Happy Summer! The staff and Board of NMASBHC are wishing all of you a Happy Independence Day and hoping that you have a chance for rest and relaxation this summer. We know that the work of school health can sometimes feel like a battle, with the reality of everything from looming cuts to families' food assistance and ICE detention impacts on families weighing on you. Because of those realities, it is ever more important to fill your cup so that you can continue to be of service. In that vein, I want to make this note brief and offer a fun prize to the first 3 readers who work in school health who email me after reading this. I will send you a $50 Walgreens gift card, if you let me know why you love school-based health centers. We'll publish your thoughts in a future newsletter to give us all the fuel to prepare for the upcoming school year. Can't wait to hear what you share!

Wishing you a restorative summer!

Nancy Rodriguez, nancy@nmasbhc.org

July 2025 features staff and teams who attended the 2024 School-Based Health Alliance National Conference in Washington, DC.

Thank you for all the SBHCs who participated and submitted pictures!

Thank you to Presbyterian Health Plan for sponsoring the 2025 calendar.

If you have any questions, please contact Wilma at wilma@nmasbhc.org.

THANK YOU

for joining our

New Mexico SBHC ECHO sessions for this past academic year.

We plan to return in the fall. However, you can still visit the iECHO for slides, videos, recordings and resources from past presentations.

After registering, you can view past content and get notifications for upcoming sessions.

SAVE THE DATES: November 4-6, 2025

Albuquerque Convention Center

SBHC Pre-conference will be on

Tuesday, November 4th, 2025

New Mexico Lions Operation KidSight, Inc. is a 501c3 organization, working to establish and maintain a sustainable program to provide annual eye screenings and follow-up eye exams and treatment, if needed, for all young children in New Mexico. The program also is working with local and national partners to provide additional avenues to help youth and families increase access to eye exams and glasses.

NMASBHC is planning to partner with the program to increase access for students and families served by their SBHCs. If your SBHC is interested in participating in a program to provide free glasses to patients, please email Wilma at wilma@nmasbhc.org.

SANTA FE — Families can now apply for SUN Bucks, a grocery benefit program designed to help cover food costs during the summer months. 

“This program will help ease the burden of rising food costs while children are home from school over the summer,” said Sec. Kari Armijo, of the New Mexico Health Care Authority. “Summer should be a time of joy and growth for our children, not a time of worry about where their next meal will come from.” 

SUN Bucks provides families with $120 per eligible school-aged child (ages 5 through 18) to buy groceries when school is out, helping ensure continued access to nutritious food. Most families will qualify automatically and do not need to take any action. 

“SUN Bucks will help bridge the gap for families with children by providing critical support during the summer months,” said Secretary Mariana Padilla of the New Mexico Public Education Department. “Every child deserves access to nutritious food—no matter the season.” 



In addition to free meals available at summer meal sites, the SUN Bucks program supports families by stretching grocery budgets during the summer. The Health Care Authority estimates that more than 271,000 K-12 students will benefit, delivering $32.5 million in total financial relief to New Mexico families. 

Who qualifies automatically? 

Your child may be automatically eligible for SUN Bucks if: 

• They received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. 
• Their school has reported them as homeless, a migrant, or in foster care. 
• They received SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF (cash assistance) during the school year. 

If your child is automatically eligible, you will receive a notice in the mail. No further action is required. 

When and how benefits are distributed 

• Benefits begin distribution on May 21, 2025. 
• Additional distribution dates will follow for later applications. 
• Families have 122 days to use the benefits from the date they are issued. 
• All eligible children in a household will receive benefits on one card, issued in the name of the oldest child. 
• Cards used last year will be reloaded with 2025 benefits. 
• Replacement cards can be requested by calling the Customer Service Center at 1-800-283-4465.  

What to do if your child is not automatically eligible 

You can apply for SUN Bucks if: 

• Your student attends a National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program-participating school. 
• There is no approved National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program application on file with the school. 
• Your household income is below 185% of the federal poverty level. 
• You live in New Mexico. 

To apply online:  Click Here deadline to apply is August 19, 2025. 

To apply by mail: 

New Mexico Public Education Department 

Attn: Summer EBT / SSWB 

300 Don Gaspar Ave. 

Santa Fe, NM 87501 

For more information about SUN Bucks, visit the HCA website. 

Healthy Teeth Healthy Children has an oral health toolkit designed for school professionals.

Please visit the website for more information and downloadable educational resources such as the flyer here.

Visit:

SPOT Toolkit - Healthy Teeth, Healthy Children

https://healthyteethhealthychildren.org/toolkit/

Thank you to those who were able to attend the SBIRT trainings in May and June. The team is working on having an asynchronous option for additional trainings.

For those SBHC staff who did the training, the SBHC Incentives will be sent soon.

We recognize that the end of the school year is often busy. As you plan for professional development days before school starts and would like to schedule a training for your SBHC team, please contact Michelle Widener at MiWidener@salud.unm.edu.

Sign up for the NMASBHC mid-monthly reproductive and sexual health update, That Time of the Month! Each month you will get the latest and greatest updates, trainings opportunities, and resources direct from Jen to your inbox. Sign up here!

In honor of Pride Month last month, I am sharing some of my favorite resources to support you and your LGBTQ+ patients! (LGBTQ+ = lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+)!

All year round, and especially during Pride, we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and emphasize the importance of inclusive, affirming sexual and reproductive health care for people of all identities and experiences.

Please check out some of my favorite resources below to support you and your LGBTQ+ patients in the resource section below. We will also explore case-based learning, highlighting best practices in caring for LGBTQ+ youth, during our in person training in Las Vegas, NM on July 24, 2025. Check out the agenda and register now!

Resources for families of LGBTQ+ young people, and communities that support them.

