March 2025

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.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DAY AT THE NEVADA LEGISLATURE

Photo includes Ashley Noel Pruitt, Assemblymember Reuben D'Silva, and Dr. Sara Hunt

Photo includes Dr. Sara Hunt and BeHERE Scholar Dayna Genio from UNR School of Social Work

Photo includes Ashley Noel Pruitt and Dr. Sara Hunt at the Nevada Legislature

BeHERE NV had the privilege of meeting with Assemblymember Reuben D'Silva to discuss Assembly Bill 269. This bill adds additional behavioral health providers to the list of eligible health care providers who can apply for the Nevada HEAL Program. Specifically, the bill adds marriage and family therapists, clinical alcohol and drug counselors, and problem gambling counselors.

Natalya Syegh 

UNLV COUPLE AND FAMILY THERAPY PROGRAM

Natalya is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Couple and Family Therapy at UNLV. Her interest was sparked by the profound impact people have on one another and how relationships shape individual identity. She finds the dynamics within families to be incredibly complex and intriguing. Her life experiences have greatly influenced her decision to follow this path, along with a strong desire to give back to her community.

Natalya sees the scholarship as crucial to shaping her future in behavioral health. Her dream is to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology after completing her Master’s. With more years of study ahead, this scholarship alleviates much of the financial pressure she faces. Currently, she works as a psychiatric case manager at UNLV’s Mojave Mental Health, assisting Middle Eastern refugees. She aspires to open her own practice, providing therapeutic services to both English and Arabic speakers in the community.

When Natalya discovered she had won the scholarship, she was at work checking her emails. Overwhelmed with excitement, she took a moment to absorb the news before calling her parents to share the great news. Ecstatic and feeling blessed, she and her family celebrated that night with a special dinner.

Outside of her studies, Natalya loves spending time with family and friends. She makes it a priority to enjoy their company whenever she has a break from her busy schedule. Additionally, she enjoys reading and watching movies, finding these activities to be great ways to relax and unwind.

BeHERE NV SCHOLARS EVENT

Photo featuring BeHERE Scholar Luisa Alvarez and her mother; Dr. Ivet Aldaba, Program Director of the UNLV School of Social Work; Dr. Heather Dahl-Jacinto, Program Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program; BeHERE Scholar Carolyn Streb with her partner; BeHERE Mentor Dr. Sheldon Jacobs; BeHERE Director Sara Hunt; BeHERE Scholar Natalya Syegh with her father; BeHERE Scholar Maleia Tremblay with her partner; Dr. Sara Jordan, Program Director of the Couple and Family Therapy Program; BeHERE Administrative Assistant Adriana Monroy; BeHERE Senior Grant Specialist Ruby Kelly; and BeHERE Mentor Danyell Cadell

BeHERE Mentor Danyell Cadell and Ivet Aldada, Program Director at the UNLV School of Social Work

Photo featuring Sara Jordan, Program Director for the Couple and Family Therapy Program; Dr. Sheldon Jacobs, BeHERE Mentor; Sara Hunt, BeHERE Director; Natayla Syegh, BeHERE Scholar, with her father; Maleia Tremblay, BeHERE Scholar, with her partner; and Ruby Kelly, BeHERE Grant Specialist.

BeHERE gathered with BeHERE NV Scholars, Mentors, and Program Directors for a memorable social dinner night. The event provided a relaxed atmosphere where scholars had the opportunity to mingle and connect with one another. Throughout the evening, scholars, program directors, and mentors shared meaningful stories and personal experiences, fostering a sense of community and mutual support. Some scholars brought their partners and parents along, making the night even more special. It was a night full of laughter, conversation, and fun as everyone came together to celebrate their shared journey and enjoy each other's company.

BeHERE BeWELL CAMP!

In partnership with our colleagues at the UNLV Early Outreach office, BeHERE NV is proud to announce our first summer camp for high school students!

The Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Learning Lab (BeWELL) will offer students a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of behavioral health professions. This overnight, dorm-stay camp provides hands-on experiences, expert-led discussions, and career pathway exploration designed to inspire the next generation of mental health professionals.

Students will engage in dynamic activities such as career speed chats, wellness workshops, pre-professional skill development, campus and clinic tours, and a student-driven "Behavioral Health Career Fair," where they will practice professional communication skills while demonstrating their knowledge of behavioral health disciplines. The camp also includes mentorship from UNLV students and faculty, as well as college readiness workshops provided by UNLV Early Outreach. Of course, there will be plenty of fun included, too!

By the end of the camp, students will have a deeper understanding of behavioral health careers, the steps needed to pursue them, and the impact they can have on improving mental health in Nevada.

*Space is limited to 15 campers*

If you have any questions about the camp, please feel free to contact Jill Manit at Jill.manit@unlv.edu.

If you are a provider interested in speaking to the students or helping with the activities, we encourage you to sign up for our Speaker’s Bureau.

📢 Attention Health Care Providers! 📢

New requirements are in place: You must create, authenticate, and store patient records in a system that allows patients to access and share their records with others (NRS 439.589).

Good news! Grant funding is available to help small health care providers implement these systems.

⏰ Don’t miss out! The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. PT on March 31, 2025.

Dear Nevada Behavioral Health Provider,

The Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) at the University of Nevada, Reno's School of Public Health is conducting research on co-occurring disorders treatment education in Nevada. As a licensed provider in our state, your insights are invaluable.

Your expertise and experiences will directly influence future workforce development through academic initiatives for co-occurring disorders treatment.

The survey takes just 5 minutes to complete. Your participation will help us better serve Nevada's behavioral health community and ultimately improve client care.

The survey can be accessed here: https://unr.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bBjr5MlkEpI0CCa

We also request your assistance in distributing this survey throughout your organization to all behavioral health providers, including independently licensed professionals and interns. This survey is intended for:

• Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT)
• Clinical Professional Counselors (CPC)
• Clinical Social Workers (LCSW/CWSI)
• Clinical Psychologists
• Alcohol, Drug, and Gambling Counselors (CADC/CPGC/LADC/LCADC)

Thank you for considering this request. Your input matters, and we appreciate your help in ensuring this information reaches all relevant practitioners.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns about the survey, please contact Adrienne Renwick at adriennerenwick@unr.edu.

Thank you in advance for your assistance!

The photo includes Dr. Roberta Miranda-Alfonzo, Dr. Jill Manit, Dr. Sara Hunt, and Yuhan Bi.

Photo includes Dr. Jill Manit, Dr. Roberta Miranda-Alfonzo, Ashley Noel Pruitt, and Adriana Monroy

Photo includes Dr. Jill Manit and Dr. Roberta Miranda-Alfonzo teaching a class on behavioral health career options!

The BeHERE NV team had the exciting opportunity to engage with over 400 students at the JA Inspire Fair, offering them a valuable perspective on careers in behavioral health. Through BeHERE’s workshop, students explored career pathways across associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. levels in the field. They also participated in hands-on activities, using the Healthcare Careers in Nevada book to discover various behavioral health career options. As the only tables focused on behavioral health careers, BeHERE NV was proud to be the first to bring this unique focus to a Junior Achievement event in Nevada, representing a vital career path that is often overlooked.

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