BHRIA Stakeholder Regional Plan Meeting March 19 2026 Meeting Recording

This was a stakeholder regional plan meeting held by Otero County on March 19, 2026, focused on behavioral health reform and investment act funding. The discussion centered on the status of early access grant applications, including a resubmission for $1.5 million to support residential treatment and detox facilities. Participants debated the feasibility of building new facilities versus expanding existing ones, such as the Mescalero center, and concerns were raised about land acquisition and funding allocations. The meeting also covered the distribution of behavioral health trust funds, noting a recent legislative transfer of $650 million to the trust fund and some confusion over regional allocations. It was announced that Lincoln County is seeking to contract a third-party consultant to draft the regional behavioral health plan due by June 30, 2026. Public input and comments were reviewed, with emphasis on housing and supportive services, and stakeholders were encouraged to participate in ongoing discussions. No formal votes on contracts were reported, but the meeting highlighted procurement-related plans to outsource the drafting of the regional plan and discussed budget allocations for behavioral health projects.