LOS ALAMOS JJAB NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos JJAB, a local non-profit organization, is excited to announce it has been awarded a substantial $500,000 Title II Formula Grant from the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). This critical funding, which the JJAB Board of Directors voted to accept on May 22 will enable the organization to establish and provide free mental health counseling services for at-risk children aged 10 -17 and their families, within the community, with program launch planned for June 2025.
“JJAB is thrilled to be able to offer free outpatient mental health services as part of our service array for youth,” said Executive Director Rachel Mohr-Richards. “We look forward to ensuring that ALL youth in Los Alamos County have access to high-quality mental health treatment – especially those with urgent mental health needs and otherwise low access to treatment.”
The new counseling program will offer confidential, professional mental health services, delivered by qualified and licensed counselors. The focus will be on early intervention, coping strategies, and family support, which will enhance overall well-being and reduce risk factors for children and youth, as well as their families, who face various challenges.
“The team at JJAB is so good at adapting to the current needs of this community,” said
Chair of the Board, Phillip Ortega. “Thanks to Rachel’s leadership, this amazing
organization has been working so hard to build the trust of the community through so
many existing programs (One Circle, Youth Mental Health First Aid, 7 Challenges, and their Resource Specialists, just to name a few.) The ability to provide high-quality, safe in-house counseling for vulnerable children and youth in our community is a natural and
much-needed next step.”
The grant represents a significant investment in the mental health infrastructure available in Los Alamos.
“This is exciting news for the entire Los Alamos community,” said Jessica Strong, Los Alamos County Social Service Manager, “and directly meets a challenge described in the most recent Comprehensive Health Plan, reducing barriers and making it much easier for families to find mental health help when they need it.”
JJAB’s new initiative aims to bridge existing service gaps and provide timely, professional intervention. The Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC) stated, “On behalf of JJAC, Chair Thomas Swisstack would like to congratulate the Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board for receiving the recent Title II Formula Grant passthrough award. This grant will focus on addressing mental health and substance use among youth in Los Alamos County. It is made possible through the partnership between the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department Juvenile Justice Services. The commitment to helping youth tackle these critical issues by providing direct mental health and substance use services is commendable and will strengthen the community.”
JJAB is actively preparing for the program’s launch in June, including finalizing staffing and acquiring more office space to ensure a seamless and effective rollout of services. Further details regarding program access and intake procedures will be announced shortly.
JJAB’s Mission:
JJAB will provide resources to children, youth, and families of Los Alamos to enhance
resiliency.