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. | |  | |
NV HEAL Application CLOSING SOON! 01
NEW NV Scholarship Opportunities! 02
NHSC Student Loan Repayment Programs 03
BeHERE Advanced Scholarship Recipient 04
Team Spotlights 05
BeHERE Supports Students at NECTA 06
Another Successful First Gen Social 07
New Developmental Pediatrics Training 08
Registration Now Open for ACT 2-Day Workshop 09
BeHERE NV in Action 10
We have so much to share! Be sure to click on "View Entire Message" to see all of this month's content.
| | NV HEAL Application CLOSING SOON! | |
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The Nevada Health Equity and Loan Assistance (HEAL) Program is now accepting applications for its 2026 funding cycle. This state-funded student loan repayment program supports licensed healthcare professionals who commit to serving rural and underserved communities across Nevada.
Eligible providers may receive $15,000–$120,000 in loan repayment, depending on provider type. Eligibility was expanded following the 2025 legislative session.
Apply by February 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Program details and application materials are available via the links provided.
Questions? Contact NV-HEAL@NevadaTreasurer.gov.
MORE INFO AND APPLY BY CLICKING HERE
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NEW NV Scholarship Opportunity!
2026 Application Window Open NOW
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The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada has officially opened its 2026 Scholarship Cycle, offering a wide range of scholarship opportunities for Nevada students pursuing higher education. These awards include funding options for students in health professions, public health, and related fields, among many others.
To help students navigate available opportunities, the foundation offers a Scholarship Eligibility Quiz, allowing applicants to quickly identify which scholarships they may qualify for based on their background and educational goals. Students, educators, and partners are encouraged to explore and share these opportunities widely.
🔗 Learn more and access the eligibility quiz: https://nevadafund.org/scholarships/
| | | | Student Loan Repayment Programs by NHSC! | |
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The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is now accepting applications for three loan repayment programs. Are you a primary care, dental, or mental and behavioral health provider working at an NHSC-approved site? You could receive up to $100,000 to pay off your student loans.
Application deadline: Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Visit NHSC website for more info!
| | | | Featured BeHERE Advanced Scholarship Recipient | | 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 a student at UNR. | | |
Sonja Petersen
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of Nevada Reno
| | Currently studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UNR, Sonja Petersen was drawn to the field through a deep commitment to community, a natural ability to connect with others, and gratitude for the support once received during a difficult time. Sonja is passionate about the work of healing and aspires to become a knowledgeable, open-minded, and courageous clinician who shows up authentically for clients. This scholarship has provided valuable time for the introspection and reflection essential to building a strong foundation in behavioral health—an investment Sonja sees as critical to a future career. Outside of academics, Sonja enjoys sewing, visual and digital art, dancing, playing with their pets, and engaging in competitive video games with friends, all of which allow for creativity, connection, and joy. | | | |
BeHERE NV is proud to recognize Dr. Jill Manit, Associate Director of Education and Training, for recently being awarded a UNLV Summer Program Mini-Grant in support of innovative youth programming. This competitive grant recognizes proposals that expand access to meaningful, skill-building summer experiences for students and reflects Dr. Manit’s continued commitment to workforce development and student success.
Dr. Manit and Dr. Hartzell (also featured) will leverage this funding to create the BeHERE, BeWELL: Caring Communities Day Camp for elementary-aged youth, creating an age-appropriate early pipeline into the behavioral health professions. The camp will combine story-based learning, wellness activities, hands-on projects, and career exposure.
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Congratulations are in order for Dr. Sarah Hartzell, BeHERE NV Regional Coordinator! Dr. Hartzell was recently accepted into the Western Region Leadership Institute for Public Health & Primary Care Leaders at the University of Arizona.
This leadership program develops public health and healthcare professionals through a holistic, evidence-based approach grounded in adaptive and practical leadership. In her role at BeHERE NV, Dr. Hartzell demonstrates strategic, equity-driven leadership, combining data-driven insight and cross-sector collaboration to advance behavioral health in Nevada.
| | | BeHERE Supports Student Project at NECTA | | |
On January 29, 2026, Dr. Roberta Miranda-Alfonzo visited NECTA High School, where she led a series of engaging workshops for students focused on mental health, sleep health, and the importance of overall well-being.
The presentations are a part of our ongoing partnership with the Human & Social Services CTE program at NECTA. For this particular event, BeHERE NV was proud to support some of our BeWELL camp alumni as they organized a student-driven mental health awareness project at their school. We wish them luck in presenting this project at FCCLA!
| | Another Successful First Generation Social! | | On January 21, 2026, BeHERE NV staff, along with support from Dr. Amanda Haboush-Deloye, Executive Director of the Nevada Institute of Children's Research and Policy (NICRP), and the UNLV Couples and Family Therapy Program, hosted a Spring Semester Social for first-generation graduate students at the Firefly Tapas & Cocktail Lounge. The event offered an inviting space for connection and community building, featuring great food, meaningful networking, and a fun round of Bingo. | | New Developmental Pediatrics Training | | |
Project ECHO Nevada, in partnership with Molina Healthcare, is launching a free, five-part Developmental Pediatrics ECHO Series beginning Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM PT. This virtual series is designed to support pediatric healthcare providers by strengthening clinical knowledge and practical tools for evaluating and caring for children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral health needs.
Using a case-based learning model, participants will connect with an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts to foster collaboration, build community care networks, and reduce professional isolation. Topics will span adolescent development, neurodiversity, mental health, substance use, and transitions to adulthood. While attendance at every session is not required, participants are encouraged to attend most sessions to maximize learning and engagement.
Free CME/CEU credits are available for physicians, nurses, and pharmacists through the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Interested participants are encouraged to register to receive more information, including session links and a printable flyer.
| | Registration Now Open for ACT 2-Day Workshop! | | |
UNLV PRACTICE Institute will host a two-day, in-person training on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on April 17–18, 2026, led by internationally recognized ACT expert Dr. Robyn Walser. Designed for clinicians looking to deepen their clinical skills, this intermediate-level workshop will focus on integrating ACT’s core processes into flexible, values-driven therapeutic practice. Beginners with foundational knowledge of ACT are also welcome.
The training will take place at the UNLV Tam Alumni Building and offers 12 continuing education units (CEUs) approved by multiple Nevada licensing boards, including psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, and clinical professional counseling. Early-bird registration is available through March 1, 2026, with discounted rates for students and professionals.
| | BeHERE in Action : January 2026 | |
Behavioral Health Association of Nevada
BeHERE NV recently collaborated with the Behavioral Health Association of Nevada (BHAN) in organizing the BHAN Southern Nevada Regional Meeting, held at the Stan Fulton Building on the UNLV campus. BeHERE NV was happy to welcome Steve Shell who facilitated a meaningful and engaging discussion with attendees on innovations and challenges related to behavioral health care in Southern Nevada. We also got to hear updates from Anne-Elizabeth Northern, Project Director, with the Nevada Certification Board.
| | | 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 | | | | |
