State Legislation
The Legislative Committee of the Continuum Coordinators, reviews current state and national legislative activity that may impact our local sites.
about State Legislation
Since 2003, New Mexico State Legislators have had a strong commitment to embedding consistent quality improvement measures for the Juvenile Justice system into New Mexico Statute. The New Mexico Children’s Code embeds the 8 Core Principles of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative to guide the work of juvenile justice systems professionals. The Continuum Act and the Juvenile Community Corrections Act provide monies to support the implementation of the 8 Core principles of JDAI as well as the 4 Core Principles of the Federal Juvenile Reform Act.
NM Continuum Act
Juvenile continuum grant fund; created; purposed; administration; grant applications.
JUVENILE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
The Juvenile Community Corrections (JJC) program provides services to assist adjudicated youth and youth on supervised release to successfully complete their probation or release requirements for successful reentry into the community.
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Program referrals are made to JCC service providers from juvenile probation officers, district court judges, district attorneys, public defenders, private attorneys, juvenile correctional facilities or the CYFD supervised release panel. The program utilizes a team approach which includes the client, family, JCC-contracted agency, local public schools staff, juvenile probation officers and other significant individuals in the client’s life. The program provides participants with program services based on the client’s individualized needs but focuses primarily on teaching life skills (job search support, social skills development, school support and tutoring, and other services offered within the community) so that the youth can learn how to appropriately and responsibly manage their affairs.
JCC served 966 youth through 16 contracted providers with services in 29 counties, supported by a budget of approximately $2.6 million in 2018.
The “juvenile continuum grant fund” is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by children, youth and families department and shall consist of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations and bequests made to the fund.
Money in the juvenile continuum grant fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature to the children, youth and families department for awarding grants to juvenile justice continuums for the provision of cost-effective services and temporary, nonsecure alternatives to detention for juveniles arrested or referred to juvenile probation and parole or at a risk of such referral.
A local or tribal government may apply for a grant from the juvenile continuum grant fund for a juvenile justice continuum within its jurisdiction. The amount of the grant application shall not exceed sixty percent of the annual cost of the continuum. A local match of forty percent may consist of money, land, equipment or in-kind services.
The children, youth and families department shall adopt rules on qualifications for grants and specify the format, procedure and deadlines for grant applications. The juvenile justice advisory committee shall review all grant applications and submit those applications recommended for final approval to the secretary of children, youth and families.
Disbursements from the juvenile continuum grant fund shall be made upon vouchers issued and signed by the secretary of children, youth and families or the secretary’s designee upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration.
As used in this section, a “juvenile justice continuum” is a system of services and sanctions for juveniles arrested or referred to juvenile probation and parole or at risk of such referral and consists of a formal partnership among one or more of the units of local or tribal governments, the children’s court, the district attorney, the public defender, local law enforcement agencies, the public schools and other entities such as private nonprofit organizations, the business community and religious organizations. A juvenile justice continuum shall be established through a memorandum of understanding and a continuum board.
Senate Bill 58
Evidence and Research Based Funding Request
Senate Bill 58, signed into law during the 2019 legislative session, amended the Accountability in Government Act to require certain state agencies to identify and prioritize evidence-based, research-based, and promising sub-programs within their performance-based budget request. The purpose of Senate Bill 58 is to help agency leadership and our elected officials better understand the effectiveness of different government programs within various policy areas in order to make the best use of limited taxpayer dollars.
“Evidence-based” means that a program or practice: (1) incorporates methods demonstrated to be effective for the intended population through scientifically based research, including statistically controlled evaluations or randomized trials; (2) can be implemented with a set of procedures to allow successful replication in New Mexico; and (3) when possible, has been determined to be cost beneficial.
“Research-based” means that a program or practice has some research demonstrating effectiveness, but does not yet meet the standard of evidence-based.
“Promising”
means that a program or practice, based on statistical analyses or preliminary research, presents potential for becoming research-based or evidence-based.
Youth Mentoring
At-risk youth populations that could benefit from a mentoring experience.
New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) is committed to supporting a network of quality youth mentoring providers and effective approaches that provide a consistent, positive influence in the lives of youth people who would benefit from mentoring support, connecting the young person to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunities .
