The Behavioral Health Education, Retention, and Expansion Network of Nevada (BeHERE NV) is a new workforce development initiative to increase the number of providers of behavioral health care in Nevada. In 2023, the Nevada Legislature unanimously passed Assembly Bill 37 to create a statewide behavioral health workforce development center within the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). In September 2023, the NSHE Board of Regents designated the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) to serve as the administrative hub for BeHERE NV and to build connections across the state. | |  | |
FINAL Molina Funding Round! 01
BeHERE Advanced Scholarship Recipients 02
BeHERE NV 2025 Tour Complete 03
Peer Recovery Support Specialist Supervisor Coaching Academy 04
BeHERE NVs Sarah Hartzell - NAMI Board Member Of The Year! 05
BeHERE NV's Jill Manit gains CTE Spotlight 06
We have so much to share! Be sure to click on "View Entire Message" to see all of this month's content.
| | FINAL OPPURTUNITY: Molina Clinical Supervision Grant *12/15/25* Deadline! | | |
BeHERE NV is excited to announce the last cycle of the Molina Clinical Supervision Grant, designed to support Nevada’s pre-licensed counselor interns on their path toward licensure. This final round offers up to $1,000 in reimbursement for primary or secondary supervision expenses incurred between October 1 and December 31, 2025.
This grant continues to prioritize interns serving Nevada’s rural regions, school-based settings, crisis care environments, and those dedicated to building their careers within the state. If you or a colleague may qualify, we encourage you to apply before the December 15, 2025 deadline.
| | Featured BeHERE Advanced Scholarship Recipients! | | BeHERE NV was fortunate in 2024 to receive funding for scholarships from the Nevada Department of Health and Humans Services through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Nevada Health Workforce Pipeline Grant (SG-2024-00437). Over the past year, we have featured a BeHERE Scholar of the month. We are please to announce that we are funding 12 additional graduate students this academic year! This month we introduce you to two new students at UNLV. | | | | |
Yeji Kim
Yeji Kim, a first-year Master of Social Work student at UNLV and Doberman fanatic, became interested in the field through a mix of personal healing and community experience. A driving force for her was her own experience with grief therapy, which led her to adopt her Doberman, who became a huge part of her healing. The experience opened her up to the benefits of animal-assisted therapy. Another influence was Yeji's experience working with foster and justice-involved youth. Seeing how much they carry, often without stable guidance or emotional support, showed her how transformative consistent, compassionate mental health care can be.
With two other people in Yeji's family going to college, the BeHERE NV scholarship has been a huge benefit. It eases the financial burden of pursuing her degree and allows her to build the skills and experience she needs to serve Nevada’s communities. She hopes to provide trauma-informed therapy to individuals who lack consistent parental support. Eventually, she wants to run a dog rescue that she could then train to be therapy/service animals for animal-assisted therapy.
Outside of school, Yeji dives into hobbies that recharge her and help her stay connected to the people and things that bring her joy. She is a big foodie, so she enjoys trying new restaurants, exploring different cuisines and cooking at home. Yeji also loves painting miniatures, for both tabletop games and collections and loves to teach other people how to paint them. But nothing is better than cozying up with her dog on the couch for a good book. These hobbies balance her life and give her space to be creative and curious in any situation.
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Nia Virgil
Nia Virgil, a dedicated Clinical Mental Health Counseling student, is driven by a deep passion for understanding people and supporting their healing journeys. Her path in behavioral health was shaped through meaningful work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, where she witnessed firsthand how behavioral health services can transform lives. This experience solidified her commitment to creating spaces where people feel truly seen, heard, and empowered.
Nia shares that receiving this scholarship has already made a significant impact on her academic and professional journey. With financial stress lifted, she has been able to fully immerse herself in her studies, strengthen her clinical skills, and pursue opportunities that enrich her development. She says the support has prepared her to move forward with confidence as she works toward becoming a licensed clinician and expanding access to mental health services within her community.
