Connect with us

New Mexico

New Mexico leaders visit Miami to learn from behavioral health approach

Published

on

New Mexico leaders visit Miami to learn from behavioral health approach


What could Albuquerque learn from Miami? A group of New Mexico leaders is heading to Miami this week to see a first-of-its-kind facility devoted to behavioral health.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — What could Albuquerque learn from Miami? A group of New Mexico leaders is heading to Miami this week to see a first-of-its-kind facility devoted to behavioral health.

This is the third group from New Mexico to make this trip, hoping to bring back some substantial ideas. This week’s trip holds even more weight as leaders consider the governor’s agenda for the upcoming special session.

The governor’s agenda for the special session includes five main points, and some leaders say the most complicated part of it involves mental competency. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants lawmakers to rework the laws to essentially make it easier for the courts to mandate mental health treatment for certain suspects.

Advertisement

Some lawmakers are already looking at the concerns of implementing the legislation, if it passes. That’s where the Miami trips come in.

The group of 20 heading to Miami this week includes one Albuquerque lawmaker and local leadership from much of southern New Mexico. The facility in Miami serves people with serious mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders who cycle through the criminal justice system.

The idea is to learn how to approach building behavioral health facilities, staffing, and sustainability – from an already successful model.

“Looking at the whole picture, it’s just a win for everyone to move in this direction,” Republican Rep. Jenifer Jones said. “It’s only a piece of what we need in mental health and, you know, behavioral health infrastructure here in New Mexico, but it’s a big piece that affects everyone.”

Jones said being successful will come down to better communication and using the state’s resources more effectively.

Advertisement

The trip to Miami is scheduled for later this week ahead of the special session on July 18.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham shared the following statement on the issue:

“Republicans contend that making New Mexico a safer place during the special session under my proposals is ‘undoable’––an assertion I flatly reject. It’s only ‘undoable’ if lawmakers refuse to roll up their sleeves and work with me to get it done.  

State lawmakers of both parties must ask themselves if they are comfortable with more crime and more homelessness because business owners and rank-and-file New Mexicans are fed up. We can make our state safer but it’s going to require some hard work, a can-do attitude, and a collaborative approach. I call on lawmakers to help me pass my common-sense public safety reform agenda for New Mexicans during the special session.” 

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

New Mexico

Reckoning over César Chávez’s legacy deepens in New Mexico amid swift erasure plans

Published

on

Reckoning over César Chávez’s legacy deepens in New Mexico amid swift erasure plans





Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

New Mexico

New Mexico Environment Department to hold hearings on Project Jupiter air quality

Published

on

New Mexico Environment Department to hold hearings on Project Jupiter air quality





Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

New Mexico

UNM plans to build new gates along Central

Published

on

UNM plans to build new gates along Central


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico plans to build new gates at four campus entrances along Central that will close nightly.

The gates will replace manual barriers in a project expected to cost about $1.5 million.

The Board of Regents approved the security upgrades for the UNM campus.

University officials said the gates will automatically close nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Advertisement

The gates will go in near Princeton Drive, Stanford Drive, Yale Boulevard and Terrace Street on the south end of campus.

A current rendering shows the gate completely blocking the road. Officials said the change will reduce unauthorized traffic and allow police officers to focus more effectively on prevention and response.

Construction will start in May. University officials hope to finish the project by September.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending