UNLV Doctoral Program Empowers Advocate to Champion Children’s Mental Health in Nevada
Nevada is seeing a rising tide of advocacy for improved children’s mental health services, fueled in part by graduates of advanced public policy programs like the Doctor of Public Policy (DPP) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Ashley Pruitt, a 2025 graduate of the DPP program and a 2020 graduate of UNLV’s Urban Leadership master’s program, exemplifies this trend. She credits the program with equipping her with the skills to effectively communicate with policymakers and, crucially, to advocate for the mental well-being of Nevada’s youth.
“What stood out most to me through the program was having an idea to make things better, building momentum around that idea, and watching it grow into a policy that may one day be implemented,” Pruitt said. “Knowing that I was able to plant seeds to spark thought around improving children’s mental health services in Nevada is the win. In public policy, the seeds may bloom in future legislative sessions, but the growth begins during everyday community advocacy.”
A Pathway to Policy Influence
The DPP degree is specifically designed for professionals seeking to shape policy outcomes and ascend to executive-level positions. Pruitt’s journey demonstrates the program’s effectiveness in preparing individuals for impactful careers. Currently, she serves as associate director of technical assistance and policy at Be Here Nevada, a workforce development initiative focused on expanding the number of behavioral healthcare providers throughout the state. She secured this position while still pursuing her doctorate within the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV.
A Personal Commitment to Accessible Care
Pruitt’s dedication to children’s mental health stems from years of experience and a deeply personal encounter early in her career. As a psychiatric caseworker, she witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by families navigating a fragmented mental healthcare system. One case, in particular, resonated with her: a 9-year-old child who was sent to Tennessee to receive necessary behavioral health services.
“All these years later, when I learned about the Doctorate of Public Policy, I thought to myself, this may be an opportunity to go back and help that situation get better, so that we’re not continuing to have processes that cause more mental health issues for our youth,” Pruitt explained.
She highlighted a critical issue facing Nevada: a significant lack of resources dedicated to mental healthcare, particularly for children. This scarcity often leads to the involvement of the justice system in cases that would be better addressed through specialized mental health services.
“We’re not at a place yet where we have all of the staffing to adequately treat behavioral health, even in those settings. So, we need to ensure that when we put a person into a longer-term care situation, that they are getting the help that they need,” Pruitt stated.
From Classroom to Capitol
Pruitt leveraged her academic experience to translate her passion into action. Through connections facilitated by UNLV professors, she became involved with the Children’s Advocacy Alliance. She then co-led a group that drafted a bill during the 2025 Nevada Legislative session, utilizing the project as her capstone for the doctoral program.
A capstone project requires students to identify pressing state, local, or national issues and develop innovative solutions, with the goal of seeing those ideas implemented through advocacy and networking. While the bill Pruitt championed did not ultimately become law, its impact was far from negligible. Governor Joe Lombardo incorporated key elements of the proposed legislation into a new initiative aimed at improving mental health services across the state.
Pruitt views this outcome as a significant victory. “Even though the bill didn’t make it, the conversations still happen and improvements are coming,” she said.
The DPP program also provided Pruitt with practical skills in constituent engagement, teaching her how to effectively communicate with elected officials at all levels of government.
“The program taught me how to tell a story and how to do so in a way that can help get to the impact that you’re looking for,” Pruitt said. “This is a time where our legislators want to hear from their constituents. The program teaches us how to actively engage ourselves in our lawmaking processes.”
Her story underscores the power of education and advocacy in driving positive change for Nevada’s children.
