A Note from the Executive Director |
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NMASBHC is pleased to say that April showers appear to have brought the flowers of opportunity in May. This month's newsletter is chock full of funding, training and support opportunities. Please read on to learn more about all that is on offer as our field grows and grows!
Importantly, OSAH and NMASBHC are growing in staff capacity to meet our field's needs. Please read on to meet the new staff at NMDOH-OSAH who will be serving the school health field, and please see two new positions that NMASBHC has open and share the posting with your network!
Please also note some important deadlines for funding for SBHCs and their staff. The deadline for the OSAH RFA for SBHC services is May 15th, and NMASBHC's deadline to apply for a scholarship to attend the SBHA conference in Washington D.C. is May 4th. Don't miss these!
Lastly, please let me draw your attention to an important, though brief, survey of school administrators that is described and linked below. If your school wishes either to expand or initiate an SBHC (mobile, telehealth, brick and mortar), please strongly urge them to complete the survey. To support funding partners, including the legislature and NMDOH, NMASBHC needs to know where the interest, need, and readiness are greatest across our state's schools.
NMASBHC staff and Board hope all of these opportunities and more will, through collaboration with our partners, ensure that our state's children are healthy and ready to learn!
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May 2023 features
Thank you for all the SBHCs who participated and submitted pictures!
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Please feel free to share these postings with your network.
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SBHC ECHO sessions have wrapped up for the year. Thank you all who attended and participated in this important initiative. NMASBHC appreciates the collaboration with Project ECHO, OSAH, Molina and other partners who have worked diligently to create an educational and professional development community of practice for SBHCs in New Mexico. Also, thank you to our amazing SBHC ECHO Hub team.
We are currently in the process of planning for future sessions. In the meantime, you can visit the SBHC ECHO Resource Library to see recordings of prior sessions, as well as resources.
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NMASBHC Youth Advisory Group |
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We hope you were able to catch the session on the KUNM Let's Talk New Mexico on April 13th about School Based Health Centers.
Thank you to NMASBHC Board members, SBHC staff and our Youth for participating. If you would like to hear the recording, visit the KUNM page HERE.
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The Youth Health Advisory Group supports youth to advance health care access for their peers, share expertise on health-related topics and give important youth voice to the field of school-based health care. Participants will engage in activities and projects that can provide critical input to the development and delivery of services, and advocate for SBHC services across the state.
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SBHA National Conference 2023 |
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The School-Based Health Alliance Annual Conference, “Celebrating and Growing the Workforce,” will be on June 26-28, 2023, at American University Washington School of Law in Washington, DC.
Visit the SBHA website for more information and registration details. This conference is an opportunity to connect with fellow health care professionals, education professionals, and advocates across the nation.
NMASBHC will offer a number of partial scholarships for attendance. If you are interested in applying, complete the application HERE. Deadline is May 4th.
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SBHC Interest Survey for NM Schools |
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Urgent Opportunity for Superintendents and Principals:
We need your communication regarding your school's interest and readiness for school-based health center services. To help NMASBHC and funding partners such as the county, state, and federal government determine where the interest and need lies, NMASBHC has created a brief survey of superintendents and principals to quantify and locate those factors.
If you are a principal or superintendent, please go to the short survey linked below to complete the survey. If you work in a school, please forward the survey to your designated administrator and encourage them to complete this survey.
NMASBHC will leave this survey open through the end of the school year to maximize participation. However, if your school has an urgent need to be connected to the current NMDOH-OSAH process for the RFA for SBHC services, please complete the survey ASAP.
Please feel free to reach out to NMASBHC with any questions or needs for support.
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NMDOH OSAH gets new staff! |
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The NM Department of Health Office of School and Adolescent Health is excited to have new staff on board. Please help welcome Josh Ryan, Julie Molina and Jamie Slama to the team. |
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My name is Josh Ryan, and I have recently been hired by DOH as a consultant to School Based Health Centers. I am excited for this new position and am confident that my background in education can help more students benefit from the program. I received a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska Lincoln where I organized programs for the Autism population in Nebraska. Then I moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where I served students in both traditional and charter school settings. I served on the board and wrote grants that created occupational skills development in developmentally disabled youth. I have enjoyed my time as an educator and believe in lifelong learning. I am currently in my second year at San Juan Community College obtaining an Associates in Health in Technology.
