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Taos County hears pitch for YES New Mexico Connect; county navigators to manage referrals
Summary
State and vendor presenters described a free, statewide closed-loop referral platform (YES New Mexico Connect/Find Help) that Taos County staff plan to operate locally with two navigators to track referrals, identify service gaps and produce county dashboards.
Lori Griego, New Mexico state director for Find Help, and LaDon Woodson, director of the program at the New Mexico Health Care Authority, presented YES New Mexico Connect to the Taos County Commission on June 23, saying the platform is free to the county and designed to link residents to social and health services.
“There is no cost to the county of Taos,” Lori Griego said, describing the platform as a statewide initiative funded by the Health Care Authority and powered by Find Help. Griego said the program includes a public-facing site people can search anonymously and a closed-loop referral system that lets navigators track whether clients received services.
LaDon Woodson said the goal is to close referral loops so agencies and navigators know whether a person’s needs were met. “A closed-loop referral system helps to address the root causes of poor health,” Woodson said, noting navigators, community-based organizations and managed-care partners will share referral information on the platform.
County staff told commissioners two navigators will operate under Taos County: the county’s program leads and an additional staffer will serve as local navigators to enter referrals, follow up and close loops. County staff described workflow examples — the jail, schools and health providers can refer a resident into the system and receive feedback when services are provided or identified gaps remain.
Commissioners asked about funding and sustainability; presenters said the Health Care Authority currently funds county licenses and that statewide legislative support is being sought to maintain the program. Presenters and county staff also described immediate next steps: provider onboarding, local curator training and a provider workshop and follow-up meeting scheduled for the next day.
The presenters urged Taos County leaders to champion the platform and to use the platform’s data to identify service gaps and direct grants and resources where needed. The commission did not take a vote on adoption during the presentation; staff will arrange training and onboarding for participating local providers.
