SENATE MEMORIAL 44

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics and Gerald Ortiz y Pino

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO ALLIANCE OF HEALTH COUNCILS TO CONVENE A NEW MEXICO HEALTH COUNCIL SYSTEM TASK FORCE TO ANALYZE THE WORK OF THE COUNTY AND TRIBAL HEALTH COUNCILS IN RELATION TO THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PLAN ACT, AS AMENDED IN 2007, AND TO RECOMMEND STEPS TO STRENGTHEN THE STRUCTURE, EFFECTIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF COUNTY AND TRIBAL HEALTH COUNCILS IN IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING THE HEALTH NEEDS OF NEW MEXICO COMMUNITIES.

 

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's county health councils were established in 1991 under the auspices of the Maternal and Child Health Plan Act; and

     WHEREAS, the Maternal and Child Health Plan Act was amended in 2007 to include community health councils in tribal communities; and

     WHEREAS, for twenty-six years, New Mexico's county and tribal health councils have served the state as the hub of public health systems in counties and tribal communities; and

     WHEREAS, county and tribal health councils have produced community health assessments that identify and document local health needs, resources and conditions; and

     WHEREAS, county and tribal health councils have produced community health plans that identify local health priorities, goals and strategies; and

     WHEREAS, county and tribal health councils have developed and implemented policies, programs and services to address critical health needs and to increase access to essential services; and

     WHEREAS, county and tribal health councils have worked with communities to attract federal, state and private funding to communities to support health programs and services; and

     WHEREAS, county and tribal health councils continue to provide accurate, up-to-date information on local health needs to state agencies and nonprofit service providers; and

     WHEREAS, county and tribal health councils have provided planning and coordination of local health services that result in reducing duplication and filling gaps in services; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico alliance of health councils was established as a statewide, nonprofit organization to speak on behalf of New Mexico county and tribal health councils, to facilitate communication and capacity-building and to develop resources to support and enhance the work of the health councils;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico alliance of health councils be requested to convene a New Mexico health council system task force to analyze the work of the health councils in relation to the Maternal and Child Health Plan Act, as amended in 2007, and to identify steps to strengthen the structure, effectiveness and sustainability of county and tribal health councils; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico health council system task force be requested to include representatives of key entities involved in New Mexico's public health system, including, at a minimum, representatives of the following entities:

          A. the department of health and other agencies as the New Mexico alliance of health councils deems appropriate;

          B. the university of New Mexico health sciences center;

          C. New Mexico state university;

          D. the southwest center for health innovation's New Mexico public health institute;

          E. the New Mexico public health association;

          F. the New Mexico association of counties;

          G. private and nonprofit health and social service providers;

          H. educational institutions;

          I. philanthropic institutions; and

          J. county and tribal health councils; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico health council system task force meet at least quarterly and develop a legislative report to be presented to the legislative health and human services committee and to the appropriate state agencies and nongovernmental entities by October 1, 2018; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the chair and vice chair of the legislative health and human services committee, the chair and vice chair of the legislative finance committee, the secretary of health and the executive director of the southwest center for health innovation. 

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