I was born in Minneapolis Minnesota where my two siblings and parents still live. I live in Rio Rancho with my wife (Sierra), son (Zimmermann) and dog (Grr). We all enjoy cooking, bowling and the outdoors together. Part of my background was spent working in recording studios, so playing and listening to music has always been an important part of my life. Please feel free to reach out at any time with questions or concerns. I look forward to working with each of you. Thank you very much for your time.
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Mrs. Molina is currently one of the SBHC Consultants for the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Office of School and Adolescent Health (OSAH). Julie has been with the Department of Health for the past 15 years as the RPHCA Contract Manager working with FQHC’s, RHC’s and FQHC look-a-likes throughout the state. Julie also has worked with the New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, Office of Guardianship as well as with the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. She graduated from New Mexico Highlands University where she double majored with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. Julie looks forward to working with school-based health centers. |
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Mrs. Slama is currently one of the SBHC Consultants for the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Office of School and Adolescent Health (OSAH). Jamie has been with the Department of Health for the past 11 years. Before working for the state, she was a nationally certified medical assistant with ABQ Health Partners, formerly Lovelace Medical Group Pediatrics clinic, and worked for Dr. Gina Waymire and Dr. Alice Marosi for 13 and half years. Jamie enjoys working closely with children and looks forward to bringing new ideas to OSAH and SBHCs. She graduated from Wayland Baptist University with a Bachelor’s in Human Services. She spent the last 6 years with Office of Community Health Workers (OCHW) as their lead trainer, training/certification coordinator before transitioning into her new role with OSAH. She was instrumental in locating, training and certifying many Community Health Workers in New Mexico. Jamie is a Certified Community Health Worker Specialist III and values Community Health Workers and the amazing work they do. Jamie’s vision is to incorporate CHWs into School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) throughout New Mexico. |
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NMDOH OSAH RFA for SBHCs Now Open! |
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Thank you to OSAH for releasing a new, streamlined Request for Proposals for SBHC Operations. The RFA (click for downloadable document) is open to existing and new operations. Please feel free to reach out to NMASBHC for support, but please also see the formal question and answer timeline and process described in the RFP.
The proposals are due on May 15th.
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It is about that time for End of Year Operational Plan (OP) Progress Reports.
Please complete these by May 30th, 2023. See the attached Deliverables Checklist that will help you with completion.
The snapshot needed for the QI section will be available by May 25th.
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NM Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility Determiner Training |
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Presumptive Eligibility Determiner trainings are scheduled for May 15th and 16th. If you have staff that need the training, please contact HSD at the email address below to indicate the need to register for training. Contact at HSD.PEDeterminers@state.nm.us
or call (505) 476-7151.
Please note that it is very important to have your SBHC team up to date with eligibility determination. This an NMDOH-OSAH requirement, but many families may need support in finding out if their COVID-era coverage is winding down in 2023 as well.
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HSD has launched the Renew NM! Campaign, which is a statewide public awareness campaign that provides resources and information to HSD customers and community partners about the changes to SNAP & Medicaid.
It is a Call to Action to:
- Update contact information
- Watch for their Turquoise envelope
- Submit a renewal
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Applying for SNAP, TANF, LIHEAP, and Medicaid
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)
There have been recent announcements about a one-time issuance for summer. Visit the HSD website for more information. |
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beWellNM Community Partner Toolkit |
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The beWellnm toolkit was created in effort to provide consistent information and to support New Mexican communities and partners to better understand the Medicaid Unwinding.
The toolkit includes the following resources:
- Enrollment Event Calendar – This calendar lists enrollment events across the state where consumers can ask questions about the Medicaid Unwinding and coverage options as well as receive in-person enrollment assistance.
- Enrollment Event Flyers – These printable flyers can be edited so you can add the enrollment event location most convenient to you and your community based on the events listed on the enrollment calendar.
