April 2025

Nicole Spada-Allgood

UNR Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

Nicole is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling student at UNR who made the decision to change career paths a few years ago after supporting a friend through a mental health crisis. Previously, she worked in informal education and has always had a passion for helping people understand and learn new information. She believes that counseling is an excellent way to help individuals learn more about themselves, and is committed to improving mental health access in society, especially during these challenging times. Nicole eagerly anticipates the completion of her degree, which will allow her to deepen her involvement in providing vital mental health services.

Nicole is incredibly grateful for the scholarship that has made it possible for her to pursue her degree. Without it, continuing her education would have been a significant challenge. Her ultimate goal is to practice nature-based therapy or ecotherapy, and she is already gaining experience in the equine-assisted therapy field. The scholarship has given her the freedom to explore various jobs and internships, knowing that her tuition is covered while she works towards her career goals.

When Nicole received the scholarship news, she was left speechless. She was so surprised that she couldn’t react immediately and just stared at the screen for a minute to process it. While at work, a co-worker (a graduated UNR MFT Intern) asked what was going on, and when Nicole shared the news, they both celebrated together. Nicole grinned ear to ear and even did a little “celebration dance” before heading out to share the good news with her horses.

Outside of her studies, Nicole loves spending time outdoors. She enjoys walking, hiking, and snowshoeing, often accompanied by her dog. She finds nature to be an incredibly fulfilling way to relieve stress. Additionally, Nicole is a moderator for an online fandom-themed “running” group, which focuses on staying active rather than just running. She also participates in their virtual races. For downtime, Nicole enjoys reading, relaxing with her cat and drinking tea. She also loves singing and acting, and even though she hasn't had the chance to get involved with local theater in Reno, she continues to sing constantly- whether at home, in the car, or at work.



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March kicked off an exciting stretch of outreach and engagement for our K-12 initiatives! We were thrilled to participate in Lyon County’s spring career fairs, making stops at Silver Stage High School in Silver Springs and Fernley High School in Fernley, NV. More career fairs are on the horizon in both Lyon and Nye Counties throughout April—stay tuned!

Photo features Sarah Hartzell and Jill Manit at Fernley High School

Photo features Allie Lovitt at Silver Springs High School

On March 13, we also joined the UNR Collegiate Academy, connecting with over 400 Washoe County high school students currently enrolled in Psychology 101 through the dual credit program. It was an inspiring opportunity to share behavioral health career pathways and promote the many ways students can make a difference in this field. Read more here.

In Winnemucca, we met with Frontier AHEC’s ASPIRE students—future healthcare professionals with a strong interest in behavioral health. A meaningful conversation centered on integrated care and career possibilities in their own rural communities.

We’re also gearing up for our BeHERE BeWELL Behavioral Health Careers Summer Camp, happening June 8–11 at UNLV. This 3-night overnight experience includes skill-building workshops, a clinic tour, “trash journaling,” and plenty of fun. The $25 registration covers meals, lodging, and activities. Parents and caregivers are welcome on June 8 for opening workshops and dinner, and again on June 11 for a student-led showcase and simulated career fair.

Learn more and register at: youngrebels.unlv.edu/programs/behere-bewell

Thanks for following along as we continue to inspire Nevada’s future behavioral health workforce.

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Applications are now being accepted to offset the costs (up to $1,000) of licensure/certification exam preparation materials, exam registration fees, and/or Nevada licensing/certification board fees. The application period for the Trainee Fund will be open from April 1, 2025, through April 30, 2025. Award notifications will be made after May 15, 2025.

Please note: Only purchases made between January 1, 2025, and April 30, 2025, will be considered for funding. Priority will be given to students and interns who are dedicated to serving Nevada in their professional careers.

For eligibility details and more information, click the link or visit our BeHERE NV page.

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Our Behavioral Health Pathways section on the BeHERE webpage has been completely renovated! Our amazing graduate assistant, Yuhan Bi, did a fantastic job transforming the section into a fun and interactive experience for those exploring potential career paths in behavioral health. This powerful tool is designed to help you explore meaningful careers in the field. Whether you choose to browse by program or explore institution options through the Nevada Systems of Higher Education (NSHE), we've created this space just for you. The updated Behavioral Health Pathways section also includes the Health Care Careers in Nevada 2024-2025 report, published by the Nevada Health Workforce Research Center at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, which provides insights into healthcare job opportunities in Nevada.

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NHSC Loan Repayment Program

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Programs are open now through May 1, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Each program has different award amounts and eligibility requirements based on your credentials and discipline. 

• NHSC Loan Repayment Program
• NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
• NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program 



Clinicians providing primary medical, oral health, behavioral health care services, or evidence-based substance use disorder treatment at an NHSC-approved site can receive up to $100,000 to help pay off their student loans.

Are You Eligible?

You must meet all eligibility requirements: 

• A United States citizen (U.S. born or naturalized) or United States national.
• Trained and licensed to practice in the discipline and state you are applying to serve. 
• A provider (or eligible to participate as a provider) in the Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, as appropriate. 
• A provider with qualifying educational loan debt. 
• Working at an NHSC-approved site.

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The Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (H/LBH CoE) offers training and technical assistance (TTA), delivering capacity-building through educational training events (virtual and in-person) on evidence-based, culturally-adapted, and community-driven best practices in community outreach and engagement, mental health promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery for mental health and substance use disorders for Hispanic/Latine individuals.

Each year, to enhance and improve training events, H/LBH CoE conducts an Environmental Scan. The scan will gather your feedback to inform the development of culturally informed behavioral health information pertinent to Hispanic and Latino communities. 

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The Behavioral Health Workforce Center Alliance (BHWCA) is a network of behavioral health workforce development centers from across the United States. The alliance was founded by the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN), a state-funded behavioral health workforce center in Nebraska established in 2009.

The BHWCA allows members to connect with colleagues and experts, understand national-level workforce trends, and innovate in the field of behavioral health workforce development. More specifically, alliance members will participate in quarterly virtual meetings, annual in-person gatherings, and other forums to share state-specific workforce challenges and successes, collaborate on workforce projects and presentations, and support members by establishing relationships.

The BHWCA includes representatives from:

• BHECN
• BeHERE NV
• Dartmouth College
• University of South Florida
• University of North Carolina Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
• Yale University
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• University of Washington
• Southern Illinois University
• Northern Michigan University
• National Academy for State Health Policy
• West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
• University of Georgia Center of Behavioral Health Workforce
• Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD)
• National Council for Mental Wellbeing
• Behavioral Health Workforce Center, Massachusetts Health Policy Commission

Source: https://www.unmc.edu/bhecn/partnerships/bhwca.html

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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