New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 8 - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT › Chapter XX - Higher Education Services Corporation › Subchapter C - General Awards, Academic Performance Awards, Fellowships and Other Awards › Part 2201 - General Eligibility Criteria › Section 2201.22 - New York State Child Welfare Worker Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a)
Definitions.
For purposes of this section and Education Law, section
					 679-i, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)
Award
shall mean a New
				  York State Child Welfare Worker Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program award
				  pursuant to section 679-i of the New York State Education Law.
(2)
Child welfare worker
shall mean an individual who provides direct-care services to children and
				  families at a voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agency in New York State
				  licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family
				  Services.
(3)
Corporation
shall mean the New York State Higher Education
				  Services Corporation.
(4)
Direct care services
shall mean the provision of programs and
				  services to children and families that requires some degree of interaction
				  between the child/family and the child welfare worker. Such direct care
				  services include, but are not limited to, assessments, home visits, or direct
				  implementation of care plans.
(5)
Economic need
shall mean applicants whose household adjusted
				  gross income is at or below 250 percent of the Federal poverty level for the
				  most recent calendar year available.
(6)
Full time
shall mean
				  employment as a child welfare worker providing direct-care services to children
				  and families at a voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agency in New York
				  State licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for
				  an average of 35 hours per week, or more, continuously over a calendar year,
				  except for an allowable interruption of employment.
(7)
Interruption of
				  employment
shall mean an allowable temporary leave for a definitive
				  length of time due to circumstances approved by the corporation, including, but
				  not limited to, parental leave, medical leave, death of a family member, or
				  military duty that exceeds 42 calendar days, excluding legal holidays,
				  regardless of whether such absence or leave is paid or unpaid.
(8)
Household adjusted gross
				  income
shall mean the Federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for
				  individuals or married couples filing jointly, or the aggregate AGI of married
				  couples filing separately, reduced by a cost of living allowance, which shall
				  be equal to the applicant's eligible New York State standard deductions plus
				  their eligible New York State dependent exemptions for personal income tax
				  purposes.
(9)
Outstanding
				  student loan debt
shall mean the total cumulative student loan balance
				  required to be paid by the applicant at the time of selection for an award
				  under this program, including the outstanding principal and any accrued
				  interest covering the cost of attendance to obtain an undergraduate or graduate
				  degree from a college or university located in New York State. Such outstanding
				  student loan debt may be reduced as provided in subparagraph (c)(4)(iii) of
				  this section.
(10)
Program
shall mean the New York State Child Welfare Worker
				  Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program.