Offered by the Delta Dental Foundation
The Public Health Hygienist Loan Repayment Program is an initiative designed to support dental hygienists in managing their student debt while expanding oral health access to underserved areas in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. This program intends to not only alleviate the financial burden of student debt in the profession but also ensure that quality dental care reaches more individuals in underserved communities. Dental hygienists interested in applying to the program must meet the criteria and submit a completed application, as well as all required documentation. Loan repayment funds will be issued directly to the recipient’s loan servicer(s).
To be eligible for participation in the program, applicants must:
- Be fully trained and licensed (or be in the process of becoming licensed) to practice dental hygiene as an RDH in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana.
- Be in good standing with applicable state dental board(s), state agencies and regulatory agencies.
- Work full-time (minimum 30 clinical hours/week) or have an employment agreement to work full-time at an eligible practice site. Ongoing employment verification will be required.
- Provide verification of their current dental educational debt. Ongoing verification will be required.
- Agree to provide dental hygiene services for at least one year (up to three years) at an eligible practice site.
- Participate in scheduled interviews with the Selection Committee at a mutually agreed upon time.
Dental hygienists not eligible to participate in the program include:
- Dental hygienists who have defaulted on federal loans.
- Dental hygienists who are on an exclusion or sanctioned list (i.e., OFAC, OIG).
- Dental hygienists who are not in good standing and/or have complaints.
- Immediate family members of employees and board members of Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, Inc., Delta Dental Plan of Ohio, Inc., Delta Dental Plan of Indiana, Inc., and Delta Dental Foundation.
Continued Program Eligibility
Recipients who are chosen to participate in the program will need to verify compliance with the program requirements on at least an annual basis (or more frequently as may be necessary to ensure compliance). Such verification may include:
- Proof of good standing and active licensure in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana.
- Proof that recipient is continuing to work full-time at an eligible practice site (minimum 30 clinical hours/week).
- Provide de-identified reports as outlined in the agreement recipients sign with DDF.
- Annual verification of current outstanding student loan debt.
- Participation in scheduled interview(s) with DDF to discuss your experience with the program.
A recipient’s failure to maintain ongoing compliance with program requirements may result in a termination from the program and a loss of loan repayment.
Eligible Practice Site Requirements
Each recipient selected must be employed (or be in the process of obtaining an employment) at a nonprofit practice site (eligible practice site). Recipient must work full time (a minimum of 30 clinical hours per week) for at least a 12-month period at an eligible practice site.
Eligible practice sites include:
- Certified rural dental clinics
- Community health centers
- Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alikes
- Local health departments
- Nonprofit dental clinics
- Tribal-affiliated dental clinics
- Standalone nonprofit urgent care dental sites
If you have questions on this program, please contact us at ddf@deltadentalmi.com.
Public Health Hygienist Loan Repayment Program
Offered by the Delta Dental Foundation
The Public Health Hygienist Loan Repayment Program is an initiative designed to support dental hygienists in managing their student debt while expanding oral health access to underserved areas in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. This program intends to not only alleviate the financial burden of student debt in the profession but also ensure that quality dental care reaches more individuals in underserved communities. Dental hygienists interested in applying to the program must meet the criteria and submit a completed application, as well as all required documentation. Loan repayment funds will be issued directly to the recipient’s loan servicer(s).
To be eligible for participation in the program, applicants must:
- Be fully trained and licensed (or be in the process of becoming licensed) to practice dental hygiene as an RDH in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana.
- Be in good standing with applicable state dental board(s), state agencies and regulatory agencies.
- Work full-time (minimum 30 clinical hours/week) or have an employment agreement to work full-time at an eligible practice site. Ongoing employment verification will be required.
- Provide verification of their current dental educational debt. Ongoing verification will be required.
- Agree to provide dental hygiene services for at least one year (up to three years) at an eligible practice site.
- Participate in scheduled interviews with the Selection Committee at a mutually agreed upon time.
Dental hygienists not eligible to participate in the program include:
- Dental hygienists who have defaulted on federal loans.
- Dental hygienists who are on an exclusion or sanctioned list (i.e., OFAC, OIG).
- Dental hygienists who are not in good standing and/or have complaints.
- Immediate family members of employees and board members of Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, Inc., Delta Dental Plan of Ohio, Inc., Delta Dental Plan of Indiana, Inc., and Delta Dental Foundation.
Continued Program Eligibility
Recipients who are chosen to participate in the program will need to verify compliance with the program requirements on at least an annual basis (or more frequently as may be necessary to ensure compliance). Such verification may include:
- Proof of good standing and active licensure in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana.
- Proof that recipient is continuing to work full-time at an eligible practice site (minimum 30 clinical hours/week).
- Provide de-identified reports as outlined in the agreement recipients sign with DDF.
- Annual verification of current outstanding student loan debt.
- Participation in scheduled interview(s) with DDF to discuss your experience with the program.
A recipient’s failure to maintain ongoing compliance with program requirements may result in a termination from the program and a loss of loan repayment.
Eligible Practice Site Requirements
Each recipient selected must be employed (or be in the process of obtaining an employment) at a nonprofit practice site (eligible practice site). Recipient must work full time (a minimum of 30 clinical hours per week) for at least a 12-month period at an eligible practice site.
Eligible practice sites include:
- Certified rural dental clinics
- Community health centers
- Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alikes
- Local health departments
- Nonprofit dental clinics
- Tribal-affiliated dental clinics
- Standalone nonprofit urgent care dental sites
If you have questions on this program, please contact us at ddf@deltadentalmi.com.