We are pleased to provide information about the upcoming all-member meeting, share highlights from the March workgroup sessions, and spotlight upcoming events, technical assistance and funding opportunities in this month's newsletter.

All-Member Session April 23rd 10 am MT

At the upcoming all-member meeting we will build awareness around everyone's role in supporting closed-loop referral systems. This topic area was requested by members of the CLRS workgroup. The agenda for the session is available below.

Agenda

10:00 Welcome & Collaborative Overview

10:10 Brief Presentation - We all have a role in closing the loop.

10:15 Breakouts -

• What is my role or the role of my organization in closed-loop referral systems?
• What do I need from others to support my/our role?

10:45 Group Discussion - Highlights from the breakouts

11:00 Draft review - Understanding the Closed-loop Referral System (CLRS) Landscape in New Mexico One-Pager

11:15 Member share outs: Share upcoming events, new resources, success stories in addressing social drivers of health

You can watch the recording of the March session using this link.

Workgroup Sessions

March workgroup sessions covered a range of questions and topics.

Closed-loop Referral Systems (CLRS):

The CLRS workgroup focused on the need for better coordination and communication from MCOs and CLRS platforms with community-based organizations (CBOs), the importance of having strong personnel to navigate referrals, and the challenges of capacity and financial constraints, especially in rural areas, in implementing CLRS. We discussed the need for a unified approach, better data integration, and incentives for CBOs to adopt CLRS. Strengthened messaging regarding the state's role in coordinating outreach is requested along with a clear plan and continued collaboration.



Data Technology and Standards (DTS): The DTS workgroup shared updates regarding access criteria to SYNCRONYS and access criteria to Payers Claims Databases (APCD).

The DTS workgroup also explored the role screeners are meant to have in the CLRS. One member clarified that screenings guide referrals. If someone comes in through various pathways, you search for the individual in the platform and if they find the individual, navigators review their past screenings for their needs. If they are not in the platform, a new client record is created and screening is conducted.

Tribal Health Systems (THS): The THS session on Wednesday, March 18th, focused on reviewing the latest version of the ISDOH Framework. At the next session, the workgroup will discuss the care coordination and referral pathways within Tribal settings and build shared understanding of YesNMConnect.

Community Engagement (CE): The CLRS workgroup identified strategies that have been successful from CLRSs to engage community members. The group also discussed how it hopes that the state of NM works with community partners over the next year and key partners for the evaluation of YesNMConnect.

*Reminder* NMSDOH-C is now offering monthly drop-in hours

Drop-in hours provide an opportunity to connect outside of Collaborative workgroup sessions and all-member meetings. This is a time for sharing ideas, asking questions and building relationships. Our first drop-in hour will take place on April 24th from 10-11:00 am MT. Please use the Teams information below to join.

themes from Drop in hour

Join the meeting

Meeting ID: 228 495 638 763 06

Passcode: en2PF9gs



New Mexico Social Care Summit

🗓️ When: May 12-13, 2026 | Albuquerque, NM

Registration is OPEN for the 2026 New Mexico Symposium on Health, presented by Nicotine Free New Mexico! Grab your tickets by April 17 for Early Bird pricing.

Join us May 12–13, 2026 at the Berna Facio Professional Development Center for two inspiring days of learning, connection, and collaboration with health professionals and community partners across New Mexico.

Explore sessions on Food As Medicine, Nicotine Prevention and Policy, Social Drivers of Health, Maternal and Child Health, Behavioral Health, Healthy Aging, and more.

Don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and gain practical tools—reserve your spot today!

Funding Opportunity: Water First! II Community Action Grant Request for Applications Now Open!

The Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation is pleased to announce the Water First! Community Action Grant made possible through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.



This funding opportunity supports Native-led organizations and tribal communities working to advance healthy hydration and community-driven solutions that improve the health of Native children and families.



Community partners may receive up to $175,000 over 2.5 years to implement strategies that:

• Reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption

• Increase access to and consumption of safe drinking water

• Support breastfeeding among families with young children

Jemez Valley High School Marks Six Months Of Success With Wellness Room: In-School Space Is Helping Students Pause, Self-Regulate And Return To Learning

From the Los Alamos Reporter

Six months after opening in October, Jemez Valley High School is marking early success with its Wellness Room, which has provided more than 100 students with a dedicated space to pause, regroup and manage their mental health during the school day.

Supported by Braintree and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Mexico, the Wellness Room provides access to free, school-based mental health support for the high school’s 350 students.

"We have multiple rooms that we are supporting in rural New Mexico. The concept is that students who may have a problem that they are wrestling with or a challenge with conflict or behavior can go to a place and talk or just think, avoiding a suspension or punishment, etc." 

Now Accepting Requests for FREE Technical Assistance for 2026 

Seven Directions is offering free technical assistance in 2026 for Indigenous‑focused organizations working to strengthen Substance Use, Mental Health, and Indigenous Public Health Systems programming.  

Whether you’re seeking individualized coaching, a facilitated team conversation, a focused webinar, or virtual/in‑person workshops, we partner with you through a supportive and relational process grounded in Indigenous facilitation and Motivational Interviewing approaches. If your team could benefit from tailored support, resources, or a thought partner, we’d love to work with you.

We bring a flexible, decolonizing approach to our work and can support efforts such as:

• Creating culturally grounded evaluation plans and data collection tools, including surveys, interview guides, and reporting templates
• Integrating Indigenous Social Determinants of Health (ISDOH) into strategic plans, programs, and evaluation efforts
• Facilitating team visioning and planning conversations to strengthen prevention and public health programming. 



Our Indigenous‑led team connects your community with the expertise, tools, and creative support you need while centering Indigenous values, culturally safe dialogue, and your role as the expert in your own community. 

If you are interested in learning more or setting up an initial conversation to see if our offerings meet your needs, simply fill out our quick TA Request form or reach out directly to our team via Angie Gaffney: iamgaff@uw.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!

Medicaid Food Security Partners Program -

Request for Proposals

Share Our Strength and HealthBegins are launching the third cohort of grant funding for the Medicaid Food Security Partners Program.

Share Our Strength will be funding four state-based organizations or coalitions to pursue the creation or implementation of state Medicaid regulatory or administrative changes that promote promising food and nutrition security policy initiative(s), with a special focus on strategies that promote SNAP and WIC enrollment among children and families.

Grantees will receive $100,000 for an 18-month period as well as full cohort learning opportunities and individualized technical assistance. Please note: this funding is not intended for direct service/direct food provision or benefit application assistance. Preference will be given to candidates with the necessary relationships, strategy, and positioning to reasonably achieve success.

The Medicaid Food Security Partners Program is an initiative of the National Medicaid Food Security Network.

Application Deadline: April 17 at 11:59 PM ET/8:59 PM PT.