Nick Boukas/Courtesy photo
BY LISA HAMPTON
Chair
Los Alamos County Health Council
As Chair of the Los Alamos County Health Council, I wanted to personally invite you to attend the Thursday, August 6 Health Council Meeting at noon, in the Municipal Building.
Our guest speaker will be Nick Boukas, Director of the New Mexico Health Care Authority’s Behavioral Health Services Division. He will be speaking to us about issues revolving around suicides, drug overdoses, and other mental health crises. Mr. Boukas’ Division runs New Mexico’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the free and confidential support line for emotional, mental health, or alcohol and substance use concerns, available 24/7 to all New Mexicans.
Mr. Boukas also serves as the Chair of the Executive Committee for SB3 Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act (BHRIA). He has served in various roles in public service for city, county, regional and state government agencies and national organizations working with the CDC and other Federal agencies on policy and programs. He has been an invited speaker to national and regional conferences speaking on various topics ranging from workforce development to community engagement. Prior to his appointment in 2023, Mr. Boukas worked at the New Mexico Department of Health. His focus has been to strengthen the behavioral health system to make New Mexico a healthier place. He has a Masters Degree in Public Administration and lives in Santa Fe with his wife and dogs.
The Los Alamos County Health Council is a state-mandated entity, and because of that has specific deliverables that must be met each year. In 2019, the State of New Mexico established 33 health councils and 10 tribal councils (through the passing of HB 137), which have legislative funding appropriated to them each year for carrying out a set of deliverables that includes education and outreach through the community on a variety of health-related topics.
The state now has a very active and vibrant New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils (NMAHC) that facilitates collaboration between all of the Health Councils, as well as provides trainings on health advocacy at state and federal levels. The Los Alamos County Comprehensive Health Plan (CHP) and Action Plan were approved by County Council in December 2024 and contain short, mid, and long-term Action Items designed to help improve the health of our community and region.
We are a 15 member board (council) and there are currently several vacancies. You do not have to have a medical background to serve. The link to apply is found here: https://www.losalamosnm.us/Government/Leadership/Boards-Commissions Please come learn more about who we are and what we do!
Our monthly meetings are open to the public and take place on the first Thursday of each month, 12-1:30 p.m. in a hybrid format, at the Municipal Building and on zoom. Most meetings include a presentation from a community member focused on a relevant/current health topic, and updates from the Health Council, SSD staff, and our County Council liaison. All meetings are open to the public. If you would like to watch the meeting virtually the zoom link will be found in that month’s Health Council Meeting agenda on the County’s Legistar Calendar: https://losalamos.legistar.