BHRIA Early Access Funding Reconvening 2 10 2026

This Otero County meeting held on March 6, 2026, focused primarily on early access funding related to behavioral health infrastructure and services. The discussion centered on procurement and grant application strategies for a proposed $2 million brick-and-mortar behavioral health facility, with an emphasis on expanding detox and recovery services in collaboration with Mascalero and Lincoln County. Participants reviewed cost estimates for facility expansion, discussed the integration of the NetSmart client management system with a startup cost of $425,000, and deliberated on the allocation of a $7 million regional funding pool. The group also addressed the need for a formal memorandum of understanding among the counties and tribal entities to support the grant application, with deadlines and council meeting schedules noted for coordination. The meeting concluded with consensus on prioritizing funding toward the primary facility and related service expansions, while deferring some technology investments pending further funding.