Committee hears bill to codify certified prevention specialists and add youth peer support language

Senator Robin Titus presented Assembly Bill 60 to the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services on behalf of the Northern Regional Behavioral Health Policy Board, saying the bill codifies the certified prevention specialist (CPS) profession and adds youth peer support language to Nevada Revised Statutes.

Sherilyn Rawwood, identified as Northern Regional Behavioral Health Coordinator, told the committee the bill aligns state statute with national certification standards used by the Nevada Certification Board and the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium. "Codifying the profession of certified prevention specialists also known as the CPS and adding youth peer support language was what the board wanted to focus on for this legislation session," Rawwood said.

Daria Singer, executive director of a prevention coalition and a certified prevention specialist, described the CPS credential as a rigorous, competency‑based certification used by prevention coalitions statewide to implement evidence‑based programs. Singer said the CPS role helps secure Department of Health and Human Services prevention funding and supports standardized qualifications, accountability, and workforce development. "Our role ... is to help procure funding through DHHS, to ensure standardized qualifications that are consistent and of high quality for all members of Nevada," Singer said.

Presenters argued that formalizing the CPS role would increase the professional pipeline for prevention work, improve fidelity to evidence‑based programs in schools and communities, and build career pathways in rural and urban counties alike. The presenters described that the CPS certification requires direct prevention work hours, documented training across domains, and supervised practice; they said about 36 certified prevention specialists exist statewide and that coalitions have used CPS staff to run prevention programs, youth legislative days, overdose awareness campaigns, and other initiatives.

Multiple local prevention coalition representatives, hospital partners, and statewide coalition members testified in support. Testimony emphasized culturally relevant interventions and community‑based prevention. Katie Zeller, who identified herself as an enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and a member of a CPS cohort, urged attention to cultural humility and community identity when prevention specialists work with Native populations. Valerie Haskin, Rural Regional Behavioral Health Coordinator, testified remotely in support, saying better sustained employment options for CPS professionals improve use of limited prevention dollars.

Neutral testimony came from coalition leaders who described the training requirements and the role of coalitions in implementing prevention strategies. Ann Elizabeth Northan of Join Together Northern Nevada and Noel Chounet of Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey County described experience using CPS staff in school and community programs and supported creating structured career pathways.

Senator Titus closed by thanking committee members and supporters and urging consideration of the bill. The committee closed the hearing on Assembly Bill 60; no committee vote was recorded at this hearing.

Ending: The hearing record shows broad supportive testimony from prevention coalitions, public‑health practitioners, and some hospital partners; the committee did not take final action during this session.