Eastern Plains Council of Governments

This grant, through the support of a cross-sectoral consortium across four counties, will bring a new level of collaboration and resources to our region. The consortium involved in this grant includes the applicant agency – the United Way of Eastern New Mexico, two counseling agencies, two acute care hospitals, one of which includes an outpatient behavioral health clinic, 12 school districts, two academic institutions, four county detention centers, a rural education cooperative, and Initium Health, a health care consulting firm providing data coordination and support. The consortium will support behavioral health care in our target region using four main strategies: 1. Strengthen the workforce pipeline in partnership with academic institutions by providing internships for social work and addiction counselor students in the rural target area and creating an education and training pathway for students; 2. Support rural health care providers to develop specialized skills to provide services to children and youth and to offer trauma-informed care; 3. Implement a regional discharge coordination program to improve care transitions at both the organizational and individual levels; 4. Address disparities in access to services for children and youth in our communities by increasing behavioral health professional coverage in schools, conducting evidence-based SUD educational campaigns, and supporting parents and families through evidence-based programs