The NMBHPA thanks you for attending
6th Annual Conference on Behavioral Health
The event provided a fantastic opportunity for everyone to interact and learn from each other. Whether you were an executive, direct practitioner, or support staff, the spirit of partnership and innovation was evident.
The message was clear: our work is challenging, but together, we can achieve remarkable things.
Reclaiming Our Power
The Resonance of Shared Voices
- Reduce workplace burnout by 35% and improve team cohesion by 40%: Dr. Jeremy Holloway, combines academic expertise with real-world impact. As a former Geriatric Professor and Director of Geriatric Education at the University of North Dakota and current Health, Equity & Justice Professor at New Mexico Highlands University, Dr. Holloway brings a results-oriented approach to addressing the Social Determinants of Health.
- Bringing quality training to behavioral health in New Mexico: Growing up in deep poverty as the child of a single mother on public assistance, Brian Serna of Serna Solutions forged a path to leadership in the behavioral health field that was anything but guaranteed. With raw honesty and heartfelt humor, he will share the formative experiences that shaped his mission, the doubts and “imposter syndrome” that nearly derailed it, and the inner strength and guidance he found by trusting himself to find his way in the darkness. Now the leader of a company that has six locations, trained over a thousand providers in New Mexico, and an internationally sought-after trainer.
- Holistic Behavioral Health Approach: We explored the importance of viewing behavioral health as a comprehensive system, covering prevention, crisis intervention, treatment, and recovery. Enhancing data collection and integrating evidence-based practices are essential for improving our programs.
- Making inroads around understanding death by suicide: Ane Romero currently serves as the State Director to U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan here in New Mexico. She is a proud graduate of New Mexico Highlands University. While still in college, she authored, NM Senate Joint Memorial 61, which became one of the first mental health bills to pass the New Mexico State Legislature. During the drafting of the Affordable Care Act, she was one of the lead Congressional Staffers working to ensure behavioral health was included as one of the 10 essential benefits and worked with the White House to draft the language included in President Obama's Project AWARE, which New Mexico was one of the first states to receive mental health funding.
- Improving outcomes for underserved communities: Kristi Brooks Kristie has managed high-impact initiatives, advocated for federal funding, and secured millions in grants to expand access to mental health, substance use disorder treatment, and crisis care. Her work has focused on building partnerships across health systems and governments. Brooks is a licensed professional counselor and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services Counseling from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.
conference presentation and Photo downloads
Thank you to all of the exhibitors,
sponsors, and keynote speakers!
This conference simply isn't possible without you!
What Our Members Say
“Joining the NMBHPA has been exceptionally helpful for our organization. Their collaborative approach and deep understanding of the BH landscape have made them wonderful partners in navigating the complexities of Medicaid/Insurance policies and regulatory frameworks. They play a significant role in fostering communication and effective problem solving between state agencies, MCOs and providers. What sets them apart is their ability to ask difficult questions with thoughtfulness and respect, creating space for honest dialog and meaningful feedback. This has led to better understanding of the nuances of Medicaid coverage, state priorities, and operational constraints that providers face. They actively support sustainability of care delivery through focusing on reducing administrative burden and facilitating timely reimbursement.” – Laura Dunagan, Director of Revenue Cycle at All Faith's Children's Advocacy Center
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At A New Hope Therapy Center, we chose to become a member of NMBHPA because we value being part of a community that champions quality mental health care across New Mexico. The networking, support, and shared resources have been truly helpful for our team. Most of all, we appreciate the opportunities to collaborate with other organizations that are just as passionate about making a difference.
Being part of NMBHPA has inspired us and made us feel connected to others who share our vision for a healthier, more supported community. We’re proud to be members!" – Maria Laquerre Diego, LMFT at A New Hope Therapy Center
"I am the owner of a group psychotherapy practice. Although many of the agencies in the association are larger and provide a broader range of services than ours, I continue to find the information available to me as a member invaluable. In particular, the monthly meetings the association has set up with NM Medicaid and each Medicaid MCO provide a wealth of information and professional connections with the most influential personnel for each of those entities. These meetings put the concerns of behavioral health providers directly in front of those individuals and hold them accountable to the needs of our agencies and the people we support. I highly recommend becoming an association member." — Jim Shotwell, Executive Director/Owner at The Enhancement Center