NM Social Work Workforce Consortium
09.25.25 minutes
Call to Order
Present – Patti West-Okiri, Eleanor Chavez, Anna Nelson, Janelle Torres-Groover, Jamii Corley, Lauren Gomez, Mary Nienow, Eleen Costilla, Kim Knox, Jen Panhorst, Brooke Tafoya, Trinidad Arguello, Eric Moore, Yolanda Cordova, Pamela Balckwell, Amy Russell, Monica Montoya, Claire Carmony, Eli Fresquez III, Reba Serafin, Jerry Harrison, Amber Vilas, Stacie Ortiz, Tasia Martinez, Alvin Sallee
Approval of Agenda/Minutes
Special Guest: Lauren Gomez- NASW NM Executive Director: lgomez.naswnm@socialworkers.org
The meeting began with agenda and minutes approval, followed by a special guest introduction where Lauren, the new NASW New Mexico Executive Director, shared her background and plans to rebuild the chapter’s board and committees. Lauren discussed her priorities, including offering local CEUs, renewing memberships, and expanding the board to include student members. Eleanor inquired about the process of developing chapter priorities and whether board meetings would be open, to which Lauren confirmed they would be. The conversation ended with a brief legislative update from Eleanor regarding an upcoming special session to address budget shortfall issues and a regular session in January.
Legislative Interests and Support – Rep. Chavez
Special session next week to address budget shortfall issues related to federal changes. There has been a lot of discussion around CYFD in several committees. Rep. Chavez continues to raise the issue of a specialized, trained, workforce. A CYFD staff member was arrested recently for choking a child (https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/nm-cyfd-worker-charged-hitting-020022378.html). There is a new CYFD Deputy Secretary, Kathy Kunkel – she was living in VT while on contract with CYFD previously. Rep. Chavez is working on a constitutional amendment for a consideration by voters in Nov 2026. Looking into pilot projects to support at risk kids and provision of support to CARA moms and babies. Also having conversations with the AG around potential violation of the Social Work Practice Act.
Panhorst – How likely is it that immigration, detention, and ICE discussion/action will be addressed during the regular session? They are on the draft table now and likely to be discussed. Interstate compacts are controversial in that there is disagreement on the benefit to New Mexicans for service provision and building a workforce.
Members (Nelson, Arguello, Cordova) expressed concern over changes in funding to schools and organizations outside of CYFD to impact mental health needs of children and youth in communities across NM. Clinicians in the schools, partnerships with community agencies, and formal (financial) support for behavioral health networks.
Tafoya – Should we examine the need for a culture shift around the human element and reliance on clinicians to support the mental health needs of a community at large. She is talking about the SEL needs and referrals that result that could have been served on a more organic level.
Fresquez III – The Kevin S. settlement requires CYFD to develop and execute a workforce development plan. This has not been completed and can the Consortium support CYFD efforts to improve child welfare practice in NM?
Treasurer’s Report – nothing to report beyond last month’s report. There is a reminder that NMHR assists with DOH funding. The annual allotment is $50,000. $14,000 has been spent to date. The website is under design with Jamii and Pamela.
Committees
- Capacity building – met in September with discussion around Medicaid cuts and potential impact in NM. In process of sending a letter to Sec. Nair. The committee is seeking guidance from the greater committee on general asks of the Secretary on her role and function with the Consortium.
- What is DWS doing for social workers?
- Can we support these efforts?
- What is the path moving forward?
(Yolanda is happy to support these questions/narrative with Pamela – meeting in process)
- Professional Isolation and Advocacy – the group has not met. We are in process of a restructure.
- Licensing – newly established set meeting time! The group is restarting and eager to recruit new members. They will be meeting the 2nd Monday of each month at 10 am
Schools (alphabetically)
ENMU – All quiet over here. Patiently awaiting HRSA funding. Second site visit scheduled for late October.
NMHU – SWEAP Raices grant (Title V – HIS grant). Valerie Valles Pedroza interim Dir. Of Center for Social Work Excellence has decided to move on. The university is going through some transition. A new Provost, Dr. Dan Brown (previously faculty at ENMU and most recently Texas A&M Kingsville), Dr. Nelson has returned to the Director role for the Center for Social Work Excellence. HUD grant (Alicia Nabours leads) that explores the impact of housing on students. To explore questions on social work workforce there could be an ad hoc to gather information from the group on input on variables to gather from the professional community. Anyone interested please email: annelson@nmhu.edu
NMSU – Hiring 3 new tenured positions this year – yay! Posting this week,one is through the endowed funds. There were some protests on campus recently, there is some work with students on peaceful protests and understanding the tactics of rage baiting. This has been an emotionally heavy week as a result. Title IV-E grant PO is signed and we are moving forward! Dept of Ed grant was renewed for year 2 – enhanced training in special education. There will be a certificate program for School Social Work and Special Education
UNM – remain hard at work on approvals for accreditation and state level work to begin accepting students. We are (tentatively) planning for students as early as Fall 2026! There is a new team member, Janelle Torres-Groover, has joined the MSW program. She has been with UNM for 10 years and prior to that was in child welfare practice in FL for 10 years. She will be the field director at UNM. Welcome!!!
WNMU – Currently reviewing a hire from three candidates (2 BSW and 1 MSW). Pipeline feed efforts to the BSW program seem to be going well and looking fruitful. We are completing the BSW reaffirmation. We received IV-E funding increases this year, finally. We are in a President search, morale is high, enrollment is good.
Practice Community Items
- No additions this month.
Other Items
New Member additions:
lgomez.naswnm@socialworkers.org, brooke.tafoya@ped.nm.gov, jtorresgroover@salud.unm.edu
Adjourn: Cordova/Nelson
Dr. Melissa Moyer, LCSW
MSW Program Director/Associate Professor
College of Business Room 183