Incentives attract social workers

Sandra E. Hamilton owes it to the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization for bringing her home.

The licensed clinical social worker from Adams Center had been in Rochester for the past 38 years until January, when she learned of the Planning Organization's financial incentive program for counselors to relocate within the 40-mile Fort Drum radius.

"There was a part of me that just wanted to come home so this seemed to all piece together," she said. "I took it as a great big incentive and I felt very fortunate to participate and receive the honor."

Ms. Hamilton, who has been a social worker for more than 25 years, was one of three counselors who relocated to the Planning Organization's coverage area to practice in the Fort Drum region. With the financial incentive program, they will receive a stipend of up to $5,000, with one payment made the day the counselor starts work and the rest paid upon completion of the first year of employment.

A counselor at Samaritan Behavioral Health, Ms. Hamilton said she came to the area to continue the career she loves and to contribute to the community in which she was raised.

"Not only was I coming back home to something that was emotionally good, but my skills are appreciated and needed here, so that sounded like a wonderful match," she said.

In addition to the financial incentives that have been awarded to three clinical social workers, four licensed master social workers also have been awarded up to a $5,000 annual stipend for up to three years.

The master's component is for those who are employed or will become employed by a behavioral health provider within the Fort Drum region and who are working toward or intend to begin working toward the clinical social worker credential.

Each recipient must commit to remain employed one year in the Fort Drum region for every year they are awarded a stipend.

Erika Flint, the Planning Organization's regional recruitment project manager, said there are approximately nine awards left.

"We'll continue to review quarterly until funds are no longer available," she said. "It's going well."

The Planning Organization has committed $40,000 to the project since its inception last year.

Ms. Flint said she is working on a survey to send to award recipients to follow up and see how effective the project has been.

"We think we provided some opportunities, and we have some people receiving supervision that have verbalized that without this opportunity they wouldn't have been able to afford that," she said. "We've opened doors, and this is one step it takes to ensure we have adequate behavior health professionals in this region."