NV.gov
Members for Advisory Committee for a Resilient Nevada Selected, Meeting Scheduled
Today, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Service, in partnership with the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, announce the members selected for the Advisory Committee for a Resilient Nevada.
In 2021, the Nevada Legislature passed Senate Bill 390 creating the Committee and setting the membership requirements to reflect the diversity of Nevada and include those who are disproportionately impacted by opioid use disorder and disparities in access to health care.
The Committee is responsible for establishing priority areas to allocate the proceeds of certain litigation by the State concerning the manufacture, distribution, sale and marketing of opioids.
The first meeting of the Committee is scheduled for Oct. 5, 10 a.m. and the meeting agenda and information can be found at https://dhhs.nv.gov/Programs/Grants/Advisory_Committees/ACRN/Home/
Committee appointments were made by the Attorney General, the DHHS Director and the DHHS Office of Minority Health and Equity.
The Advisory Committee will be responsible for providing guidance on the statewide needs assessment and statewide plan establishing the priority areas for the allocation of the funds. The Advisory Committee will also coordinate with the Substance Use Response Group in the Office of the Attorney General. Once the statewide plan is established by the Committee, the Grants Management Unit will issue competitive announcements to distribute the State’s opioid settlement funds in accordance with the statewide plan and SB 390.
These funds must address the risks, impacts and harms of substance use with a particular focus on the disproportionate impact and health disparities.
Attorney General Committee Appointments | |
Pauline Salla, Director of Juvenile Services, Humboldt County | One member who possesses knowledge, skills and experience working with youth in the juvenile justice system |
Cornelius Sheehan, LCSW, Nevada Counseling Associates | One member who possesses knowledge, skills and experience working with youth in the criminal justice system |
Elyse Monroy, Nevada Overdose to Action | One member who possesses knowledge, skills and experience working with youth in the surveillance of overdoses |
Jessica Barlow, Nye County resident, Nevada Outreach Training Organization, Family Resource Manager | One member who residence in a county other than Clark or Washoe County and has experience having a substance use disorder or having a family member who has a substance use disorder |
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health and Equity Committee Appointments | |
Cecilia Maria, Clark County Division of Family Services, NAS Foster Parent | One member that resides in Clark County and has experience having a substance use disorder or having a family member who has a substance use disorder |
Karissa Loper, Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Child, Family and Community Wellness | One member who possesses knowledge, skills and experience in public health |
Ryan Gustafson, Division Director for Washoe County Human Services | One member who is the director of an agency which provides child welfare services or his or her designee |
Laura Sherwood, Prevention Specialist, Nevada High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department | One member who represents a program that specializes in prevention of substance use by youth |
Brittney Collins-Jefferson, LCSW, Restorative Life | One member who represents a faith-based organization that specializes in recovery from substance use disorder |
Dr. Lilnetra Grady, FQHC | One member that represents a program for substance use disorders that is operated by a nonprofit organization and certified pursuant to NRS 458.025 |
Department of Health and Human Services Director Committee Appointments | |
Darcy Patterson, Long term recovery from substance use disorder(SUD); Daughter died from opioid overdose in 2017; Safe Launch One Choice Board Member; and employed by St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center | One member that resides in Washoe County and has experience having a substance use disorder or having a family member who has a substance use disorder |
Dr. Farzad Kamyar, MD, MBA, Director of the High-Risk Pregnancy Center | One member that is a board-certified physician in field of addiction medicine by the American Board of Addiction Medicine |
Quintella Winbush, Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist, in Long Term Recovery, Foundation for Recovery employee and also Desert Parkway Behavioral Health employee | One member who represents a nonprofit, community-oriented organizations that specialized in peer-led recovery from substance use disorder |
David Sanchez, Crisis Counselor, Nevada Resilience Project, Community Health Worker/Peer Specialist, Rural Resident | One member who has survived an opioid overdose |
Michelle Luszczewski, MSW, LADC, employed at Trac B | One member who represents a program to prevent overdoses or otherwise reduce the harm caused by the use of substances |
Ariana Saunders, CSH | One member who represents an organization that specializes in housing |
Dr. Katherine E. Loudon, Washoe County School District, Coordinator of School Counseling and Safe and Drug Free Schools | One member who possesses knowledge, skills, and experience with education in pupils in Kindergarten through 12th grade. |