Present: Melissa Moyer, Jamii Corley, Jerry Harrison, Kassandra Gandara, Ellen Costilla, Janelle Torres-Groover, Estilla Lightfoot, Eleanor Chavez, Nikki Peralta. Audrey Vargas, Amy Russell, Reba Serafin, Trinidad Arguello, Pilar Brooks, Ali Sillas, Clare Carmony, Logan Howard, Jen Panhorst
Guests – Heather Romero and Mia Candelaria with NM HED
Call to Order: 9:05 by Vice Chair Rep. Chavez
Approval of Minutes (emailed to the group 03.19.26) – Corley/Lightfoot – approved
Approval of Agenda (emailed to the group 04.15.26) –
NM Higher Ed Department, Financial Aid Director, Heather Romero (presentation attached)
· Loan Repayment program updates
· Loan for Service
2026 Legislative updates: HB66 Health Care Professional Loan Fund changes. 50% of awards to practicing physicians in NM. Other professions added to be considered for the remaining 50% of funds. Increased from 25,000 to 75,000 for each year of service to not exceed applicants’ debt. This is a four-year obligation, changing from a three-year. Physicians licensed MD or DO only with a four-year commitment to NM. Other professionals fall into the second bucket – social workers are in this bucket with many others. The service commitment remains three-years, and award structure stayed at 25,000/year. If the three year of repayment does not complete the debt repayment, the applicant may reapply. The 50% bucket for physicians cannot be reallocated, if not spent, to other professions. In past years, only 6.7% of applicants were physicians – there is a higher application rate among the other professions. Average educational debt for physicians is approximately $200k+. HPSA scores will rank location and consideration for loan repayment. The intent is to award all physicians regardless of location. Are there restrictions on practice setting (agency versus educational) for physicians. The practice setting for social work is based on the social work act. The number of potential awards for this year is hard to predict given the fluctuation of applications and need each year. There are currently 1200 participating in the program.
Social work applicants must hold an LBSW, LMSW, LISW, or LCSW to apply.
Upcoming dates:
April 21 – circulation of rule notice and rule efforts
May 22 – deadline for formal comments
May 28 – rule hearings
June 23 – anticipated publication and effective date
Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP)
Half – licensed physicians only (MDs and Dos) US citizen, resident for 12 consecutive months, 4-year commitment, can be full or part time employment, up to 75,000/year, licensed in NM
All other professions – remaining funds. US citizen, NM resident for 12 months, employed full or part time, 3-year service commitment, may receive up to $25.000. Last year 84 social workers applied and 67 were awarded.
Application will be opening June 1, 2026 to accommodate legislative changes.
NM Loan for Service Program (Allied, Medical and Nursing)
For current students enrolled in a post-secondary education system in NM. Initial eligibility: NM resident, enrolled at least half time, demonstrate financial need, must declare intent to practice in designated shortage area in NM. This award does not exceed $16k/year or $8k/year. The disbursement is sent to the school to be applied to the student account. It is for one year but can be renewed for up to four years and requires resubmission of application. For each year received, you commit to one year of service. Facilities are approved, except for Los Alamos County. Application opens May 15th and closes July 1. Nursing amount is the same as allied and Medical is $25k/year.
WICHE (western Interstate Commission on Higher Education) – to allow NM residents to apply to WICHE schools for education that cannot be obtained in NM. This does not apply to social work, but to professions such as dentistry. Application is available August 15th. The award is renewable for up to four years but once awarded, the award is given for four years. This requires three year service commitment. The determination on whether to accept a DSW or PhD in Social Work would need to be made by the WICHE commissioners.
New members/visitors:
- Pilar Brooks Dir of Workforce Development at CYFD and the Title IVE programs and practicums are coming under her care July 1st – she is attending to educate herself on this area.
Legislative, Policy, Regulatory Updates – Rep. Chavez
- No major updates, interim committees have not started meeting yet. Some will meet as early as May, but no later than June.
- Continuing to work on Commission
Treasurer’s Report – Jerry Harrison for Mary Nienow
We are on track to spend our annual budget with website efforts and tech support by Jamii
Committees
· Capacity building – Kim Knox – did not meet this month
· Licensing – Mary Nienow – not available for comment during this meeting – updates to be provided next meeting.
- Jen Panhorst shared sentiments from a group that met to address the following to ensure committee composition is reflective of the professional need. Estilla also provided insight that licensure may encompass policy. The social connection/isolation is likely to disconnect and become it’s own group.
- Policy and advocacy
- Social Connection
Executive Committee positions for 2026-28
Chair – Patti West-Okiri is unable to serve again
Vice chair – Rep. Chavez – willing and able to serve again but happy to allow another to step in
Secretary – Melissa Moyer – willing and able to serve again but happy to allow anther to step in
Treasurer – Mary Nienow
At Large – Carolyn Tollett and Kim Knox
Melissa will release a nomination ballot in the coming weeks, follow up with all nominees to confirm interest in serving, and create a position ballot to be voted on in the May meeting. This will allow for transition of executive at the close of the June meeting.
Practice Community Input
Ali Sillas – Coalition of Behavioral Workforce Development with an interest in mapping of services and programs across the state. She is partnering with Ellen Costilla on this as well and they would like to keep the Consortium informed. There could be a Summit to generate this mapping for the next legislative session. This is an attempt to integrate silos of efforts that have formed across the state for a continuum of care and service. This effort is working within the scope of SB3 to provide practice guidance to inform the implementation of SB3. Ret. Sen Ortiz y Pino has requested a letter from this group by April 23rd for the next committee meeting.
Shared by Ali:
This is from Coalition for a Safer ABQ’s strategic plan: Behavioral Health Workforce: Pipeline Development. Address workforce shortages while creating a new care economy.
· Design a youth-to-workforce pipeline strategy reminiscent of the New Deal
· Engage schools, colleges and universities, and training providers in advocacy
· Identify pathways valuing lived experience into behavioral health careers, peer support roles, and community-based services
Jen Panhorst – Chair of Board for Trans and Queer provider network. The marketplace plans stopped covering gender affirming care which is against state law. This received early attention but it action on it has slowed to inaction. She is sharing this as something being discussed in this space and is requesting further information or guidance from colleagues for movement forward. More information: https://sourcenm.com/2026/01/22/two-insurance-companies-stop-covering-some-gender-affirming-care-in-new-mexico/
Logan Howard – on the note of youth service and addressing youth violence. Sen Memorial 20 was passed in session. The work is just starting. The group has begun word with DOH, CYFD, etc. They are starting nominations for planning groups to lead to a youth summit. These efforts are working to ensure there is representation across the state. Please reach out to him for more information as the process grows.
Announcements
EOY of celebration May 1st to acknowledge graduates of the program and the achievements of the work at the Community Care Collective Party: https://wkf.ms/4sBxSDR
The Center for Social Work Excellence put on a great Summit in Ruidoso last week! Thank you for all you do!
Upcoming meeting: May 21st – 9-10:30 am via zoom