SENATE MEMORIAL 13

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

John M. Sapien

A MEMORIAL

URGING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO BEGIN A PLAN TO ASSESS QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.

     WHEREAS, there is a need to identify and analyze needs for behavioral health services in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, an organized plan could be completed over the span of one year, which will allow a strategic approach of projecting needs and addressing weaknesses to the provision of behavioral health care services for the next five years; and

     WHEREAS, the community should be involved in creating such a plan and take an active role in both identification of needs and creating priorities for the future; and

     WHEREAS, a plan for behavioral health services should include housing and employment needs and the need for hospital space and safe houses, caseworkers and other behavioral health service employees;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the human services department be requested to select and convene a working group charged with the one-year task of designing a plan for improving behavioral health service delivery and accessibility; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan be presented to the appropriate interim legislative committee by October 1, 2009 and to the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan document be a first step in creating a five-year projection of needs and addressing weaknesses in these systems; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of human services and the secretary of health.

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