The need for a behavioral health provider organization in New Mexico was born in 1997 when for profit health insurance companies joined the matrix of behavioral health stakeholders and decision makers as “managed care organizations”. In the ensuing 20 years and in an effort to improve access to care, New Mexico’s behavioral health system has undergone multiple visionary changes, to operate cost effectively and efficiently, and maximize limited resources. In spite of significant efforts, the current service delivery system is still lacking the cohesiveness imagined in 1997.
Promoting the belief that providers are the foundation of the behavioral health system while they are vulnerable to political changes, two statewide behavioral health provider alliances recognized the necessity of becoming a single umbrella organization supporting all New Mexico providers of the field. In March 2014, the Youth Provider Alliance and the Adult Provider Association merged and established the Behavioral Health Providers’ Association of New Mexico (NMBHPA) as a single non-profit association.
The NMBHPA leadership has perhaps the best institutional knowledge of NM’s behavioral health system and an in-depth understanding about what does what doesn’t work in delivering quality and accessible services in our unique state. The Association is committed to representing providers and informing policy makers about ongoing system development.
Maggie McCowen, LISW, MBA
Executive Director
Joe Harris
Board President
NMBHPA 2017 Board of Directors
Joe Harris, President
UNM
Ernie Holland
Guidance Center of Lea County
Krisztina Ford, Vice-President
All Faiths
Erin Hourihan
Child Haven
Beverly Nomberg, Treasurer
La Familia-Namaste
Steve Johnson
New Day
Rex Davidson, Secretary
Los Cumbres
David Ley
NM Solutions
Carol Luna Anderson
The Life Link
Stacy Palmer
Presbyterian Medical Services
Sylvia Barela
Santa Fe Recovery Center
Chris Tokarski
Mental Health Resources
Marti Everitt
La Casa Behavioral Services
Neal Bowen
Hidalgo Medical Services