The Nevada Recovery and Prevention (NRAP) Program's NRAP Network board members Donna Knotek ’12, ’15 MBA, and Thomas J. Hall, ’65, recently established the NRAP Network Scholarship Endowment for Behavioral Health Workforce Academic Programs to provide financial support for students interested in behavioral health and addiction treatment services. 

The scholarship endowment supports students enrolled in programs housed in the School of Public Health’s Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT), which provides culturally appropriate, state-of-the-art, research-based training and technology transfer activities, academic courses and multiorganizational project management services.

“Nevada faces critical shortages in its behavioral health and addiction workforce,” School of Public Health’s Dean, Dr. Muge Akpinar-Elci said. “It’s imperative that we remove barriers for students pursuing the field. We are grateful to have the support of individuals like Donna and Tom who invest in our future public health leaders.”

Knotek and Hall serve on the board for NRAP, which is the state of Nevada’s only Collegiate Recovery Program. They are passionate about providing financial support to students pursuing the field.

“I was inspired to establish this scholarship because I value the School of Public Health’s priorities and I want to support programs that make a difference in our community, state and nation,” Knotek said. “It’s critical that we help students interested in behavioral health and addiction services accomplish their educational goals, which prepares them to tackle this crisis. A skilled workforce is key to the challenges that we face.”

As a center within the School of Public Health, CASAT’s primary mission is to improve prevention and treatment services for individuals with addictive behaviors by helping states, organizations, students and the existing workforce apply research-based practices. This mission is achieved through University-based coursework, online courses and trainings, conferences, continuing education workshops, product and database development and management, and consultation and technical assistance.

“As my mother would say, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’,” Hall said. “Nevada seems to come up last or near last on so many metrics, and public health should be supported and showcased. Our state needs to do better, and one way to do better is to support students pursuing a field that reduces the impact of behavioral health and substance use issues in our communities.”

If you would like to show your support, we encouragage you to make a gift to the NRAP Network Board Scholarship Endowment for Behavioral Health Workforce Academic Programs, or learn more about CASAT’s behavioral health workforce academic programs.

“We need to help our University prepare the next generation of leaders to solve this problem,” Knotek said. “This is a priority for our community. I hope the establishment of this scholarship raises awareness and inspires others to make an impact.”