Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) – Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque received a $2 million grant from the New Mexico Health Care Authority to expand behavioral health services. Both government entities made a joint application for the funds and each was awarded $1 million in Early Access Funding through the HCA and the Administrative Office of the Courts to support substance use treatment for pregnant and parenting mothers and school-based violence prevention services for at-risk youth.
In a press release, Bernalillo County says it will use its funding to expand residential treatment and aftercare services through the Mariposa Residential Recovery Program at its CARE Campus. The grant will help partially fund renovations of the Supportive Aftercare Center at the facility which enables parents to stay with their children while receiving treatment and recovery support. Other county services that will be supported by the grant funding include:
- Residential recovery services focused on life skills development and relapse prevention.
- Medical, behavioral health, and recovery services coordinated with UNM Hospital.
- Parenting support, housing assistance, and job readiness services.
The city will use its portion of the funding to help sustain its School-Based Violence Intervention Program (SBVIP), a successful model that supports at-risk youth and improves community safety. The SBVIP places trained specialists in schools to identify early warning signs, de-escalate conflict, and connect students and families to behavioral health and community resources before situations escalate. By intervening early, the program reduces disciplinary incidents, prevents deeper justice system involvement, and leads to better outcomes for students, making it a cornerstone of Albuquerque’s prevention-focused public safety strategy.
“This program is delivering real results: better grades, higher graduation rates, and less trouble,” says Mayor Tim Keller. “We’re committed to doubling down on what works.”
The program is delivering strong results, with participating students showing higher GPAs and graduation rates. At the same time, schools report an 85% decrease in offenses, demonstrating how early intervention boosts academic achievement while reducing violence and disruptive behavior.
“By investing in recovery services at the CARE Campus, we’re improving health outcomes and helping parents build a stable future for their children.”says Deputy County Manager of Behavioral Health Dr. Wayne Lindstrom.
Both governments say the joint investment supports a broader strategy focused on prevention, treatment and long-term recovery services designed to improve outcomes for families and strengthen community safety across Bernalillo County and Albuquerque.
