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CSG finds gaps in New Mexico youth services, urges statewide diversion and violence‑prevention strategy
Summary
The Council of State Governments Justice Center told the Legislative Health & Human Services committee that New Mexico lacks a coordinated, research‑based system for early intervention and diversion for youth; it recommended a statewide violence‑prevention strategy, an access hub for services, and better use of Medicaid and other funding.
The Council of State Governments Justice Center presented findings to the Legislative Health & Human Services committee, saying New Mexico has made strides in reducing juvenile arrests and expanding behavioral‑health initiatives but still lacks a coordinated, research‑based approach to early intervention and diversion for adolescents.
Christina Gilbert and Nina Solomon, presenters for the Justice Center, said their multi‑state 'Collaborating for Youth and Public Safety' initiative found that the state has many 'doors' to services but few consistent ways for families to find the right one. "We are trying to develop a more coordinated cross‑systems approach so that young people and families can access services more easily," Gilbert said.
The Justice Center pointed to data showing high behavioral‑health needs among New Mexico teenagers and a juvenile referral profile dominated by low‑level offenses. Presenters cited 2023 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance figures that, they said, show 47% of female high‑school students reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks and 19% had seriously considered suicide. They also reported that in 2025 more than three‑quarters of referrals to CYFD juvenile justice involved status offenses, misdemeanors or probation violations, and about half of youth referred were first‑time offenders.
Based on interviews, system mapping and listening sessions, the Justice Center emphasized three gaps: weak statewide coordination for early intervention and diversion, limited statewide use of evidence‑based treatments (such as MST and FFT) particularly in rural areas, and workforce shortages driven in part by low Medicaid reimbursement and licensing barriers. "Juvenile justice systems across the country, as well as the network of community‑based providers, are really struggling to recruit and retain quality staff," Solomon said.
Their recommendations include creating a statewide youth violence prevention and intervention strategy with a public‑health lens; establishing a statewide office to coordinate gun‑violence prevention and distribute technical assistance and funding; expanding community‑based evidence‑based programs that use credible messengers and violence interrupters; and creating a primary point of access (a hub) for early intervention and diversion so youth are served without entering juvenile justice.
Committee members raised questions about funding and engagement. Representative Herndon urged the Justice Center to help connect the initiative to existing, unspent Legislative Finance Committee funds for health and human services; Gilbert said the team will pursue connections with state agencies and community groups. Several members called for more up‑to‑date youth data and for continued inclusion of young people with lived experience in planning.
The Justice Center said next steps include narrowing priorities with the state's core team and developing an action plan with concrete policy, financing and workforce strategies. The presenters offered additional follow‑up and contact information for committee members interested in specific partnerships or local program models.
