Welcome to “A Place In The Community”….where all New Mexicans come together as partners so that those who live with Behavioral Health issues, no matter their culture or their background find their place, achieve the peace they seek and receive the treatment they need.

The 2008 Behavioral Health Collaborative Conference stems from this vision and the uniquely New Mexican partnership transformation between the Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative, the Local Collaboratives and the Behavioral Health Planning Council. These partnerships promote the establishment of recovery and resiliency best practices throughout the state.

The inaugural conference, designed to provide the highest standard of information, experiences and skill enhancement, focuses on comprehensive, cutting edge, systems of care and the best practices embedded within these systems. Nationally recognized leaders, in the behavioral health field will partner with skilled New Mexico programs and providers to create the optimal learning experience.

On the last day of the conference there will be a very special presentation on the behavioral health issues Veterans face, on a national level and here at home in New Mexico. Entrance to the conference is free of charge on this day.

Programming was developed based on the key initiatives and issues impacting New Mexico’s Behavioral Health system,these include:

Collaborative

Co-Occurring Disorders

Native American

Recovery & Resiliency

Supportive Housing

System of Care

Hot Topics

Special topics of interest that cover a broad range of behavioral health programs and issues

Join us at the 2008 Behavioral Health Collaborative System of Care Awards. Where we will celebrate the ingenuity and creativity of New Mexico’s system recognizing the Local Collaboratives for their tireless dedication and devotion to enhancing our system of care. Additionally, we will present the 2008 System of Care Award for Excellence to those who have transformed the system of care through the media, legislation, advocacy, collaboration and as pioneers.

We invite persons in recovery, families, providers, administrators, educators, students and government agencies to join us at the First Annual Behavioral Health Collaborative Conference. It is our hope that attendees will embrace the knowledge they gain, and use that knowledge as a change agent to pave the way for the creation of an effective and positive system, one that arises from an inclusive community; teaches resiliency against adversity; and, aides in the recovery of meaningful lives.

Join us!

About the New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative

Innovative Thinking, Collaborative Planning and Funding

The New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative, the only one of its kind in the country, was created by Governor Richardson and the State Legislature in 2004 to allow state agencies and resources involved in behavioral health treatment and recovery to work as one to improve mental health and substance use services in New Mexico.  The cabinet-level group represents 15 state agencies and the Governor’s Office.  These agencies are:

          1. Aging and Long-Term Services Department         10.  Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

          2. Administrative Office of the Courts                          11.  Governor’s Commission on Disability

          3. Children, Youth and Families Department              12.  Governor’s Health Policy Advisor

          4. New Mexico Corrections Department                    13.  Health Policy Commission

          5. Department of Finance and Administration             14.  Human Services Department

          6. Department of Health                                             15.  Indian Affairs Department

          7. Department of Workforce Solutions                         16.  Mortgage Finance Authority

          8. Department of Transportation                                 17.  Public Education Department

          9. Developmental Disabilities Planning Council

                             -THE COLLABORATIVE'S VISION -

The vision of the Behavioral Health Collaborative (Collaborative) is to put into practice a single behavioral health service delivery system in New Mexico in which individuals who use behavioral health services are assisted in participating fully in the life of their communities; the support of recovery and development of resiliency are expected; behavioral health is promoted; the adverse effects of substance use and mental illness are prevented or reduced; and available funds are managed effectively and efficiently.

At the heart of this vision is the expectation that the lives of individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders will improve, that individuals utilizing the system and family members will have an equal voice in the decisions that affect them and their loved ones, and that those most affected by mental illness and substance use can recover to lead full, meaningful lives within their communities.

Whether in large clinical settings or small solo practices, providers are on the frontlines of the transformation within the NM public behavioral health community. The Collaborative ensures information is available to help providers make the transition go as smoothly as possible.

Local Collaboratives have been established to help create and sustain the partnerships among individuals accessing behavioral health services, family members, advocates, local agencies, and community groups. These Local Collaboratives identify needs, help develop a range of resources and ensure the responsiveness and relevance of behavioral health services and supports to improve the quality of life of those affected by behavioral health concerns.

Since the Collaborative was established, it has:

Awarded a statewide managed behavioral health care contract to ValueOptions New Mexico,

replacing multiple contracting mechanisms and administrative infrastructures,

and consolidating the management and disbursement of federal and state behavioral health funds.
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Secured over $200 million new dollars from Medicaid and the State General Fund

to address the needs of New Mexico consumers and communities,

increasing the behavioral health care contract to over $400 million in FY 2008.
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Implemented a structure of 15 Local Collaboratives to give voice to individuals with

mental illness and substance use disorders, family members, providers,

and other stakeholders as a key element of the behavioral health system transformation in New Mexico.
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Restructured the Behavioral Health Planning Council, a statewide Governor-appointed advisory body

to assist the Collaborative with planning, to provide advice and recommendations on system and policy developments, and to review the State’s mental health and substance use federal block grants.
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Developed strategic priorities and critical plans to address those priorities

(including children and youth services, supportive housing, and substance use).
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Established 21 performance measures to evaluate the Collaborative’s progress towards its priorities.

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