The lived experiences of ethnically, racially and religiously diverse families with LGBTQ young people guided the creation of this evidence-based family support model to prevent health risks and promote well-being for LGBTQ children and youth. The link below shares a series of educational materials for families, providers and religious leaders and resources being developed for LGBTQ youth.

For more information, visit https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/

Crisis Services and Peer Support for LGBTQ+ Youth

In clinical practice, I often provide information about The Trevor Project’s 24/7 crisis services and peer support to help young people feel less alone. I have incorporated these resources into many safety plans I’ve co-created with young people. Knowing that these services are specifically for LGBTQ+ youth has helped my patients feel more comfortable with reaching out.



Read more about The Trevor Project at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

The Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico Support Groups

TGRC hosts many support groups, including:

• Parent and Family Peer Support Group
• Play Group Ages 12 and Under
• Youth Group (13-20)

In addition to support groups, TGRC provides other virtual and in person resources such as Transgender 101 trainings for schools and clinics, name change support, and advocacy. 

Learn more at https://tgrcnm.org/groups

Upcoming Virtual Trainings

Digital Pathways: Utilizing Technology to Transform Adolescent Reproductive Health Education

Monday, July 14, 2025

11:00 AM CT

Register Here

Patient-Centered Humility: Centering Adolescents’ Voices in Reproductive Health

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

12:00 PM CT

Register Here

If you need immediate support or technical assistance regarding sexual and reproductive health care feel free to email me at Jen@nmasbhc.org.

IUD Clinical Skills Practicum



Monday, August 11 · 1 - 3pm MT

Presbyterian Cooper Center/ HALL (12507-16 Computer training room) 9521 San Mateo Blvd NE, ABQ 

Register Here

Clinician trainers from the LARC Mentoring Program will conduct a 2-hour practicum on IUD skills. We will use pelvic simulator models to practice inserting and removing different types of IUDs. Our clinicians will also review managing challenges related to IUDs, and will be happy to answer any questions related to LARCs during or after training. Participants will receive 2.0 CME credit hours at no cost.

The Paragard manufacturer recently released a new inserter, and is phasing out the longstanding inserter model over the next few months. We will be training on how to use the new Paragard inserter!

Nexplanon Trainings

Tentative

July 24, 2025

5-7 PM

Luna Community College

Las Vegas, NM

If you are interested in attending this training, please contact Andrea Andersen ASAP. We need a minimum number of participants to host this training.

Please email Andrea Andersen at aanderse@salud.unm.edu to get connected with registration for a Nexplanon training or to request future Nexplanon training in your area.

Child & Adolescent Mental Health

Trainings for Providers and Professionals

NM-ABC trainings are all free of charge, with CME/CEUs provided. NM-ABC is a partnership between the UNM Center for Development and Disability and the NM Department of Health. NM-ABC provides training, consultation and resources related to youth mental health for providers across New Mexico.

• Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
• Autism Spectrum Disorder: Screening and Interventions
• Youth Suicide: Screening and Safety Planning
• Non-Suicidal Self Injury: Screening and Interventions
• Helping Children and Youth Cope with Loss and Grief
• Adolescent Substance Use: Screening and Interventions
• Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents
• Depressive Disorders in Children and Adolescents
• Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care with Children and Youth
• Brief Intervention Techniques with Children and Youth
• ADHD Diagnosis and Management
• SSRIs and Pediatric Patients: Best Practices
• Youth Returning Home from Inpatient and Residential Stays: Bridging the Transition
• Tips from a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know

For more information or to schedule a training, please contact NM-ABC program manager Amy Glass at aeglass@salud.unm.edu

Please join the New Mexico Department of Health, the New Mexico Primary Care Association, and the New Mexico Immunization Coalition, along with managed care partners, Presbyterian Healthcare Services and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, in making sure that all New Mexico’s children are immunized on time! This summer's "Got Shots?" events will take place

June 14 - August 30, 2025

Visit the Got Shots? Website for more information:

https://hsc.unm.edu/about/administrative-departments/community-health/programs/nmic/got-shots.html

NMDOH Measles Outbreak Guidance:

https://www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/ideb/mog/

NMDOH announced their New Measles Resource

NM Vaccine Information:

Don't Wait Vaccinate - NMHealth

SBHC Staff are amazing!

Please feel free to share these open positions with your colleagues and peers.

Mental Health Therapist (part-time) - Moriarty, NM

Presbyterian Medical Services

Dental Hygienist - Fort Sumner, NM

De Baca Family Practice Clinic

Clinic Coordinator - Taos SBHC

SBHC Coordinator - Española SBHC

El Centro Family Health

First Nations Community Healthsource

Click above for open positions

Certified Medical Assistant - Lynn/Picacho MS

Certified Medical Assistant - SBHC Spoke Sites

Family Nurse Practitioner - SBHC - Santa Theresa, NM

Family Nurse Practitioner - SBHC - Anthony, NM

Family Nurse Practitioner - SBHC - Las Cruces, NM

Family Nurse Practitioner - SBHC - Las Cruces, NM

Integrated Behavioral Health Therapist - SBHC - Las Cruces, NM

Integrated Behavioral Health Therapist - SBHC - Las Cruces, NM

Integrated Behavioral Health Therapist - SBHC - Las Cruces, NM

Integrated Behavioral Health Therapist - SBHC - Las Cruces, NM

Medical Assistant - SBHC - Las Cruces, NM

Medical Assistant - SBHC - Las Cruces, NM

Medical Assistant - SBHC - Las Cruces, NM

Medical Assistant - SBHC - Las Cruces, NM

La Clinica de Familia

Mora Valley Community Health Services

Click above for open positions

Medical Assistant - SBHC - Albuquerque, NM

UNM Medical Group