New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department has resolved a monthslong contracting dispute with the New Mexico Credentialing Board for Behavioral Health Professionals, issuing a contract signed April 28. The conflict threatened to disrupt behavioral health services statewide after the credentialing board suspended certifications and renewals of credentials on March 23 due to operating without funding. Family peer support workers, wrap facilitators, and others who needed new credentials or credential renewals faced the prospect of being unable to work. CYFD spokesman Jake Thompson attributed the delay to “extended negotiations, legal review” and other factors.
State Commitment and Timelines
The contract lasts only through the end of July, after which the board and CYFD will need to start the process over for fiscal year 2027. CYFD is already in negotiations for a new contract and does not expect delays, with Thompson stating the department is “committed to timely credentialing of children’s behavioral health workers going forward.” However, providers and specialists note this creates an unstable cycle, with questions remaining about whether the state will face similar delays when new contracts come due.
Provider Shortages and System Challenges
Counties across New Mexico face severe shortages of psychiatrists, pediatricians, counselors, and other mental and behavioral health providers, creating a crisis for parents of children with disabilities. A study by New Mexico State University found Dona Ana County had the state’s second-highest deficit of psychiatrists. Parents and foster parents face insurmountable barriers in identifying children’s mental and behavioral health conditions and connecting with services, with waitlists extending over a year. Family peer support workers are central to the state’s efforts to build a new system of mental and behavioral healthcare for youth, helping families navigate complex arrays of available services. In 2024, only 53 foster children received high-fidelity wraparound services, down from 149 in 2019, reflecting the state’s struggle to meet commitments made in the Kevin S. lawsuit settlement requiring an effective system for delivery of community-based mental and behavioral health services for all New Mexico children.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/after-nearly-a-year-cfyd-resolves-contract-dispute-with-behavioral-health-providers/article_623e5a98-14d2-49db-9520-d4cb0451c552.html