On October 4, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice completed their investigation and issued a report with findings that Nevada’s children with behavioral health disabilities are being unnecessary institutionalization in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   

On the same day, Governor Sisolak’s Press Release acknowledged the findings, “For far too long, Nevada has not invested in the appropriate health resources for our children and our families – this new report shines a bright light on that fact. That’s why, over the last year, the State of Nevada has used newly available federal resources to make historic and unprecedented investments to shore up these systems and provide immediate resources and relief to our families and children who need community based behavioral health services.”    

Karen Taycher, Executive Director, Nevada PEP calls on parents and youth to share their voice and experience to guide improvements, “Children with mental health care needs and their families have struggled for many years to access the community-based services that reduce the need for hospitalization or residential care.  This report will drive the necessary systemic improvements, and we commend the recent steps that the State and Governor Sisolak have taken to invest in community-based services such as family peer support, care coordination, respite care, and mobile crisis.  Yet we know that there is more work to be done, Nevada families and youth who have experienced the system look forward to informing and engaging in Children’s Mental Health transformation.”    

To get involved in system transformation activities contact Kendra Gipson (kgipson@nvpep.org)  from our Statewide Family Network program at Nevada PEP.