Okla. Admin. Code § 450:1-13-7

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 450:1-13-7 - Tuition Assistance

(a)Eligibility. ODMHSAS will provide tuition assistance to eligible applicants selected for an approved behavioral health graduate level cohort program with a university partner established by ODMHSAS which will provide an educational path to become a Licensed Behavioral Health Professional as defined in this Chapter. Funds will be disbursed to eligible applicants as funds are available through the Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund at the discretion of ODMHSAS. To be eligible for these funds the applicant must:

(1) Possess a bachelor's degree with an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Some exceptions may apply for GPAs of 2.5 - 2.99;

(2) Be attending or planning to attend a master's level program with a university partner established by ODMHSAS;

(3) Be an Oklahoma resident;

(4) Be employed at a behavioral health provider organization with a physical service location in the State of Oklahoma; and

(5) Commit to continued employment with a behavioral health provider organization with a physical service location in Oklahoma in a full-time (at least thirty-two [32] hours per week) capacity for a period of two (2) years, or an equivalent number of hours over a period of more than two (2) but not more than four (4) years. A minimum of twenty (20) hours per week over the employment period is required to be eligible.

(b)Eligibility does not guarantee that tuition assistance will be provided. Funds will be disbursed to accepted applicants as funds are available through the Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund at the discretion of ODMHSAS. The following factors may be considered in the selection of which applicants will receive tuition assistance:

(1) Date of application submission;

(2) Type of clinical services provided by the employer of the applicant;

(3) Demographics of the service area and/or service recipients of the employer of the applicant; and

(4) Number of prior applicants in the service area who have received tuition assistance through the fund.

(c)Application. Applications for tuition assistance from the Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund for an approved behavioral health graduate cohort program with an established university partner shall be submitted to ODMHSAS on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner or designee. The application must include the following:

(1) Application form completed in full according to its instructions;

(2) Proof of Oklahoma residency in the form of:

(A) An Oklahoma driver's license or identification card;

(B) An Oklahoma voter identification card; or

(C) A utility bill dated within three (3) months prior to the application date, excluding internet and cellular phone bills.

(3) Verification of current employment with a behavioral health organization in Oklahoma, including number of hours worked per week;

(4) Employer information, including name of organization and location(s) where the applicant is working;

(5) Three reference letters from previous or current employer(s); and

(6) Signed Commitment Letter.

(d)Optional items that may be submitted with the application include documentation of additional certifications, credentials, and/or licenses related to behavioral health.

(e)Disbursement.

(1) Successful applicants for the graduate cohort program will be eligible to receive tuition assistance in an amount not to exceed $2,500 per semester, paid directly to the university established by ODMHSAS on a semester-by-semester basis. The Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund shall not pay for the cost of textbooks, supplies, transportation, meals, lodging or any of the expenses or fees incurred in pursuing the education program.

(2) Participants shall maintain a passing grade for each of the required courses. The fund will not pay for the cost to retake a failed course.

(3) Participants shall remain employed to a qualified behavioral health provider and maintain their scheduled hours of a minimum of twenty (20) hours per week.

(4) Payment is dependent upon the participant providing all requested information and documentation to substantiate employment and hours worked. Failure of the participant to provide requested items within requested timeframes may delay or terminate eligibility for tuition assistance.

(5) Funds will be paid directly by ODMHSAS to the established university for the behavioral health graduate cohort program and shall not exceed the tuition amount.

Okla. Admin. Code § 450:1-13-7

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 15, April 15, 2024, eff. 3/4/2024, exp. 9/14/2024 (Emergency)

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 22, August 1, 2024, eff. 9/1/2024