Health & Human Services

The Rio Arriba CONNECT Initiative is a new health and community care coordination program launched in July 2025 to address the opioid crisis and improve access to integrated services for residents.

Purpose and Goals Rio Arriba CONNECT is designed to combat fragmented health services and create a seamless network of support for residents. It leverages Unite Us’ closed-loop referral system to streamline care coordination, improve response times, and ensure timely access to medical, behavioral, and social services.

Findhelp is a nationwide platform that connects individuals and organizations to free or reduced-cost social services, including food, housing, healthcare, and financial assistance. The Rio Arriba County Findhelp platform is part of a collaborative initiative between Rio Arriba County & New Mexico Healthcare Authority to extend resource support to community members. The platform serves both individuals seeking help and organizations managing social care programs, offering tools for searching, referrals, and tracking outcomes.

To access resources, click on the link and navigate through needs categories.

ReRoute Justice Program Overview

Started in 2019, ReRoute is a community-based reentry and redirection program designed to help minor, nonviolent offenders who have interfaced with the criminal justice system or face high-risk life challenges to rebuild structure, accountability, and direction while reconnecting to education, employment, community, etc.

Purpose and Target Population

ReRoute supports the following populations:

• Are on probation or court supervision
• Have returned from detention or placement
• Face family instability or community violence
• Seek work opportunities and structure
• Want to avoid deeper justice system involvement
• Are looking for a stronger support system
• At risk groups 

Referrals can come from parents, schools, probation officers, community organizations, courts, and self-referrals.

Services Provided

• Case management support for those dealing with OUD, SUD, etc.
• Court advocacy and support (transportation, reminders, compliance tracking)
• Attendance accountability and school/GED re-engagement
• Workforce development (paid opportunities, resume building, interview prep, entrepreneurship)
• Mentorship and leadership exposure
• Community service placements
• Family support and stabilization guidance
• Wellness, fitness, and emotional regulation support
• Violence interruption and positive pathway programs
• Boxing-based discipline and conflict resolution training 
• Counseling support and connection to Medically Assisted Treatment
• And more……..

Call now if you’d like to partake in the ReRoute program, (505) 753-3143

Melissa Martinez, Case Manager II

 Kyla Medina, Case Manager II

Mona Serna, Case Manager II  

Overview

The RAC Naloxbox initiative (RACNI) was launched by the Rio Arriba County Health and Human Services Department in early October 2025 in response to the Governor’s Executive Orders 2026-025 and 2026-028, to increase community access to naloxone, the opioid-overdose reversal medication commonly known as Narcan. The program installs secure boxes containing naloxone rescue kits in high-risk areas, inspired by data-driven identification of overdose hotspots using 911 call logs dating back to 2019 and by consulting residents with lived experience of substance use.

Implementation

• Number of Boxes: 19 naloxboxes were installed across the county, including 4 in the county seat of Tierra Amarilla and 15 throughout Española at locations such as grocery stores, gas stations, health centers, apartment complexes, and schools
• Accessibility: The boxes are publicly accessible, allowing anyone to retrieve a naloxone kit at no cost. They come in free-standing formats similar to automated external defibrillators or smaller attachments to poles and trees
• Community Engagement: Store owners, property owners, and other community members were engaged to support placement, ensuring community buy-in and effective usage

Early Results

• Reduction in Overdose Calls: Preliminary data from the first three months of the pilot program showed a decrease in overdose-related 911 calls from an average of 28 per month to 16 per month, a 40.9% reduction
• Decrease in Overdose Deaths: Overdose deaths in the same period decreased by 45%, based on New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator data
• Impact on Emergency Services: The reduction in emergency calls has relieved pressure on law enforcement and emergency rooms, allowing resources to be directed to other urgent health matters

Program Goals

• Empower community members to respond effectively to overdoses
• Provide naloxone access to populations who may not carry it due to its bulkiness, including unhoused individuals and people who use substances
• Use data-driven strategies to identify high-risk areas and optimize placement of naloxboxes
• Reduce overdose deaths and E911 overdose related calls in Rio Arriba County

Collaboration

The initiative is a multi-agency effort involving the Rio Arriba County Health and Human Services Department, County Manager’s Office, RAC Sheriffs Office, Española 911 Call Center, and committed residents. This collaborative approach has been credited with the early success of the program.

