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Bernalillo County authorized to seek early-access behavioral health funds and lead regional planning under SB3
Summary
Deputy county manager Wayne Lindstrom said Bernalillo County has been designated the regional planner under the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act (SB3) and the board authorized the county manager to submit an early-access regional planning grant application to the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Health Care Authority.
The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 28 authorized the county manager to submit an early-access regional planning grant application under the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act (SB3) and to accept and budget awarded funds.
Deputy county manager Wayne Lindstrom told the board the law establishes a behavioral-health trust and directs regional planning; Bernalillo County has been designated to prepare the regional plan that aligns with the second judicial district. Lindstrom said the county's planning will emphasize services for children, youth and families, where he said gaps remain, and that the county will work with UNM—onsortium for Behavioral Health Training and Research as technical-assistance partners.
The SB3 regional-planning process requires two listening sessions and a two-day enhanced Sequential Intercept Model (eSIM) planning event. Lindstrom said the county has secured $60,000 from the Administrative Office of the Courts to support regional-planning work and will initiate the first virtual listening session the week following the meeting. He said the county may also be eligible for early-access implementation funding, including one-time awards in priority areas such as residential treatment, crisis response, medication-assisted treatment for justice-involved populations, and prenatal/perinatal substance-use services.
The board approved a motion authorizing submission of an early-access regional-plan grant application to the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Health Care Authority and empowered the county manager to accept and budget awards over the usual administrative threshold in accordance with county rule AR2023-77.
Why it matters: SB3 directs statewide reform and new funding mechanisms for behavioral health; early-access funds could support expansions in crisis response, residential treatment and prenatal/perinatal services locally.
What's next: The county will convene the eSIM planning session and listening sessions, work with UNM for technical assistance, and pursue early-access grant funds as solicitations open.
