October 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.

BeHERE NV TURNS 1!

This month, we proudly celebrate our first anniversary! Over the past year, BeHERE NV has achieved incredible milestones, built strong relationships, and laid the foundation for a bright future. Thank you to our amazing team and supportive community who made this journey possible!

Here’s what some of our dedicated staff have to say:

"Working as a Graduate Assistant with BeHERE NV for the past month has been such an inspiring experience! I love the team and am deeply aligned with our core values—Grace, Curiosity, Boldness, Creativity, and Fun. It’s meaningful to witness BeHERE’s influence on Nevada’s behavioral health field, and I’m excited to see us grow even bigger and make an even greater impact in the future!"- [Yuhan Bi, Graduate Assistant]

"I started working for BeHERE NV when it was just me and Dr. Hunt. Over the past year, I've witnessed our team grow exponentially, and I am beyond grateful to work alongside such dedicated individuals. Each member brings unique talents and passion, all focused on making a real difference in Nevada. It has truly been an honor to see BeHERE NV evolve into what it is today, and I can't wait to see where we go from here!" - [Adriana Monroy, Administrative Assistant III]

"Connecting with students and their teachers in the K-12 system has been a highlight of my time at BeHERE NV, and I feel privileged to help recruit the next generation of behavioral health professionals. It’s a source of pride for me, but also bears a sense of responsibility as we collectively work to expand Nevadans' access to mental health care. I am also thrilled to be a part of a team that is truly committed to our operational values of grace, curiosity, creativity and fun!"- [Jill Manit, Associate Director of Education & Training]

"Being part of BeHERE NV's mission to expand and strengthen Nevada's behavioral health workforce has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. I especially enjoy fostering relationships with partners across the state to advance our shared goals of enhancing mental and behavioral health services. It’s equally inspiring to collaborate with a team that shares this passion and commitment to making a lasting impact on Nevada’s communities! In sum-I love my role with BeHERE NV!"- [Roberta Miranda Alfonzo, Associate Director of Recruitment and Outreach]

"The development and growth of BeHERE NV in our first year has been so inspiring and amazing to watch. That is due to the passion and commitment of our staff and the gracious support of so many stakeholders across Nevada. Our thanks to the Nevada System of Higher Education, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health for helping us build our foundation. We are only getting started and the best is yet to come!"- [Sara Hunt, Executive Director]

Cheers to our first year and to the exciting adventures that lie ahead!

Dayna Genio

UNR School of Social Work

Dayna Genio is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work, drawn to the field by its core ethical principles: service, social justice, and the dignity and worth of every individual. Inspired by her own therapists, who also share a social work background, Dayna aims to give back to her community in the same impactful way she has experienced.

Recently, Dayna was thrilled to receive the BeHERE scholarship while at work. “I was pretty shocked,” she said, and her coworkers celebrated the achievement with her. To mark the occasion, Dayna and her family visited a sunflower field that evening, making the moment even more special.

Her dream is to earn her Master’s degree and become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Currently interning at a substance use treatment center, she is passionate about this work and hopes to become a licensed clinical drug and alcohol counselor as well. Dayna is eager to expand her skills through training in various therapeutic modalities, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), somatic healing, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.

Dayna expresses her gratitude for the scholarship, stating it “is allowing me to earn my Master’s with a lot more financial freedom than I expected.” Outside of her studies, she enjoys practicing and teaching yoga, which has greatly benefited her physical and mental health. Additionally, she loves spending time outdoors, reading at coffee shops, and thrifting at second-hand stores.

We’re excited to see where Dayna's journey takes her and the positive impact she will have on her community!

BeHERE NV recently partnered with multiple mental health training programs at UNR to offer the BeHERE Scholarships. Through a subaward with Dr. Jennifer Ross, Program Director, UNR Community Behavioral Health Collaborative, 12 Master's students in the UNR School of Social Work, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling programs will receive scholarships over the next two years. According to Dr. Ross, the mission of the UNR Community Behavioral Health Collaborative (CBHC) is to develop a skilled, diverse, and community-oriented behavioral health workforce in Northern Nevada through innovative clinical training and professional development initiatives. They strive to:

1. Provide intensive, hands-on clinical training experiences for behavioral health students

and early career professionals in community-based settings.

2. Cultivate a robust network of clinical supervisors to support and mentor the next

generation of behavioral health providers.

3. Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and learning opportunities among UNR's

behavioral health programs.

4. Partner with community organizations to create meaningful training placements that

expose students to diverse populations and real-world challenges.

5. Promote workforce retention by inspiring graduates to pursue careers serving high-need

populations in Nevada.

Through these workforce development efforts, they aim to increase access to quality mental

health care for underserved communities, foster innovation in behavioral health education, and

strengthen the overall behavioral health infrastructure in Northern Nevada. For more information about the UNR Behavioral Health Collaborative, email Dr. Ross at jcallowayross@unr.edu.

Join the MMIWR Awareness Seminar, a vital event dedicated to addressing the critical issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives. This seminar will feature expert panels and Attendees will gain essential knowledge and resources to help protect and support their communities. Held alongside the Indian National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas on Thursday, October 24th, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and make a meaningful impact. This event is approved for 6.75 CEUs with the Board of Examiners for Social Worker, including 1.0 CEU for Suicide Prevention and 5.75 CEUs for Ethics

Mineral County, NV

Walker Lake, Mineral County, NV

Walker Lake, Mineral County, NV

On September, 17, 2024, Dr. Jill Manit spoke with members of the Mineral County Behavioral Health Task force in Hawthorne, NV.  The members consisted of community volunteers, providers, and school officials.  After a presentation about BeHERE NV, there was a discussion about opportunities and potential barriers to behavioral health expansion efforts. Members were enthusiastic about “camp” style activities to introduce students to behavioral health careers.  During this meeting, it was evident that members of the task force care deeply about the needs of their community and are committed to taking action. We are thankful to have had the conversation and look forward to future collaborations.

Recently, SAMHSA announced the launch of a pair of new technical assistance (TA) centers. The Serious Mental Illness Training and Technical Assistance Center (SMI TTAC) will support those involved in providing services for individuals with SMI and build upon work previously done through the SAMHSA-funded SMI Adviser. The SMI TTAC will provide training and TA that aid in the treatment, recovery and personalized intensive TA, including clinical consultation. SAMHSA plans to notify stakeholders when the SMI TTAC webpage is available.

This week, SAMHSA announced the National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (NCEED), the first center of excellence dedicated to eating disorders. The purpose of NCEED is to expand the scope of the training and technical assistance developed and provided to health care practitioners and other stakeholders on issues related to addressing eating disorders and to advance efforts to recognize the signs of eating disorders through the provision of appropriate intervention and services. Its goals are to provide the most up-to-date information on strategies related to addressing eating disorders, promote public awareness of eating disorders, and educate and train health professionals in effective strategies related to eating disorders, including effective treatment, physical health needs, integrated treatment of co-occurring medical and mental health conditions, and implementation approaches. Check out the NCEED webpage.

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, March, April, May, June, July, August, and September 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