Nursing Scholarships

NEPA Health Care Foundation Opens Careers In Care Nursing Scholarships

To support the growth and development of the nursing workforce in NEPA

2023 Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Careers in Care Scholarship

Scholarship Application open February 1, 2023 to May 1, 2023

This competitive nursing scholarship program aims to support the growth and development of the nursing workforce in NEPA with $200,000 in scholarships to be distributed for the 2023-2024 academic year. Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship available to students and healthcare workers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties who plan to pursue, or who are pursuing, nursing and who will practice in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

To qualify for Careers in Care Nursing Scholarships, individuals are required to show that they have had a permanent address in Lackawanna, Luzerne, or Wyoming County for the last three years. Scholarships are available to those who are:

Looking to enter a CNA, ASN, or LPN program
Currently employed in the healthcare field and looking to advance to a LPN, RN/BSN, or Masters Level program
Students entering their third or fourth year of a four-year nursing degree and looking for financial assistance
‘Nontraditional’ students or those looking to go back to school to obtain any nursing certification or degree

Please note: this scholarship opportunity is NOT intended for graduating high school seniors.

Visit the Online Application Portal

Scholarship recipients must commit to staying in Northeastern Pennsylvania, with applications submitted through our online portal. These scholarships from the NEPA Health Care Foundation's Careers in Care program come at a critical time for the regional healthcare workforce, particularly in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties.

“These scholarships provide crucial financial support, allowing students to focus on their education,” said Dr. Theresa Tulaney of Marywood University.

The $1.5 million Careers in Care initiative, running from 2020-2023, includes $830,000 in grants to organizations like Lackawanna College and Saint Joseph’s Center. This initiative follows a 2019 regional listening tour that highlighted the urgent need for a stronger healthcare workforce pipeline, particularly in nursing.

“The demand for nurses is high, and supply can't meet it,” noted Laura Ducceschi of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, which administers the NEPA Health Care Foundation.

Additionally, the Foundation continues its $3.2 million commitment to the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, providing full-tuition scholarships for local students committed to practicing in Northeastern PA.

Visit the Scranton Area Community Foundation to explore opportunities and discover how you can apply for a grant through the NEPA Health Care Foundation.

Learn More

(570) 347-6203, ext. 310

615 Jefferson Avenue

Suite 102

Scranton, PA 18510

NEPAHCF@safdn.org

NEPA Health Care Foundation and Partnering Foundations to Provide $1.1 Million in Grants to Help Increase Staffing to Mental Health Services

01 Oct, 2024

SCRANTON, Pa. – The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation, in collaboration with AllOne Foundation & Charities and the Moses Taylor Foundation, is providing approximately $1.13 million in grant support through a newly launched initiative to help increase the number of providers available to serve the increased number of clients with mental and behavioral health needs. One of the main barriers to nonprofit service providers’ abilities to meet this increased demand is difficulty attracting and maintaining a sufficient regional workforce with these professional qualifications. To help address this issue, the NEPA Health Care Foundation, established in 2011 and administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, established the Employee Assistance Grant program (EAP). The NEPA Health Care Foundation collaborated with the Moses Taylor Foundation and AllOne Foundation; Charities to support seven organizations providing mental and behavioral health services in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming counties with funding for staffing needs. The EAP grants will be distributed over a three-year period to support their ability to sustain a sufficient level of qualified behavioral health providers to meet community demand. Specifically, they will help to minimize employee attrition, aid in new employee recruitment and support the long-term sustainability of the mental health provider workforce. In response to an increased need for behavioral and mental health care services in the area, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation created this grant program as part of a three-year commitment to ensure continued support for these critical services. “The need for behavioral and mental health care services in our region is more pressing than ever,” said Jim Clemente, Board Chair of the NEPA Health Care Foundation. “These grants are designed to support the dedicated professionals on the front lines by addressing financial stressors and helping organizations retain and attract talent. By investing in our providers, we’re ultimately investing in the long-term health and well-being of our community.” The 2024 grantees are Allied Services for an enhanced assistance program for behavioral health team members; Children's Advocacy Center of NEPA for launching an employee assistance program to retain and attract behavioral health employees; Children's Service Center for an employee tuition and loan assistance program; Friendship House for the Friendship House ABA Program Staff Recruitment Initiative; Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania for investing in social workers; Scranton Counseling Center for the Scranton Counseling Center Employee Assistance Program expansion; and Volunteers in Medicine for the development of an employee assistance program in a nonprofit, free clinic setting. Over $400,000 in grant funding will be distributed in 2024 specifically to support the behavioral health care workforce. In addition to the EAP program, the NEPA Health Care Foundation provides scholarships through its Careers in Care program to increase the number of nurses able to provide care to the communities they serve. These critical scholarships support the education and training of CNAs, LPNs and RN/BSNs in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming Counties. To date, 158 scholarships have been provided through Careers in Care.