April 2024

WELCOME TO BeHERE NV!

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.

Associate Director of Education and Training

“I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention.” 

~ Quote attributed to Diane Sawyer



We have been busy at BeHERE NV “paying attention” to a multitude of partners, individuals, and young people who are key to the expansion of the behavioral health workforce in Nevada. Over this past month, we met with program representatives from many of the Nevada System of Higher Education institutions to learn what they are doing to recruit, train, and prepare students for careers in the mental and behavioral health fields. We have also met with our partners at High Sierra and Frontier AHECs. Through these conversations we learned about collaborations with high schools, courses offered, existing pipeline development efforts, and new programs launching. While each conversation carried its own unique elements, specific to the region and students served, there were a few key themes that emerged from the conversations:

• There is clearly a shared concern about access to mental health services for people in the state and a shared commitment to expanding the workforce to meet those needs.
• Stakeholders, across the state, overwhelmingly welcomed BeHERE NV as a new initiative and are willing to partner on ideas and share resources.
• The behavioral health workforce pipeline needs support at every step. It is clear that we can’t just recruit into the field, we have to support students through the whole process. This includes academic, financial, and professional development support.
• There is a shared commitment to diversify the workforce to meet Nevada’s needs and to support first-generation college students in the pursuit of degrees in the behavioral health field.

We wholeheartedly thank all of you who took the time to meet with us and to provide guidance as we launch this important initiative. But, we have more listening to do! We look forward to continuing our “listening tour” with many more partners and stakeholders.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is now accepting applications for three loan repayment programs, each with 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

New this year:

• Increased award amounts of up to $75,000 for full-time and up to $37,500 for half-time participants who are physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants providing primary care services.
• Added $5,000 award enhancement for clinicians who demonstrate Spanish-language proficiency.

Clinicians providing primary medical, dental, behavioral health care services, or evidence-based substance use disorder treatment at an NHSC-approved site can receive up to $105,000 to help pay off their student loans.

Don’t miss the opportunity for tax-free loan repayment in addition to earning a competitive salary!

The application deadline is Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Ruby Kelly, M.S.

Senior Grant Specialist

Biography: Ruby Kelly is the Senior Grants Specialist for BeHERE NV. She has a Master’s of Science in Equity and Diversity in Education and a Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Nevada Reno (UNR). Ruby has previously worked in workforce development in higher education for nearly 10 years. Most recently was the School Based Mental Health Services Grant’s project director at the Department of Education, promoting workforce development for our School Based Mental Health Professionals. 

In Ruby’s ten years in Higher Education, she was the GEAR UP Ambassador which promoted first generation college students to go to college. She then transitioned to being the Perkins Grant Manager and Career and Technical Education Coordinator for seven great years for Western Nevada College in Carson City, Nevada. Her main goal is promoting positive behavioral health and workforce development to get more Behavioral Health professionals in our communities. Ruby looks forward to aligning funding and goals to better promote workforce development in Nevada. 

Ruby is married and has two very active young boys - a 1.5 year old and a newly turned 5 year old. She enjoys going camping together as a family. She adores her two lively Australian Shepard/Border Collies and her sassy cat.

April is Counseling Awareness Month, a time to honor the amazing individuals in the counseling profession. The American Counseling Association's article, "What is counseling?" sheds light on the essential role of professional counselors in helping people gain insights, develop strategies, and find solutions to life's challenges. By fostering positive relationships and offering tailored tools and techniques, counselors also support clients from diverse backgrounds. BeHERE NV would like to thank all the counselors in Nevada for everything they do.

If you're a great listener, empathetic communicator, and enjoy building connections, a counseling career might be your calling! Curious about becoming a counselor? Visit our NSHE Institutions to learn more.

UNLV Department of Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Human Resources 

https://www.unlv.edu/csh

UNR College of Education & Human Development 

https://www.unr.edu/education

GBC Health Sciences and Human Services Department

https://www.gbcnv.edu/departments/hshs/

NSU School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

https://nevadastate.edu/program/counseling-minor/

WNC Social Work Psychology & Behavioral Sciences 

https://wnc.edu/areas/social-work-behavioral-sciences.php

Source: https://www.counseling.org/mental-health-counseling/what-is-counseling

Great Basin College

Winnemucca, NV

Career Fair at Fernley High School

Fernley High School

Fernley, NV

New School Psychology clinic at Nevada State University

BeHERE NV recently embarked on an exciting tour of Northern and Southern Nevada, including visits to educational institutions such as Great Basin College, Truckee Meadows Community College, Western Nevada College, University of Nevada Reno, and Nevada State University. Throughout the trip, BeHERE NV had the privilege of engaging with students at Fernley High School during a career fair, showcasing the possibilities of pursuing a career in behavioral health. The tour also included a visit to the Speech Pathology and new School Psychology clinic at Nevada State University.

Keep up with all of our latest updates by subscribing to our Newsletter, and please share with your contacts. We will be posting monthly updates on our progress and more on BeHERE NV. Don't forget to explore the February and March edition of the BeHERE NV Newsletter. Can’t wait to have you along on this journey with us!

Funding for BeHERE NV was made possible by Assembly Bill 37 (2023, 82nd Nevada Legislative Session) and the Nevada System of Higher Education