Contact Information
One-on-One
Youth Mentoring Providers
New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) is committed to supporting a network of quality youth mentoring providers and effective approaches that provide a consistent, positive influence in the lives of youth people who would benefit from mentoring support, connecting the young person to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunities.
Target Population: troubled or at-risk youth between six (6) and eighteen (18) years of age that meet one or more of the following criteria:
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Failing one or more subjects in school
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Low attendance in school
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Part of the juvenile justice system
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Demonstrating behavioral or emotional issues
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At-risk of child abuse or substance abuse
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Come from a single parent, foster home, or in kinship care and are in need of a positive role model
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Receiving special education services
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Have disabilities and/or special health needs
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Out of school youth/dropouts
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Gang-involved youth
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Pregnant/parenting
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Runaway or homeless
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Have incarcerated parent(s)
Allowable Activities: Each youth served must participate in at least one allowable activity area for a minimum of four (4) hours a month:
Academic Success, Health & Wellness, Life Skills, Fitness & Structured Recreation, Tutoring, Academic Enrichment, STEM/STEAM, College Access, Media Literacy, Cyber Safety
Healthy Lifestyles, Hygiene & Personal Care, Mind & Body, Pregnancy Prevention, Bullying Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention, Counseling, Cultural Customs & Values, Life Skills/Social Skills, Leadership Development, Character & Citizenship, Community Service & Engagement, Career Exploration, Job Readiness, Economic/Financial Literacy
Fitness Activities, Arts & Crafts, Sports Exposure and Skills Development, Gross and Fine Motor Skills Activities
Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region
Counties, Pueblos/Nations Served: Rio Arriba, Taos, Colfax, McKinley, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, San Miguel, Mora, Grant, Dona Ana, Luna
CEO
David Sherman: David.Sherman@bbbsmountainregion.org
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Program Contact:
Gina Trujillo - Gina.Trujillo@bbbsmountainregion.org
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CYFD/JJS Contact:
Samantha Rendon
Big Brothers Big Sisters Central NM
Counties, Pueblos/Nations Served: San Juan, Sandoval, Bernalillo, Torrance, Valencia, Cibola, Socorro, Otero
CEO
Angela Reed Padilla - Angela.ReedPadilla@bbbs-cnm.org
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Program Contact, COO:
Sharon Tenorio - Sharon.Tenorio@bbbs-cnm.org
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CYFD/JJS Contact:
Louis Pacias
Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern NM
Counties, Pueblos/Nations Served: Curry, Roosevelt, Chavez, Eddy
CEO
Bill Wolfe - bwolf@bbbssenm.org
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Program Contact
Amanda Ware - aware@bbbssenm.org
CYFD/JJS Contact
Consuelo Garcia
Youth Development, Inc.
Counties, Pueblos/Nations Served: Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance
Vice President
Concho Cordova - ccordova@ydinm.org
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Program Contact
Judy Pacheco - jpacheco@ydinm.org
CYFD/JJS Contact
Louis Pacias
Group Youth Mentoring Providers
National Indian Youth Leadership Development Program
Counties, Pueblos/Nations Served: McKinley County; Navajo Nation
CEO
McClellan Hall: machall@niylp.org
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Program Contact:
Sheri Pfeiffer-Tsinajinnie: info@niylp.org
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CYFD/JJS Contact:
Louis Pacias
New Mexico Alliance of Boys & Girls Club
Counties, Pueblos/Nations Served: San Juan, Rio Arriba, McKinley, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Lincoln, Chaves, Eddy, Otero, Dona Ana; Ohkay Owingeh, Mescalero Apache
Appletree
Counties, Pueblos/Nations Served: Sierra
Program Contact
Sharon Finarelli - sharon.finarelli@appletreeeducation.org
CYFD/JJS Contact
Samantha Rendon
Capacity Builders
Counties, Pueblos/Nations Served: San Juan County; Navajo Nation
President, Board of Director:
Debbie Oftedal - d.oftedal@capacitybuilders.info
Program Contact:
Eudora Redhouse - e.redhouse@capacitybuilders.info
CYFD/JJS Contact
Samantha Rendon
Youth Development, Inc.
Counties, Pueblos/Nations Served: Bernalillo County
Vice President:
Concho Cordova - ccordava@ydinm.org
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Program Contact:
Judy Pacheco - jpacheco@ydinm.org
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CYFD/JJS Contact
Louis Pacias