New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department

The meeting commenced with a moment of silence for a member's deceased father, followed by the approval of the agenda. Key discussions centered on the Three-Year Executive Plan, which includes emphasizing collaboration with tribal communities, initiating funding for school-based programs, addressing mental health and substance abuse shortages, and improving services/transitions in detention centers. The committee learned that Requests for Proposals (RFPs), not RFAs, will be used for multi-use vendors. Presentations were given by Bernalillo County Youth Services Center, detailing their post-COVID reorganization focusing on service access, medical/mental health, substance use, and transportation, and included testimony from a young man who benefited from their programs. The Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board presented on their 20 years of service, braided funding structure, and programs like Resource Specialist, One Circle, and Restorative Justice. Data analyst Jessica Reno presented performance measures against the strategic plan goals, covering youth crime trends, recidivism rates, tribal community engagement, school-based programming outcomes, behavioral health statistics, and detention statistics, leading to discussions about data integrity and equitable funding distribution. Updates were also provided on Continuum Coordinator training and youth engagement initiatives.

The New Mexico Family First Prevention Services Act Title IV-E Prevention Plan outlines the state's approach to providing trauma-informed interventions for children and families, aiming to prevent the unnecessary separation of children from their families and reduce the need for foster care placement. It focuses on offering evidence-based prevention programs, including mental health and substance use interventions, as well as in-home parent skill-building programs, to families with children at risk of foster care entry. The plan emphasizes collaboration among state officials, stakeholders, and community providers to create a continuum of prevention services, improve parenting skills, increase access to mental health and substance abuse services, and enhance access to early childhood education and care services. The primary goals include preventing entry into foster care, reducing future child maltreatment, assessing and engaging families in crisis, supporting kinship care, and ensuring better outcomes for pregnant and parenting youth.

The New Mexico Families First Strategic Plan focuses on providing trauma-informed and evidence-based interventions to children and families to prevent unnecessary separation and the need for foster care placement. The plan aims to create a continuum of prevention services that support safer home environments by addressing parenting skills, increasing access to mental health and substance misuse services, and improving access to early childhood education and monetary assistance programs. Key goals include preventing entry into foster care, reducing future child maltreatment, engaging families in crisis, supporting kinship care, and aligning with the Thriving Families Prevention Plan to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

The meeting included discussions on contracts, with a review of four specific contracts and concerns about service oversight and contract clarity. The potential for increased contractor funding from DFA and the impact of federal funding cuts were also discussed. The board considered funding for Richard Lindahl, Bob Cleavall, Terri Turner, and Life Link, including discussions on the scope and justification of their work. The meeting also covered the CJJ conference, the process for new continuum sites, the federal application and strategic plan for FY14, continuum site updates, coordinator updates, legislation impacting JJAC, FY15 continuum funding allocation, the JJAC website and brochure, and agenda items for the next meeting.

The meeting addressed several key areas including updates from Valencia County Continuum, Chairman updates on juvenile justice reform assessments and JDAI Leadership Team retreat, and a grant data presentation. Subcommittee updates included Board Development, Grants & Programs, Planning & Legislative, and System Improvement. Discussions covered federal grant funds for Luna County, legislative updates, undoing racism training, and Annie E. Casey Foundation Grant. Open board member discussion addressed Secretary Vigil's resignation and potential statewide programs. The Continuum Coordinator provided updates, and the meeting adjourned.