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Medicaid Unwinding Flyers – These printable educational flyers are available in multiple languages and include a QR code to the beWellnm website to assist with coverage options.
- Medicaid Unwinding FAQs – These high-level FAQs focus on the Medicaid Unwinding and the NM Medicaid Transition Premium Relief Program.
- Newsletter Articles – This newsletter article is available if you would like to include Medicaid Unwinding information within your organization or partner newsletters.
- Talking Points – These high-level talking points are available as a reference when speaking about the Medicaid Unwinding.
- Press Release – This is the beWellnm press release when the Medicaid Unwinding policy change went into effect.
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Clinic Resources, Training Opportunities and Community Announcements |
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This session reviews evidence-based guidelines for providing the full range of contraceptive methods. We will review patient eligibility, compare and contrast side effects and benefits, and discuss common misconceptions and concerns about these options.
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SBHC Staff are amazing!
Please feel free to share these open positions with your colleagues and peers.
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Got Shots? is an important initiative to help children and families to get their immunizations and shots.
This summer's "Got Shots?" events will take place July 8 - August 31, 2023.
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Western Sky - 3rd Annual Quality Improvement Provider Summit |
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Western Sky Community Care will be having the 3rd Annual Quality Improvement Provider Summit on August 23, 2023. Western Sky is inviting all providers, practitioners, staff, and quality departments, throughout NM and will be reviewing a variety of Western Sky Community Care programs, Quality Topics, and Initiatives. Please save the date and we hope to have you in attendance.
Date: August 23, 2023
Location: CNM Workforce Training Center
5600 Eagle Rock Ave NE; Albuquerque, NM 87113
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The 2023 NMPHA Conference will be on Thursday, May 18th and Friday, May 19th, 2023.
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SBHA and Share Our Strength -
No Kid Hungry RFP
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SBHA and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry will be launching a second phase of grant funding to support food access in school-based health centers (SBHCs). Funding will run from July 2023 to September 2024.
Proposed projects should represent at least 10 SBHCs. Organizations with responsibility for state-level oversight, management, training, and support of SBHCs should consider applying.
An informational session was held on April 6 at 3 p.m. ET. For questions, reach out to Katy Stinchfield at kstinchfield@sbh4all.org.
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May Health Awareness Activities |
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month and
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (May 7th)
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May is dedicated to fighting stigma, educating the public, and advocating for policies that support children and families with mental illness.
May 7th is National Children’s Mental Health Day. It is a day to highlight the importance of caring for every child’s mental health and to reinforce the message that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development.
Find additional resources at:
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May is National Adolescent Health Month |
National Adolescent Health Month™ (NAHM™) is a health observance hosted by the HHS Office of Population Affairs (OPA) each year in May. Since 2022, this annual observance has emphasized the importance of building on young people’s strengths and potential, encouraging meaningful youth engagement in adolescent health activities, and highlighting key topics in adolescent health.
Adolescent health involves many aspects of health and well-being, including sexual and reproductive health, mental health, community support, and the role of caring adults.
NAHM will focus of 4 topics:
Week 1: Expand sexual and reproductive health information and services
Week 2: Promote self-care to support mental health
Week 3: Celebrate ways that communities support health
Week 4: Equip adults to support adolescent health
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National Nurses Week is May 6-12 and
National School Nurse Day is May 10, 2023
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Since 1972, National School Nurse Day has been set aside to recognize school nurses.
National School Nurse Day was established to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting.
School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week.
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Screen Free Week (May 1st-7th) |
Screen-Free Week is an annual invitation to play, explore, and rediscover the joys of life beyond ad-supported screens. During the first week of May, thousands of families, schools, and communities around the world will put down their entertainment screens for seven days of fun, connection, and discovery.
You can celebrate Screen-Free Week at home, in your school, in your community, or anywhere – just put down those entertainment screens and do literally anything else! You might be surprised at what you find. Plan a day, a few hours, or the whole week; however you participate is great!
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Support NMASBHC this year! |
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