The Nevada Partnership for Social Health is a state-wide initiative sponsored by the UNLV Center for Democratic Culture, UNLV School of Public Health, and UNR College of Community and Human Sciences. Designed to advance public health in Nevada, the NPSH builds on the symposium in the Justice & Democracy Forum series that was held on Friday, November 5, 2004. Click here to review the forum program and forum transcripts posted on the CDC web site. The forum has produced the Social Health of Nevada report that surveys key leading indicators affecting the quality of life in the Silver State. The NPSH brings together private business, university community, the Nevada government, and the Nevada legislature, as it tries to improve the social conditions in Silver State by focusing on the plight of pregnant teens, school dropouts, disabled people, senior citizens, and especially Nevada children who have less access to medical health care than children in the 49 other states.

In conjunction with the release of the Social Health of Nevada report, the NPSH coalition plans to issue an appeal to the UNLV and UNR medical faculty and students, who will be asked to provide some free medical services (medical exams, immunization, emergency treatment) to Nevada children aged 1-12. Simultaneously, the appeal will be made to medical doctors in our state to join the Nevada Partnership for Social Health and offer medical services to children in poverty on a pro bono or reduced-payment basis. Once Governor Guinn lends his authority to this undertaking, it is likely to bring more business men and women on board, as well as stimulate legislators to swing into action. The ultimate goal is to make sure that no parent in Nevada is forced to choose between putting food on the table and getting a child to the doctor.