Report Type: Community Forum/Survey Infrastructure
Fact Sheet Behavioral Health Local Collaboratives
YEAR
2012
AUTHOR / ORGANIZATION
NM Behavioral Health Collaborative
GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE
Bernalillo County, Statewide (New Mexico)
What is this?
This is an official fact sheet from the New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative describing the structure, purpose, and functions of the Behavioral Health Local Collaboratives. It serves as an administrative overview document explaining how local input feeds into statewide behavioral health planning. The document outlines the legal basis (2004 legislation), organizational structure (18 LCs covering all counties and Native American communities), specific functions, alignment with state performance measures and strategic plans, funding status, and current challenges facing these collaborative bodies.
Summary
The Behavioral Health Local Collaboratives were established in 2004 as part of New Mexico’s Interagency Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative to ensure local voices guide behavioral health planning and service delivery. Each LC is responsible for identifying service needs and gaps, participating in community needs assessments, coordinating across multiple health and human services systems, and providing recommendations to state-level entities. For Bernalillo County systems change efforts, LC 2 represents an existing infrastructure for community engagement that could be leveraged to gather input on behavioral health priorities, coordinate across agencies, and build consensus around systems change initiatives. The fact sheet notes key priorities identified statewide including crisis response, suicide prevention, and transportation—all relevant to Bernalillo County planning. However, the document also reveals significant challenges: LC funding was reduced from $21,000 to $6,000 annually in FY12, eliminating administrative support, reducing meeting stipends, and limiting capacity. Systems planners should consider how to strengthen LC 2’s capacity as part of any comprehensive systems change strategy, recognizing it as an established vehicle for authentic consumer and family engagement.
BH Systems Change Recommendations
How This Report Informs Systems Change This fact sheet does not contain explicit recommendations but provides critical infrastructure information for systems change: 1. Existing Engagement Structure: LC 2 is the designated mechanism for Bernalillo County community input into behavioral health planning. Systems change initiatives should engage this body for stakeholder input, needs identification, and community buy-in. 2. Consumer Voice: The strategic plan emphasizes that consumers should play an active and authentic role in LC membership and leadership. Systems change efforts should assess whether LC 2 has adequate consumer representation and strengthen it if needed. 3. Cross-System Coordination: LCs are explicitly tasked with coordinating across multiple HHS systems—this function aligns directly with behavioral health systems change goals and should be leveraged. 4. Capacity Concerns: The 71% budget reduction signals diminished local collaborative capacity that may need to be addressed for effective community engagement in systems change. 5. Transportation Barrier: Transportation is identified as a statewide priority, suggesting it should be addressed in Bernalillo County systems planning.
How to Use for Systems Planning
What this report IS useful for: - Understanding the existing structure for community input into behavioral health planning in Bernalillo County (LC 2) - Identifying the official channels for consumer, family, and provider engagement in systems change - Recognizing statewide priorities (crisis, suicide prevention, transportation) that should inform local planning - Understanding state-level governance and how local input feeds into statewide behavioral health decisions What this report DOES NOT provide: - Current contact information or leadership for LC 2 - Specific data on Bernalillo County behavioral health needs or gaps - Assessment of LC 2's current effectiveness or capacity - Detailed information on services, providers, or funding in Bernalillo County - Recent updates (document dated 2012)
Key Facts & Data Points
- 18 Local Collaboratives operate statewide, covering all 33 counties and Native American communities - LC 2 specifically covers Bernalillo County - Originally 15 LCs were established in 2004; 3 additional Native American LCs added in 2008 - Annual operating budgets reduced from $21,000 to $6,000 in FY12 - 15 State Agencies (17 members) participate in the state Interagency Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative - Most LCs meet monthly - CLAS Standards 4, 5, 6, and 7 are mandated for all recipients of Federal funds - Statewide priorities include crisis response, suicide prevention, and transportation
Priority Services & Findings
**Mental Health / Crisis Care** - Crisis response identified as a statewide priority by the Behavioral Health Planning Council - Suicide prevention identified as a priority area - LCs tasked with identifying service needs and gaps for their geographic areas **Integrated Primary Care** - LCs responsible for coordination across multiple health and human services systems - Focus on ensuring systems do not duplicate each other and limited resources are maximized **School-Based / Youth Services** - Systems of care planning mentioned as a statewide initiative with local LC input - Strategic plan goal references families being appropriately involved in service delivery
Immediate Actions for Systems Planners
-Contact the current LC 2 leadership to understand its current status, membership, meeting schedule, and capacity for engagement in systems change planning -Assess whether LC 2 has adequate consumer and family representation as required by strategic plan goals -Determine what local needs assessments or gap analyses LC 2 has conducted or participated in recently -Explore whether LC 2 budget and capacity constraints need to be addressed to support meaningful engagement in systems change -Review LC 2's existing partnerships and determine if key behavioral health stakeholders are represented -Request any local data or input LC 2 has provided to state entities on Bernalillo County behavioral health needs
Key Contacts
**/ - Behavioral Health Planning Council **/ - Human Services Dept (HSD) **/ - NM Behavioral Health Collaborative