Project Grant SC534NRG26

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) awarded $260,357 in federal funding on October 1, 2025, under CFDA 64.053 (Payments to States for Programs to Promote the Hiring and Retention of Nurses at State Veterans Homes) to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health to support nursing recruitment and retention initiatives at a State Veterans Home. The award represents 50% of the total $520,714 project budget, with the State Veterans Home contributing the matching non-federal share. The grant funds direct recruitment bonuses for new nursing hires, a structured preceptor program providing coaching and professional development for newly hired nurses, preceptor and preceptee performance bonuses, financial incentives for wound care and infection control certifications, uniform and shift differential incentives to encourage staffing during undesirable hours, and a paid maternity leave program designed to improve employee retention.

The funded program directly addresses nursing shortages at State Veterans Homes by implementing a multi-faceted incentive strategy targeting both recruitment and retention of nurses providing direct clinical care to resident populations. The project period extends through September 30, 2026, with performance based in South Carolina.