Agenda
Present: Okiri-West, Corley, Sallee, Nienow, Oreskovich, Cordova, Knox, Halpern, Harrison, Moore, Arguello, Fresquez III, Serafin, Costilla, Valles-Pedroza, Panhorst, Nabours, Lightfoot, Moyer, Canaday, Vilas, Tontodonatl
Call to Order – met
Approval of Agenda and Minutes – Sallee/Nienow
Legislative Updates pertaining to the Social Work profession – Rep. Chavez by A. Sallee
Four pieces of legislation that made it to signature. 1) Office of Child Advocate (funding vetoed); 2) SB 283 CYFD will use federal benefits to assist foster children to access their funds: 3) SB 402 Puts CARA under contractor responsibility in DOH; 4) SB 252 social work telehealth services. All compact efforts failed and are unlikely to pass with the current composition of Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Finance Committee put into HB@ $500k to hire a contractor to access IVE funds. CYFD has been underutilizing UVE funds to date.
Within HB2 (SB 492) exists as an OPM (Online Program Manager) housed out of NMSU to recruit/regulate online education in NM. The last count on funds is that $12m is to be awarded. This is viewed as a creeping overreach by the legislature into higher education. Alvin will follow up on this effort to see where it is sitting and the plans to proceed.
Committees
Capacity building
Goal is to establish deliverables and action items. University representatives to explore graduate tracking into the profession. Begin building framework for pipeline from degree to career retention.
Social Isolation and Advocacy – no report
Licensing – no report
SB3 Ad hoc (Cordova) – meeting occurred around recommendation of names for behavioral health committee. There were seven entities identified with the following recommendations: Jerry Ortiz y Pino, Valerie Valles-Pedroza, Kimmy Jordan (sp?), Dr. John Tarango, and Dr. Delores Ortega. Can the committee meet to present additional names for regional representation to take to the executive committee for consideration and approval. Can people from this call submit names for consideration for regional representation to Yolanda Cordova (ycordova0812@gmail.com). Time of the essence, they are forming this committee now. Technically, these decisions should be made by June 1st.
Do we want to consider regional action teams to focus on social work regional needs to bring the Consortium a broader perspective of social work professional needs? This may be a good topic for the executive committee retreat agenda to establish efforts moving forward. We could model the NASW model used in NM – each region had a chair and student member to engage community members.
Schools (alphabetically)
ENMU – no report out
NMHU – Valles-Pedroza representing Nelson’s report out. The Center Plaza will launch in the coming months – an online professional development platform. This will provide certificates and trainings. This will launch in the coming month. Free CEUs offered 2-3 times a month. There is an upcoming workshop for ASWB licensure preparation course, offered for free NM students and practitioners! Registration here: https://learn.nmcesw.org/courses/center-plaza–preparing-for-the-aswb-licensure-examination. There will also be DSM and Psychopharmacology courses offered soon.
NMSU – Hiring 3 online faculty, awarding paid practicums, planning 50th year celebration for the upcoming year!
UNM – Hard at work on Benchmark I document. Tentative Fall 2025 admissions. Looking for Advisory Board members. The first meeting will be in June. These are quarterly, 90-minute meetings. How would the Consortium like to select their representative? Based on the Bylaws, the Chair speaks for the Consortium. As our Chair is employed by WNMU, is there another position. The only executive committee member that is not employed by higher education is Eleanor Chavez.
WNMU – The Silver Regional Human Trafficking Conference is currently underway! There are interviews for BSW positions upcoming. The end of the term is coming. WNMU experienced a cyber attach, similar to what NMSU experienced, they are currently in the thick of it.
Practice Community Items
What of the federal aggression toward DEI work? How does this impact our work statewide? Nationally, our accreditors (CSWE) are receiving pressure and fear of funding cuts. Recent EO (issues April 23, 2025) specifically addresses accrediting bodies. Join CSWE – membership is free. There is a member only page for ADEI support. UNM is facing the loss of $130m of federal funds. Loss of this funding will jeopardize graduate tuition support.
Other Items
Adjourn – 10:01 – Costilla/Valles-Pedroza
Dr. Melissa Moyer, LCSW
MSW Program Director/Associate Professor
College of Business Room 183