The pilot’s promising outcomes suggest that expanding naloxboxes to additional high-need locations could potentially save more lives and further reduce opioid overdose deaths and emergency related calls across Rio Arriba County.

Below is the map showing locations of naloxboxes in Rio Arriba County.

(PDF, 269KB)

Cruz Anaya, Special Projects Coordinator

Tania Montoya, Special Projects Coordinator

Tammy Martinez, Case Manager II

Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program (AOT)

AOT (Assisted Outpatient Treatment) is a court-ordered, community-based behavioral health intervention for adults with severe mental illness or substance use disorder who have difficulty engaging in voluntary treatment.

AOT is authorized (Assisted Outpatient Treatment Act) under civil court order  and is considered a less restrictive alternative (LRA) to involuntary inpatient treatment. It is designed to keep individuals in the community while ensuring they receive structured, evidence-based treatment.

Benefits of AOT

Research and program experience show AOT can:

• Reduce hospitalizations and criminal legal involvement
• Improve treatment engagement and personal responsibility
• Lower system costs by reducing the “revolving door” of hospitalization, incarceration, and homelessness

Where AOT is Available

AOT is currently only available in participating judicial districts, including:

• First Judicial District: Serves Rio Arriba County, Santa Fe County, and Los Alamos County.
• Other participating jurisdictions: Includes Bernalillo County (Second Judicial District), Doña Ana County (Third Judicial District), as well as San Miguel, Mora, and Guadalupe counties.

Who Can Be Ordered?

Under NM Stat § 43-1B-3, a judge can issue an AOT order if clear and convincing evidence shows the individual:

1. Is 18 years or older and a resident of a participating county.
2. Has a primary diagnosis of a mental disorder.
3. Has a history of non-compliance with treatment that has resulted in hospitalization, incarceration, or emergency intervention at least twice within the past 48 months.
4. Is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision and is likely to benefit from the treatment plan.

How to Initiate

AOT cannot be initiated by the individual seeking treatment. Instead, family members, roommates, mental health providers, or care coordinators must file a petition with the local civil district court.

You can find the necessary documents, petitions, and self-help instructions through the New Mexico Courts AOT Resources. For the Rio Arriba/Santa Fe area, you can also contact the Program Manager at 505-639-912.

2025-PRC-CHNA-Report-Rio-Arriba-County-NM.pdf(PDF, 3MB)

presbyterian-rio-arriba-county-new-mexico-community-health-assessment-2020-2022.pdf(PDF, 1MB)

Executive-Summary-Report-on-CHA.pdf(PDF, 182KB)

Substance-Abuse-Treatment-Services-Reports.pdf(PDF, 174KB)

OD-Data-RAC-DATA.pdf(PDF, 217KB)

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/naloxone-vending-machines-may-be-tied-to-declining-overdose-rates-in-rio-arriba-county/article_e225ac7a-65c3-4073-a238-7478e6acf354.html

https://uniteus.com/press/rio-arriba-county-launches-connect-initiative/

https://abiquiunews.com/news-and-features/rio-arriba-county-health-and-human-services-department-partners-with-university-students-on-opioid-research-initiative

https://losalamosreporter.com/2026/01/09/rio-arriba-county-health-human-services-department-pilots-naloxbox-program-to-combat-opioid-overdoses/

https://www.collectiveeye.org/products/rio-arriba-rising

https://www.taosnews.com/news/health/naloxbox-pilot-tied-to-fewer-overdose-calls/article_e3d158a6-65ec-590e-aacc-af335ed0da37.html

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/in-rio-arriba-county-new-naloxone-distribution-sites-appear-to-be-reducing-overdose-emergencies/article_20426b8c-363c-497d-8f1e-90050c528f52.html

https://losalamosreporter.com/2026/02/23/early-data-shows-naloxbox-pilot-program-may-be-contributing-to-fewer-overdoses-in-rio-arriba-county/