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11-09-2007, 07:26 AM
Albuquerque Area Teens among First to Receive Housing Assistance
Collaborative Efforts among Agencies
Benefit Transitional Youth in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico youth transitioning out of Juvenile Justice Services or out of Protective Services – those who have aged out of foster care - will now have the opportunity to live in supportive housing before transitioning into the community. Children, Youth and Families Department, the Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative and the Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico recently finalized a contract making available permanent supportive housing in Albuquerque.
These agencies have come together to provide housing to 20 CYFD-involved youth between the ages of 18-21 in the Albuquerque area. CYFD transition staff will help the participants connect to educational, behavioral health and vocational services. The goal of this project is for each participant to be successfully reintegrated into the community.
“A safe home environment where young adults can live once they are out of the juvenile justice system or when they have aged out of foster care is a very important step for success,” said Dorian Dodson, CYFD Cabinet Secretary and co-chair of the Collaborative. “We are excited to begin this new program and look forward to seeing positive results for New Mexico’s youth.”
Currently, four youth participants have been chosen for this project and initial efforts are underway to search for and match these youth with safe, affordable, clean housing. This project is part of a larger state housing plan through the Collaborative.
The Collaborative, the only one of its kind in the country, was created during the 2004 Legislature to allow state agencies and resources involved in behavioral health treatment and recovery to work together in an effort to improve mental health and substance abuse services in New Mexico. This cabinet-level group represents 15 agencies and Governor Bill Richardson’s office.
For further information on the project, contact Maya McKnight at (505) 476-1046 or Robert Gerlock at (505) 383-0110. For information on the Behavioral Health Collaborative, visit www.bhc.state.nm.us (http://www.bhc.state.nm.us).
Collaborative Efforts among Agencies
Benefit Transitional Youth in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico youth transitioning out of Juvenile Justice Services or out of Protective Services – those who have aged out of foster care - will now have the opportunity to live in supportive housing before transitioning into the community. Children, Youth and Families Department, the Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative and the Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico recently finalized a contract making available permanent supportive housing in Albuquerque.
These agencies have come together to provide housing to 20 CYFD-involved youth between the ages of 18-21 in the Albuquerque area. CYFD transition staff will help the participants connect to educational, behavioral health and vocational services. The goal of this project is for each participant to be successfully reintegrated into the community.
“A safe home environment where young adults can live once they are out of the juvenile justice system or when they have aged out of foster care is a very important step for success,” said Dorian Dodson, CYFD Cabinet Secretary and co-chair of the Collaborative. “We are excited to begin this new program and look forward to seeing positive results for New Mexico’s youth.”
Currently, four youth participants have been chosen for this project and initial efforts are underway to search for and match these youth with safe, affordable, clean housing. This project is part of a larger state housing plan through the Collaborative.
The Collaborative, the only one of its kind in the country, was created during the 2004 Legislature to allow state agencies and resources involved in behavioral health treatment and recovery to work together in an effort to improve mental health and substance abuse services in New Mexico. This cabinet-level group represents 15 agencies and Governor Bill Richardson’s office.
For further information on the project, contact Maya McKnight at (505) 476-1046 or Robert Gerlock at (505) 383-0110. For information on the Behavioral Health Collaborative, visit www.bhc.state.nm.us (http://www.bhc.state.nm.us).