Outside the classroom, Nia stays grounded and inspired through volunteering, traveling, and reading. Volunteering keeps her connected to the community she hopes to serve, while traveling broadens her cultural awareness and deepens her understanding of the world. Reading—one of her earliest passions—continues to be a source of joy and growth. Together, these activities not only bring balance to her life but also reinforce her dedication to a career centered on uplifting others. Nia’s journey reflects both compassion and purpose, and we look forward to the impact she will make in the field of mental health.
| | | BeHERE NV had an incredible November! Our team hit the road and connected with hundreds of students across Nevada. From Elko to Pahrump, we visited K-12 schools, colleges, and career events statewide sharing resources, sparking interest in behavioral health careers, and strengthening Nevada’s future workforce. BeHERE NV extends a huge "Thank You" to every student, educator, and partner who welcomed us along the way. Together, we are continuing to Grow Our Own and build a stronger behavioral health future for the Silver State. Enjoy our scenes from the road below! | | Our team traveled over 800 miles through Ely, Eureka, Elko, Battle Mountain, Winnemucca, Lovelock, and Fallon for the NE Rural Career Fairs. We connected with 13 high schools across seven rural Nevada counties and also met with Elko 6th graders, who showed impressive curiosity and engagement! Across all sites, students were notably ready to talk about mental health and explore career options in behavioral health. | | We visited Manse Elementary in Pahrump, where we met with more than 500 students (K-5) and debuted our new digital storybooks about Winnie traveling across Nevada, meeting behavioral health providers, and helping animal friends along the way. The students were wonderfully engaged. We extend our sincere thanks to Manse Elementary for welcoming us and supporting this outreach effort. | | | We spent 2 days meeting with middle school and high school students at the Junior Achievement Inspire Fair held at UNLV. | | | | | Presenting to Northeast Career & Technical Academy's Human & Social Services CTE students about pre-professional skills and careers. | | Partnering with Reed High School's Human & Social Services CTE Teacher, Roni Green, to talk to students about CTE and careers in behavioral health. | | Great Basin College, Pahrump Campus | | |
| | We even stopped by Mojave Counseling to volunteer at their annual Thanksgiving Feast! | | | | Celebrating National Rural Health Day with our partner, Frontier AHEC | | Supporting our partner, Hope Means Nevada, at their annual Hope In Action Event. | | Winnie Loves Traveling Across Nevada! | | |
Peer Recovery Support Specialist
Supervisor Coaching Academy
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The PRSS-S Coaching Academy is available at no cost to qualified applicants interested in becoming a certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist Supervisor (PRSS-S) through the Nevada Certification Board. This academy prepares supervisors to effectively support peer workers with lived experience in recovery from substance use, mental health, problem gambling, and co-occurring challenges.
Apply for the 2026 PRSS-S Coaching Academy here!
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Recognizing Sarah Hartzell:
NAMI Northern Nevada Board Member Of The Year!
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BeHERE NV would like to extend congratulations to our very own Regional Coordinator, Sarah Hartzell, on recently receiving the Board Member of The Year award from NAMI Northern Nevada.
"I was truly honored to receive the Board Member of the Year Award at NAMI Northern Nevada’s Frame of Mind gala! I joined the Board of Directors in 2018 to help our community break down the stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness and to support efforts that make mental health care more accessible for everyone. Over the years, I’ve gained invaluable skills in nonprofit leadership and learned so much from the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to volunteer alongside. This experience has been one of the most impactful of my life.
Listening to the lived experiences of peers managing mental illness, caregivers, families, friends, those who have lost someone to suicide, and advocates doing transformative work in our region has shaped the way I lead and serve. Their stories stay with me and continue to guide the work I do every day. I’m proud to serve as Board President of NAMI Northern Nevada and to help expand our reach and impact in the community."
BeHERE NV wants to also extend Congratulations to Roni Green, Reed High School's Human & Social Services CTE teacher, on their Advocate of the Year award with NAMI
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| CTE Spotlight shines on BeHERE NV's Jill Manit! | | BeHERE NV proudly celebrates Jill Manit, Associate Director of Education and Training, for her remarkable leadership in strengthening Nevada’s behavioral health workforce through Career and Technical Education (CTE). Jill was recently recognized within the Washoe County School District for her collaboration and commitment to student success and career readiness. | | Stay up-to-date on our latest news by subscribing to our newsletter! Please share it with your network. We'll be posting monthly progress updates and more about BeHERE NV. You can also find past editions in the BeHERE NV newsletter section of our website. | | | | Funding for BeHERE NV was made possible by Assembly Bill 37 (2023, 82nd Nevada Legislative Session) and the Nevada System of Higher Education | | | | |
