Federal Grant Award Summary

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) awarded $205,082 to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health on October 1, 2025, under the "Payments to States for Programs to Promote the Hiring and Retention of Nurses at State Veterans Homes" program (CFDA 64.053). This represents the VHA's federal contribution of 50 percent toward a total project budget of $410,164, with the State Veterans Home (SVH) providing the matching non-federal share of $205,082.

The funded initiative supports direct recruitment and retention efforts for nursing staff at the State Veterans Home through multiple service components and incentive mechanisms. These include direct recruitment bonuses for newly hired nurses, a structured preceptor program that provides coaching and professional development for new hires, bonuses for preceptors and preceptees, specialized certification programs in wound care and infection control, uniform provisions, and shift differential incentives to attract staff to weekend and overnight positions. The award period runs through September 30, 2026, and is designed to address nursing shortages by supporting both the attraction of new clinical nursing staff and the retention of existing personnel through comprehensive professional development and financial incentives.