Governor’s wife seeks, regents establish Institute for Children at UNLV

Friday, May 1, 1998 | 10:25 a.m.

Miller, wife of Gov. Bob Miller, said the institute will conduct research and spearhead efforts to improve life for Nevada's children.

"We have lots of children's advocates, but we have no centralized hub," Miller said. "Hopefully, we can build bridges and speak in one voice. We want the institute to be visionary enough to see what is coming next that affects children."

Initially, the children's institute will examine child-care needs in the state.

"Good quality, affordable care for our children is the most pressing need," she said. "Young families are struggling with $200-a-week child-care bills for each child. It is unbelievable."

The children's institute will be funded for $195,000 a year through grants and donations. Vince Juaristi, executive assistant to the governor, will be the first director.

UNLV President Carol Harter said the program already has about three-fourths of its necessary operating expenses, but eventually will need a state appropriation.

Miller told members of the regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada on Thursday that she realized the need for the program when it became apparent there was no good research information on the number of needy children.

Last year the state established a free health-care program for needy children, but found the number of such children could only be roughly established at between 20,000 and 80,000.