San Miguel and Mora county leaders told a legislative committee Wednesday that opioid settlement funds could be used to scale youth centers, residential treatment services and culturally grounded prevention programs aimed at keeping children from entering substance use pathways.
Joy Ansley, San Miguel County manager, said San Miguel has dedicated ARPA and other local funds to a youth center, is using a $100,000 grow grant for stipends for adult and youth mentors and plans vocational and trades-focused days for youth. Commissioner Veronica Serna of Mora County described a $2.5 million recreation and quality-of-life grant to build a playground and an indoor recreation facility behind the David Cargill Library; she said the county will include public-health office space and a counseling suite in the courthouse complex.
Why it matters: presenters argued that prevention and safe, supervised after-school and weekend programming are upstream investments that reduce downstream deaths and treatment burdens. A public-health clinician and committee member framed the issue as filling a “water glass” with supports to reduce the space where adverse childhood experiences occur and cited youth recommendations calling for “safe places for us, i.e., youth centers.”
Programs and gaps discussed
- Existing youth center: A youth and family center in Las Vegas (San Miguel County) opened four years ago; presenters said it still struggles for sustainable program funding and staff despite local efforts.
- Program ideas: trade-focused programming (welding, auto body, EMS/first-responder days), summer music camp, mentoring stipends, expanded Boys & Girls Club/Big Brothers Big Sisters partnerships, community-school models and transportation for students from outlying communities.
- Facilities and transportation: San Miguel intends to buy a 12-passenger van to transport students from other districts; Mora has planned facilities at county property and needs equipment and operational funds once construction is finished.
- Cultural and healing work: Presenters emphasized embedding local Hispanic and Native American cultural content, traditional healing practices and locally produced Spanish-heritage curricular materials into programming.
Discussion (not formal action)
- Funding sources: presenters and legislators discussed opioid settlement funds, ARPA, county grants and potential state/regional grants. Representative Luhan noted delays and funding shifts in other contexts and urged rapid deployment of available resources.
- Program-level questions: Legislators asked about needs assessments and youth input. Presenters pointed to a “youth voices” packet compiled from site visits and statewide youth input; Joy Ansley said $100,000 in grow funds will underwrite youth leader stipends and planning committees.
- Equity and access: Vice Chair Lopez asked whether tribal communities were represented. Presenters said tribal-targeted initiatives did not appear in their slide deck and that local initiatives and federal funds (including McKinney-Vento) may flow to tribal areas but were not itemized.
Ending: Officials said they will continue to seek partnerships, follow up on transportation scheduling and use local and settlement funds for prevention programming; several legislators offered program ideas and technical assistance for grants and curriculum integration.
Speakers
- Joy Ansley — San Miguel County manager
- Commissioner Veronica Serna — Mora County commissioner
- Public-health clinician / committee member (unnamed; presenting youth-voices and policy briefs)
- Representative Luhan — State Representative (commenting on funding and oversight)
- Representative Torres Velasquez — State Representative (education/land-grant and listening-session outreach)
- Representative Herndon — State Representative (asked about youth surveys and program specifics)
- Representative Gonzales — State Representative (support and cultural programming comments)
Authorities
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