Saturday, April 26, 2025
4/26/2025
LAUNCH Project to impact young children's health in New Mexico - Santa Fe Recovery Center (SFRC) proposes to develop and implement a five-year LAUNCH program where it is needed most – in New Mexico (NM). New Mexico, with its majority minority population including citizens of 23 federally recognized tribes, ranks at or near the bottom of all four categories used by Annie E. Casey Kids Count to evaluate children’s wellness. In Education, NM ranks last with a meager 24% of elementary students proficient in reading and 900 K-2 students (ages 5-8) being suspended or expelled from school in one year (2021-2022) due to an “incredible shortage” of BH providers to help preschool and elementary school facilities address problematic behavior and avoid out of school suspensions. Agency-wide transformations have begun at the state’s Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) and Public Education Department (PED) in response to civil lawsuits alleging systemic maltreatment and inadequate provision of behavioral health (BH) services for children of minority populations. As part of the Kevin S Settlement, CYFD identified a lack of successful “transitions of children, youth, and families within and across agency services” in addition to a need for “community-based partnerships using evidence-based programs and parent education.” To achieve the 6 objectives under Goal 1 (Promote the wellness of young children by addressing their five-domain development), SFRC will screen/assess 125 young children, parents and caregiving adults in Year 1 to identify MH/BH issues. To achieve the 6 objectives under Goal 2 (Increase access to resources to disseminate effective and innovative early childhood MH practices and services), SFRC will conduct parent and family training, primary care provider training, and early care and education consultations, and it will establish a Young Child Wellness Council (YCWC) with the required stakeholder representation including family members. To achieve Goal 3 (Reduce inequities among children and families of color), SFRC will improve coordination through the YCWC to support equity-focused advocacy and direct a public affairs communications plan to maintain a rate of at least 70% of all program participants from racial/ethnic minority populations. Total unduplicated individuals served in Year 1 is 355 individuals. Five-year total is 2,195 unduplicated individuals. The proposed program of direct services, training, and improved coordination and collaboration will address unmet needs within the five domains of NM children's development to mitigate the impacts of systemic deficiencies and implicit bias in NM, advance young children’s overall wellness, and prepare them to thrive in school and beyond.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).