Santa Barbara County’s $90,000 bonus program for psychiatrists

December 7, 2022

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

Santa Barbara County is offering $90,000 signing bonuses to lure psychiatrists to join its Department of Behavioral Wellness. [KSBY]

The county has an adequate number of psychiatrists on staff. However, the majority of them are employed under temporary assignments, said Suzanne Grimmesey, the Chief of Strategy and Community Engagement for the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness.

Santa Barbara County’s Board of Supervisors approved the $90,000 bonus program, which is set to last through June 2023.

Likewise, San Luis Obispo County is also struggling to attract psychiatrists to fill long-term positions. SLO County is offering similar incentives as Santa Barbara County, said San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health Administrator Anne Robin. Competition from Atascadero State Hospital and the California Men’s Colony makes it challenging to attract new long-term specialists, Robin said.

To attract psychiatrists, SLO County is offering coverage for training. The county is also participating in state and federal loan reimbursement programs. Job applicants who have certain student loans are allowed to apply for scholarships or loan reimbursement, Robin said.


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Weather it be a 90K bonus or a loan forgiveness package, the public funds it. Guadalupe is the up and coming place to live and 90K will be the down payment for a new home with a future you can afford.


Obviously the County Supervisors who approved this needs to have their heads examined!


Somebody needs their head examined.


And the person who does it probably has a nice sum of money in their bank account


Are singing psychiatrists anything like singing cowboys?