Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children
Jeffrey Fetzko, ACSW, LSW, CFRE
Vol. 6, No. 4, February 21, 2008
The Executive Director's News is published every two weeks, and is specifically written for the employees, board of trustees and friends of the Somerset Home. This issue and past issues are available on our web site at http://www.somersethome.org/main/pages/employee_newsletter.htm.
Can You Use an Extra $20,000?
Why is outreach counselor, Megan Kayser so happy? Megan has just learned that she will be receiving her second $5,000 student loan forgiveness check for working at Somerset Home! Megan explained, "It was easy, just a bunch of paperwork". Megan applied to the program and was granted the full $20,000 which is paid in annual installments of $5,000.
Way back in July of 2005, I reported that Acting Governor Richard J. Codey signed into law S2334 / A3756, legislation that establishes a plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans for new qualified college graduates who enter the social services industry.
I have been speaking to quite a few staff lately about this program and have been very impressed to learn how many of them have qualified for these $5,000 annual student loan forgiveness grants.
It's not often Somerset Home can offer you a $5,000 raise but deducting $5,000 from your student loan debt every year you work for us is almost as good!
For more information contact the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority at 1-800-792-8670.
IMPORTANT MEETING REGARDING HEALTH INSURANCE
If you have Horizon health insurance or are eligible for health insurance through Somerset Home you must enroll in one of four programs before the plan year expires on March 31, 2008. There are important coverage decisions to make and I encourage you all to attend a joint staff meeting on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 4:30 pm in the Passages conference room.
If you cannot make it to this meeting, please contact Priscilla (908-526-6605) to submit the necessary paperwork, as soon as possible.
As always, thank you all for your continued hard work on behalf of our youth.
