County outlines regional behavioral-health planning work under Senate Bill 3, selects pilot focus on children and families

Bernalillo County officials and contracted consultants briefed the Local Government Coordinating Commission Oct. 16 on requirements and timelines under Senate Bill 3 and related behavioral health legislation, describing the county’s plan to prepare a regional plan that will be eligible for state funding.

The county emphasized that state funding connected to SB3 is contingent on having an approved regional plan. The regional plan for Bernalillo County aligns with the Second Judicial District and will be lifespan-focused, including both children/youth/families and adult priorities.

Dr. Brown Nasser (presenting under contract) and county staff said the state’s executive committee overseeing regional planning has asked for broad community engagement, an enhanced sequential intercept mapping (eSIM) event, and draft plans submitted on a tight schedule. Bernalillo County applied for planning mini-grant funding and expected an intergovernmental agreement to unlock $60,000 for planning costs.

The county has been designated as a pilot site to adapt the sequential intercept mapping (SIM) model — traditionally used for adults intersecting with the criminal justice system — to children, youth and families. UNM’s Consortium for Behavioral Health Training and Research will provide technical assistance and run the eSIM.

“...The Executive Committee was requesting that this be a lifespan approach,” a presenter said, adding that approved regional plans are required before regions can access funding under HB2 and other appropriations. The presenters listed potential fundable categories (crisis triage centers, outpatient medication and community treatment, diversion and care management, mobile crisis response, recovery and outreach, IT/closed-loop referrals, and evaluation/audit functions) but noted distribution formulas and funding mechanics remain under development.

Speakers said the eSIM will be a two-day event that gathers stakeholders, people with lived experience and service providers to identify gaps, vote on priorities and produce a report UNM will use to draft the plan. The county must submit a draft plan to the Administrative Office of the Courts within 45 days of receiving the eSIM report; the final plan is due June 30 for FY 2027 funding consideration.

County leaders also described an executive-committee announcement of an early-access regional funding opportunity (initially framed as up to $2,000,000 per region) with potential categories including housing, crisis response, medication-assisted treatment and prenatal/perinatal services. Public commenters urged the committee to revisit distribution formulas, possibly moving to a per-capita model; county staff said a change to per-capita distribution would increase Bernalillo County’s share and that the county would seek authorization from the county manager to accept and implement any awarded funds.

The county said it will engage local collaboratives, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Health Equity Alliance and other stakeholders; the county’s Behavioral Health Advisory Board will serve as the primary local advisory body for the regional-plan process.

Ending: County staff said the region’s early planning, partnership with UNM and designation as a pilot for an eSIM focused on children and families position Bernalillo County to apply for state behavioral-health funds when the plan is approved.