Los Alamos Reporter

Funding Increase For Regional Behavioral Health Planning Announced By Administrative Office Of The Courts

AOC Director Karl Reifsteck/Courtesy photo

AOC NEWS RELEASE

Additional funding will be available for regional behavioral health planning across New Mexico, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) announced today.

Up to $60,000 – an increase from $45,000 – will be awarded in each of the state’s 13 behavioral health regions for the development of regional plans for providing behavioral health services. The plans are required under the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act, which was enacted earlier this year. The reform legislation was Senate Bill 3 during this year’s legislative session.

“The increase in funding reflects our commitment to strengthening behavioral health systems across New Mexico,” said AOC Director Karl Reifsteck, a member of the state’s Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act Executive Committee. “Regions will be able to translate their planning into action and ensure that communities have the tools to support mental health services and the well-being of New Mexicans.”

The $60,000 will be awarded to a local, tribal or quasi-government organization in each of the behavioral health regions. Applications for the planning money currently are under review.

Next steps in SB3 reform efforts:

·         Workshops and community listening sessions will be conducted in each of the behavioral health regions as part of the planning process.

·         Committees of stakeholders in each region will complete their behavioral health plans, incorporating feedback from the community listening sessions.

·         Each regional plan will be reviewed and approved by the executive committee to ensure alignment with statewide behavioral health priorities.

The executive committee designated the 13 behavioral health regions, which match New Mexico’s judicial districts. A model for enhanced sequential intercept mapping has been developed to include youth as well as adults. The mapping assists in the planning process by identifying local resources and gaps in behavioral health services. Click here for more information about regional behavioral health planning.