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. | |  | |
Graduating BeHERE Scholars 01
NEW! BeHERE NV Data Dashboard 02
Dr. Sarah Hartzell: NPHA Award 03
Supporting Nevada’s Future Behavioral Health Workforce 04
UNLV Youth Apprenticeship Opportunity 05
UNR Supervisor Course: Scholarships Available! 06
CEU Opportunities 07
BeHERE NV at 2026 NPHA 08
BeHERE in Action! 09
We have so much to share! Be sure to click on "View Entire Message" to see all of this month's content.
| | BeHERE Scholars Graduate! | | 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). We are so excited to celebrate three of our scholars who are graduating this month! Below they share what is next for them on their career journeys to care for Nevadans. | | | | | |
Dayna Genio
School of Social Work
University of Nevada Reno
After graduation, Dayna plans to spend time recharging in nature by paddleboarding, hiking, and being with loved ones. She will begin working toward licensure as a clinical social worker in June, and has secured an internship with Thrive Wellness in Reno. Dayna will be specializing in eating disorder treatment at the intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization levels of care.
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Cora Asuncion
School of Social Work
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Cora will take her licensure exam in June as well apply for a clinical internship placement. She plans to continue working with Dr. Lauren Shute at the Sport Social Work Lab housed within the UNLV School of Social Work. Cora wants to continue contributing to program development and implementing trauma-informed practice into athletic spaces.

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Kris Mendoza
School of Social Work
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Kris has secured a post-graduation internship working with a high risk, justice-involved population. He is excited to join the behavioral health field, especially in Nevada where behavioral health care is a major need. Kris also looks forward to giving back to the Las Vegas community throughout his career.
| | | BeHERE NV Data Dashboard Goes LIVE | | |
The Nevada Behavioral Health Workforce Data Dashboard is now live, offering an interactive, county-level view of behavioral health licenses across the state. Designed for policymakers, healthcare organizations, and community partners, the dashboard supports a clearer understanding of workforce distribution and highlights potential gaps in service availability.
Users can explore total license counts and population-adjusted license density through dynamic maps, tables, and filters by behavioral health area, license type, and county. Together, these features allow for both broad and detailed analysis of workforce capacity across Nevada.

By improving access to timely and transparent data, the dashboard serves as a practical resource for strategic planning, helping to identify underserved areas and inform efforts to strengthen the state’s behavioral health workforce
Explore the dashboard: BeHERE NV.org/Dashboard
| | Celebrating a Leadership Milestone | | |
BeHERE NV is proud to recognize Dr. Sarah Hartzell, PhD, Regional Project Coordinator, for receiving the Public Health Leadership Award from the Nevada Public Health Association.
This recognition highlights Dr. Sarah’s dedication to advancing public health, strengthening communities, and supporting the growth of Nevada’s behavioral health workforce. Her leadership and collaborative approach continue to make a meaningful impact across the state.
We are grateful for Dr. Sarah’s contributions and proud to have her representing BeHERE NV. Congratulations on this well deserved honor!
| | | | Supporting Nevada’s Future Behavioral Health Workforce | | |
Every day, BeHERE NV works to strengthen Nevada’s behavioral health workforce by connecting with students, educators, professionals, and communities across the state. From attending rural career fairs and introducing K–12 students to behavioral health careers, to supporting graduate students through training opportunities, mentorship, and grants, our mission is centered on creating pathways into meaningful, purpose-driven work.
Your support also helps make programs like youth summer camps, workforce development events, outreach initiatives, and educational resources possible; expanding awareness of behavioral health careers and helping future providers succeed and remain in the field. With your help, we can continue building a stronger, more connected behavioral health workforce for Nevada communities. Thank you for supporting the future of care across our state!
Give Back to BeHERE NV Today!
| | New Youth Apprenticeship Opportunity! | |
Build the future of the behavioral health workforce. Become a Host Site!
Help shape the next generation of professionals by hosting a youth apprentice! UNLV Youth Rebel Start Academy will work closely with each partner to ensure the right fit, structure, and supervision for a successful placement. Opportunities are available across education, community and human services, and administrative fields. Host sites are needed for Summer 2026 and Fall 2027.
đź“© Interested? Reach out to marcedes.butler@unlv.edu
| | CAS 783: Supervision for Counseling Professionals | | The Community Behavioral Health Collaborative is offering CAS 783: Supervision for Counseling Professionals this fall, taught by Dr. Alyson Mullen. This course is a great opportunity for counseling professionals looking to strengthen their supervision skills and grow in their careers. A limited number of full scholarships with 7 being available; covering tuition and fees, offered through support from the Molina Healthcare Foundation. | | Continuing Education (CE) Opportunities | | |
Join us on May 20, 2026, for a live webinar focused on supporting providers after the loss of a client to suicide or overdose. This unique event combines a film screening with guided discussion to explore the emotional and professional impact of client loss, while offering practical, evidence-informed strategies for healing and resilience.
Participants will gain tools to navigate postvention, strengthen recovery, and respond with compassion and structure in the aftermath of loss. The session will also highlight available resources to support both individuals and organizations.
TAP IMAGE TO REGISTER
🗓 May 20, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM PT
đź’» Live Webinar | Free to attend | 2 CEUs available
Presented by Bianca D. McCall, LMFT
| | Navigating AI: A Course on Ethics. | | |
Navigating AI: This upcoming one-day conference exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and ethical practice in behavioral health. Designed for professionals and students alike, this event will provide valuable insight into how emerging technologies are shaping the field and the ethical considerations that come with it.
Attendees will have the opportunity to earn ethics CEUs while engaging in timely discussions relevant to social work, counseling, and other behavioral health professions.
🗓 May 27, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
đź“Ť Las Vegas, NV
Space is limited—early registration is encouraged.
| | UNLV DKZ Presents: Connecting Minds (FKA Alumni-Com) | |
Connecting Minds Conference: Friday, June 5, 9am - 5pm
UNLV DKZ announces their Annual Multidisciplinary Mental Health Conference for Students & Seasoned Professionals in Individual and Relational Mental Health Practice (formerly known as Alumni-Con). The digital program can be found here.
Costs: $16 for non-DKZ grad students, $6 for DKZ students, $43 for DKZ Alumni, and $53 for other mental health professionals.
Get Your Ticket Today!
https://delta-kappa-zeta-unlv.myshopify.com/products/connecting-minds-conference-tickets
| | BeHERE NV at the 2026 Nevada Public Health Association Conference | | Photographed: (L) Nicole Mwalili, MPH, UNR Health Workforce Research Analyst, Office of Statewide Initiatives, (C) Dr. Ashley Noel Pruitt - BeHERE NV, and (R) Kayla Ramsey, MHA, PTA, Lung Screening Program Manager, Nevada Cancer Coalition. | |
BeHERE NV was honored to participate in the 2026 Nevada Public Health Association (NPHA) Annual Conference in Las Vegas. This year’s conference, One Nevada, One Health: Collaboration for a Healthier Future, brought together public health professionals, educators, researchers, students, and community leaders from across the state to explore topics related to health equity, policy, workforce development, and community impact.
The event was especially meaningful for BeHERE NV, as team members were invited to present both individually and collaboratively throughout the conference. With presentations taking place across multiple breakout sessions, BeHERE NV maintained a strong presence throughout the two-day event, highlighting innovative approaches to strengthening Nevada’s behavioral health workforce.
Throughout the conference, BeHERE NV team members shared presentations and participated in discussions highlighting innovative approaches to workforce development, public health communication, policy, and data-informed planning. Dr. Sarah Hartzell presented on the use of op-eds as a public health dissemination strategy, while Data Specialist Dr. Aileen Lovitt and Oluwapelumi Odubunmi showcased the development of Nevada’s Behavioral Health Workforce Dashboard as a tool to support statewide planning efforts.

