Guinn Center Newsletter Sep 2025
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Happy fall from the Guinn Center!
With summer behind us and fall in full swing, it’s the perfect time to catch up on reading. As Director of Health and Social Policy at the Guinn Center, I have had a busy summer researching Nevada’s most pressing health and social policy issues. I’m excited to share a few of our recent publications with you.
I co-authored a report with UNLV MPH candidate Susan Dakwa examining Nevada’s policy landscape for food security, which was published last week. With recent federal changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that it will no longer publish annual Household Food Security surveys, understanding food insecurity at the state level is more important than ever. Over the past decade, rates of food insecurity in Nevada have steadily risen, reaching a statewide rate of 15.1 percent, or approximately 481,460 Nevadans.
This brief, “Unpacking Food Insecurity: An Overview of Nevada’s Policy Landscape,” provides a closer examination of food insecurity in Nevada, including county-level rates, its impact on residents’ health, and current programs addressing the issue. A key conclusion is that, while extensive programming exists at the local level through coalitions such as the Northern Nevada Food Council and Southern Nevada Food Council, there is an opportunity at the state level to establish a singular, statewide entity on food security to reduce the silos in current program implementation.
I also want to highlight an upcoming sequel to our “Federal Footprint: A Snapshot of Federal Funds Use in Nevada’s State Budget,” published earlier this year. While our first brief examines the federal funding received by the top five federally funded state agencies, Interim Director of Economic and Fiscal Policy Mark Krmpotic and I are examining how those federal funds pass through state agencies to non-profit organizations, in an effort to better understand the scale of direct services provided by nonprofit organizations through federal funding. Stay tuned for our findings later this year!
Even as the days grow shorter this fall, the Guinn Center remains committed to researching evidence-based policy solutions for Nevadans.
—Pierron Tackes, JD, MPH
Director of Health and Social Policy
In the News
- The UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute recently hosted a showcase where students presented research offering data-driven strategies to help address issues in the cannabis industry. Our recent explainer on cannabis taxes was cited in this work. The NV Indy reports.
- The Nevada Independent reported on our food insecurity research in late September, conducting stakeholder interviews with regional nonprofit leaders, public officials, and others to provide additional context on statewide response efforts to the issue. Read the article here.
Featured Report: A Guide to HIPAA & FERPA
Earlier this year, the Guinn Center published a major school-based behavioral health services study. The project illuminated a critical issue: confusion over two federal privacy laws—FERPA and HIPAA—that often leaves school staff, parents, and providers uncertain about sharing information while protecting students. This brief clearly outlines what these laws say, highlights the areas where they overlap, and shares strategies, best practices, and planning tools from other states to help Nevada strengthen its approach.
Thank You!
We cannot fulfill our mission—to advance evidence-based policy solutions for Nevada through research, public engagement, and partnerships—without you.
Please consider donating to the Guinn Center today.