01/14/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Valeria Alarcón, Executive Director
New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils
Email: valeria@nmhealthcouncils.org | Phone: 505-226-2133
Your Voice Matters: Join Region 8’s Behavioral Health Community Listening Sessions
Taos, NM ,January 13th, 2026
Community members are invited to participate in
upcoming Regional Behavioral Health Community Listening Sessions, designed to ensure that the voices and lived experiences of New Mexicans shape the future of behavioral and mental health care across the state.These virtual sessions are part of a statewide initiative under Senate Bill 3 (SB3) – The Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act, which calls for a more integrated, community-driven behavioral health system. Each region will identify its top priorities and develop a four-year plan to strengthen behavioral health services in partnership with local organizations, healthcare agencies, and all three branches of government. The sessions will explore the intersection of behavioral health with housing,
justice, education, and social wellbeing, creating a space for dialogue that drives actionable and systemic improvements to New Mexico’s behavioral health system. “Every community voice adds power to the state’s vision for an equitable, accessible and effective behavioral health care system,” said Valeria Alarcón, Executive Director of the New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils. “This is your opportunity to shape meaningful, community-informed, and long-lasting change.” Upcoming Virtual Listening Sessions Information: Behavioral Health Region 8:
● Counties of Taos, Union and Colfax
● Pueblos of Taos and Picuris
Accountable Lead: Sylvia Barela, National Managing Partner to Chief Executive
Officer of Via Positiva, sylvia.barela@viativa.com
Choose From the following dates:
● In-Person Listening Sessions:
○ Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 : 5:00pm - 6:30pm
■ Union County: Union County Administration Office
● 200 Court St. Clayton NM 88415
○ Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 : 11:30am - 1:00pm
■ Colfax County: Colfax County Commission Chambers
● 230 N 3rd Street, Raton, NM 87747
● Virtual Listening Session:
○ Wednesday, February 25th, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
○ Registration Link: bit.ly/R8-Feb25ListeningSession
Colfax County Health Council Contact:
● Candida Griego | yes@co.colfax.nm.us
Picuris Pueblo Health Council Contact:
● Tony Lucero l T.Lucero@PicurisMedical.org
Taos County Health Council Contact:
● Zachariah Cordova l zachariah.cordova@taoscountynm.gov | 575-737-6435
Taos Pueblo Contact:
● Shawn Duran l SDuran@taospueblo.com
Union Health Council Contact:
● Rusty Kohler l rustykohler.hc@outlook.com
How to Participate:
Join in person or from the comfort of your home or office, phone or computer.
Sessions are open to all community members — including individuals with lived
experience, family members, service providers, educators, advocates, medical
providers, school-district, local leaders, and youth.
Your perspective will inform and identify priorities and strengthen behavioral health
care for all New Mexicans.
Hosted in partnership by: The New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils
Access Behavioral Health Regional Community Calendar:
https://www.nmhealthcouncils.org/publichealthevents
Access SB3 Behavioral Health Reform & Investment Act:
mcourts.gov/the-behavioral-health-reform-and-investment-act-sb3