, associate marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical social worker, and associate clinical social worker, who provides direct patient care in a publicly funded facility or a mental health professional shortage area, as defined, to apply for grants under the Licensed Mental Health Service Provider Education Program to reimburse his or her educational loans related to a career as a licensed mental health service provider, as specified. Existing law establishes the Mental Health Practitioner Education Fund and provides that moneys in that fund are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of the Licensed Mental Health Service Provider Education Program.

This bill would require an account to be created within the Mental Health Practitioner Education Fund and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would require moneys in that account to be used solely to fund grants to repay educational loans for applicants who commit to practice in specified facilities for at least 24 months, who are marriage and family therapists, associate marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, associate clinical social workers, licensed professional clinical counselors, or associate professional clinical counselors, and who were formerly in California’s foster youth care system.