At Avenues Recovery Center, we are committed to supporting and helping our employees succeed just as we do for our clients. We deeply appreciate the sacrifices that our staff members make to work in this field, day in and day out. Addiction treatment is an exhausting, rewarding, challenging, uplifting and emotionally draining space, and it takes real devotion and selflessness to show up with heart each day.
Reducing the financial strain on our staff helps create a stronger, more motivated workforce—one that is better equipped to meet the growing need for compassionate, quality addiction treatment. Enabling then to maximize their potential, and giving them the resources they need to continue in their work, is always a pleasure.
Specifically, student loan debt can be a real burden - especially for those who dedicate their lives to helping others recover from addiction. To ease that burden and support the behavioral health workforce, the federal government created the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program. This program gives student loan repayment assistance to eligible people who work in addiction treatment.
Avenues Recovery is proud to share that we are now an approved STAR program service site - giving our qualifying employees access to this generous benefit!
What is the STAR Loan Repayment Program?
The STAR Loan Repayment Program is run by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and designed to address workforce shortages in the addiction treatment field, by offering up to $250,000 in student loan repayment to qualifying people.
In return, recipients must commit to six years of full-time service—defined as 40 hours per week—at a STAR-approved facility. This includes both clinical and support roles, as long as the work involves direct addiction treatment or recovery support.
Key Program Highlights:
- Up to $250,000 in student loan repayment
- Six-year full-time commitment (40 hours/week)
- Available to both clinical and eligible support staff
The STAR program supports many professionals, including doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors, case managers, peer support specialists, and other licensed or certified workers in the SUD field.
Avenues Recovery Is Now a STAR-Approved Facility
With approval from HRSA, Avenues Recovery facilities nationwide are now eligible service sites under the STAR program. That means that Avenues employees who meet program criteria can now apply for up to $250,000 in student loan repayment while continuing their work here.
To qualify, employees must:
- Work in a full-time position (minimum 40 hours/week)
- Provide direct SUD treatment or recovery support services
- Have eligible student loan debt related to health or behavioral health education
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Both clinical and non-clinical staff may be eligible depending on their role and qualifications. This is a huge opportunity for our staff to ease their student debt burden while providing essential care to people on the path to recovery.
Why This Matters
The STAR Loan Repayment Program is more than just a financial benefit—it’s an investment in the people who make recovery possible. By joining, employees gain real relief from student debt while continuing the important, life-changing work they do every day.
Avenues is proud to offer this valuable benefit to our employees, and look forward to seeing many of our team members take advantage of this incredible program!