Nevada Leaders Celebrate Senate Bill 165 and Kickoff of Children’s Behavioral Health Workforce Efforts
State, higher education, and community partners gathered to celebrate Senate Bill 165 (2025) and kick off collaborative efforts to strengthen the behavioral health workforce serving Nevada’s children. The event, hosted in partnership with Senator Rochelle Nguyen and the Las Vegas Aces Foundation, marked the beginning of work to design new education and training pathways at Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) institutions.
Senate Bill 165 creates Nevada’s new Behavioral Health and Wellness Practitioner profession and directs nearly $6.5 million to NSHE and its institutions. The funding will support planning and development of efforts such as:
- bachelor’s degree programs and related coursework for Behavioral Health and Wellness Practitioners
- micro-credentials in behavioral health promotion and prevention
- scholarship support to expand supervised training in children’s behavioral health
“Senate Bill 165 shows what is possible when we bring together the strength of public leadership and private partnership,” said Nevada State Senator Rochelle Nguyen. “Our collaboration with colleges, universities, providers, and partners like the Las Vegas Aces Foundation demonstrates that public–private partnership isn’t just a strategy, it is the pathway to real, lasting change for Nevada’s children and families.”
NSHE institutions, including the University of Nevada, Reno; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Great Basin College, have already started laying the groundwork for these new programs and training opportunities. Planning and development will take place over the coming months in coordination with state leaders, community partners, and organizations dedicated to children’s behavioral health.
“By creating the new Behavioral Health and Wellness Practitioner license and establishing bachelor-level pathways in our colleges and universities, this bill opens the door for an entirely new generation of professionals dedicated to mental health promotion, early intervention, and wellness,” said Byron Brooks, chair of the NSHE Board of Regents.
“Senate Bill 165 gives NSHE and our campuses a clear opportunity to turn policy into programs that meet Nevada’s needs,” said Chancellor Matt McNair. “We are grateful to Senator Nguyen and our partners for their commitment to this work, and we look forward to collaborating on the development of these pathways for students across the state.”
The celebration included remarks from state and university leaders, as well as community and advocacy partners such as the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health and the Las Vegas Aces Foundation. Attendees also viewed a short video offering an early look at collaborative efforts that will help shape these future pathways.
“This celebration is both a milestone and a starting point,” said Dr. Tara Raines, Senior Director for Child Behavioral Health Dissemination at the Ballmer Institute. “Senate Bill 165 gives Nevada the tools to build a new kind of workforce, one that is trained in prevention, rooted in communities, and focused on children’s well-being from the start.”
NSHE and its institutions will continue collaborating with state agencies, community providers, and partners across Nevada to design programs that strengthen children’s behavioral health services and expand opportunities for Nevada students.
