The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) in New Mexico has announced that local, tribal, or quasi-government organizations are eligible to receive up to $45,000 in each of the state’s 13 behavioral health regions. The funding aims to support regional planning efforts required under the newly enacted Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act, a law designed to rebuild and strengthen behavioral health services across the state.
Under the law, New Mexico is divided into behavioral health regions, each tasked with identifying five key behavioral health priorities over the next four years. This structured approach is expected to create a more coordinated and sustainable behavioral health system statewide. The planning funds will allow regions to engage stakeholders, assess available resources, and develop implementation strategies tailored to community needs.
According to AOC Director Karl Reifsteck, who also serves on the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act Executive Committee, the funding will help regions determine their priorities and ensure that community voices are included in the planning process. The initiative encourages collaboration, with applicants required to secure letters of support from county managers within their region.
The funding can be used for activities such as forming committees, organizing community meetings, and hosting workshops. Additionally, each region must co-host at least one community listening session to gather input from residents, as directed by the AOC. Requests for planning funds are due by September 30, with informational sessions scheduled for late August and early September.
Esperanza Lucero, Behavioral Health Investment and Reform Administrator at the AOC, emphasized that this initiative will help lay the groundwork for a sustainable regional network of behavioral health services, ensuring that communities across New Mexico have improved access to critical support in the years ahead.
