2026 Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Careers in Care Scholarship

January 13, 2026

From now until March 1st, 2026, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation is accepting applications for the Careers in Career Nursing Scholarship through the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s online scholarship portal.


The Northeastern Health Care Foundation's Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship is available to students and healthcare workers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties who plan to pursue, or are currently pursuing, a career in nursing and intend to practice in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This competitive nursing scholarship program aims to support the growth and development of the nursing workforce in NEPA.


Scholarships are available to those who are:

  •   Looking to enter an ASN or LPN program
  •   Currently employed in the healthcare field and looking to advance to an LPN, RN/BSN, or Master's level program
  •   Students entering their third or fourth year of a four-year nursing degree
  •   ‘Nontraditional’ students or those looking to go back to school to obtain any nursing certification or degree


If awarded a Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship, the funds MUST be used for the 2026 academic year (July 1, 2026 - July 31, 2027). Students graduating in Spring 2026 are NOT eligible to receive this award.


To qualify for a Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship, individuals must show they have had a permanent address in Lackawanna, Luzerne, or Wyoming County for the last three years. 


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


Scholarship recipients are asked to demonstrate a commitment to stay in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region. All applications and application materials must be received through our online scholarship portal.

Get Started Here

Click the link below and create an account for our online scholarship portal. Once you have created your account, look for the application entitled “Eligibility - Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Careers in Care Scholarship” to start your application. All 2026 scholarship applications are due March 1st, 2026 at 11:59 PM.* Scholarship decisions will be announced in June.


*All applications must be submitted through our online portal. No paper or emailed applications will be accepted.


Questions about applying for a scholarship? Contact us at grants@safdn.org.

Visit the Online Application Portal

Now Accepting Applications for 2025 Careers in Care Nursing Scholarships!

February 5, 2025
From now until March 1st, 2025 , the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation is accepting applications for the Careers in Career Nursing Scholarship through the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s online scholarship portal . What is the Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship? Established in 2021 by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation , this competitive nursing scholarship program aims to support the growth and development of the nursing workforce in NEPA . Who can apply? 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. What are the qualifications? To qualify for the Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship, individuals are asked to demonstrate a commitment to stay in the NEPA region and must s how that they have had a permanent address in Lackawanna, Luzerne, or Wyoming County for the last three years ; and m eet one of the following criteria: Students entering a CNA, ASN, or LPN program Individuals 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 l ooking to go back to school to obtain any nursing certification or degree Get Started Here! Click the link below and create an account for our online scholarship portal. Once you have created your account, look for the application entitled “ Eligibility - Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Careers in Care Scholarship ” to start your application. All 2025 scholarship applications are due March 1st, 2025 at 11:59 PM . All applications must be submitted through our online portal. No paper or emailed applications will be accepted. Scholarship decisions will be announced in June.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

January 29, 2025
SCRANTON, Pa. – The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation (NEPA HCF) is pleased to welcome several new members to its Board of Directors. The newly elected board members are: C. Catherine Mihalick, JD, CTFA Michael Elmo Clemente Attorney Terrence R. Nealon, Jr. Patrick G. Connors, MD Jason R. Woloski, MD, FAAFP, FCPP These elections reflect the NEPA HCF’s ongoing commitment to bringing together dedicated professionals to support the Foundation’s mission of improving the health and well-being of the region's people, particularly the most vulnerable and underserved. The Foundation thanks its departing board members for their service and contributions over the years and looks forward to the continued growth and impact of their work in the region. Pictured Above Seated (l-r): Sarah Wodder, PsyD; Peter Cognetti, MD; Laura Ducceschi; Shubhra Shetty, MD; Jim Clemente First Row Standing (l-r): Toneyhn Verkitus; C. Catherine Mihalick, JD, CTF\A; Marie Roke Thomas, PhD.; The Honorable Terrence Nealon; Attorney Joe Burke; Michael Elmo Clemente; Attorney Terrence R. Nealon, Jr. Second Row Standing (l-r): Patrick G. Connors, MD; Michael Cordaro; Dr. Jay Bannon; Jason R. Woloski, MD, FAAFP, FCPP

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

October 1, 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.