Additional presentations included a collaborative session from Drs. Aileen Lovitt, Jill Manit, Sarah Hartzell, and Grad Intern Yuhan Bi focused on evaluating youth behavioral health workforce development strategies, as well as lightning talks from Dr. Roberta Miranda-Alfonso on using statewide virtual summits to strengthen Nevada’s workforce pipeline and Dr. Ashley Noel Pruitt on transforming policy into pathways for behavioral health collaboration. Dr. Sara Hunt served as a panelist in discussions focused on rural health.
| | BeHERE NV is proud to celebrate our Associate Director of Education and Training, Dr. Jill Manit, for being recognized at the 2026 UNLV Women’s Council Celebrating Our Successes Awards Ceremony. Dr. Manit was honored for her community engagement with K-12 partners. We are grateful for the impact Dr. Manit continues to make and proud to see her recognized among so many inspiring leaders across the university community. | | |
BeHERE NV’s Winnie and Director of Technical Assistance & Policy, Dr. Ashley Noel Pruitt, recently attended the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Health and Human Services meeting at the Nevada Legislative Building. During the session, the Nevada Health Authority shared important updates on the impacts of federal legislation and proposed changes affecting Nevada Medicaid, including work requirements, eligibility changes, and provider taxes.
Opportunities like this help our team stay informed on policy developments impacting behavioral health providers and the communities they serve across Nevada.
Photographed (L) Stacie Weeks, J.D., M.P.H., Director, Nevada Health Authority & Dr. Ashley Noel Pruitt at the Nevada Legislature, (R) Ann Jensen, Administrator, Nevada Medicaid, NVHA & Dr. Ashley Noel Pruitt at the Nevada Legislature.
🎥 Watch the PRESENTATIONS HERE.
| | BeHERE NV’s Associate Director of Recruitment and Outreach, Roberta Miranda-Alfonzo, recently attended B-Con 2026 hosted by the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) in Omaha, Nebraska. The event brought together leaders and professionals dedicated to strengthening the behavioral health workforce through collaboration, innovation, and shared learning. During the conference, Dr. Miranda-Alfonzo had the opportunity to engage with contributors from across the field, exchanging ideas and building connections that support workforce development efforts both in Nevada and beyond. | | In April, BeHERE NV staff, Drs. Sarah Hartzell and Jill Manit, participated in multiple K-12 career fairs across Nevada, including Fernley, Dayton, and Tonopah High Schools. They engaged with hundreds of students, sharing information about behavioral health careers, educational pathways, and workforce development programs, including the upcoming summer camp. These events fostered valuable connections with students eager to explore opportunities in behavioral health and community care, highlighting the growing interest in making a meaningful impact in their communities. | | 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 | | | | |
