Our directory is far more than a list of service organizations. It is also a way to assess our county’s capacity to meet the needs of all residents. Our 100% New Mexico initiative is working to remove barriers to services and increase access to every community within the county’s borders.

The directory is always a work in progress as resources change. As you read the directory, note that we are a county of around 4000 people, with most services near the main hub in the city of Reserve, population of 500.

HOW WE COLLECTED INFORMATION ON SERVICES

We respect that services may change based on many factors, so we called each service agency to double check each service. To be listed on the directory, emails and phone calls went out to individual organizations and a response was required from staff to confirm service details.

GUIDELINES FOR BEING LISTED

1. A phone conversation between a service representative and directory staffer was required.
2. Services were either free, offered with a sliding scale or a process was in place to support financial assistance.
3. The service’s phone had a voicemail that provided information about the agency and services offered.
4. Service staff responded within a week to a request for information via phone.
5. Service staff understand that not all residents have access to the internet. 
6. Services follow all state protocols, when applicable, for licensing and staff accreditation.

Service organizations understand that the 100% Family Services Directory Project is part of a countywide process to gather information on local services and share client feedback in order to improve services. The goal of the directory project is to list as many local family-friendly services as possible. Providers are encouraged to reach out to the local directory staffers to maintain an up-to-date and accurate listing of vital services. Organizations based outside the county providing local services within the county are welcome to be listed. If we missed any service or have inaccurate service descriptions, please contact us. Working together, we can not only link residents to services, but ensure the services are accessible in a timely manner.

RATING SERVICES

The directory allows users to rate each service organization in a variety of categories and can reveal barriers to services such as cost or unfriendly hours. To submit a rating, users need to include at least a few words to put their rating in context. Users may also comment more extensively if they wish. All submissions are read by the local directory team before being published. Feedback from residents becomes part of the overall assessment process.
Currently we are asking residents to rate the following areas related to services:

• Cleanliness of facilities
• Easy access to transportation
• Affordability
• User-friendly hours
• Friendly staff
• Short wait times
• Staff helpful in referring resident to other service organizations
• A safe environment
• Description of service on directory is accurate

THE QUESTION

The most important question to consider as you review all ten services sectors is: do we have enough services to help 100% of families create healthy and self-sufficient households? 

We reference the 100% New Mexico Socorro county survey throughout this page and you can download it here: https://annaageeight.nmsu.edu/index.html 

BARRIERS

In our countywide surveys across New Mexico, residents reported the following barriers to services. Note that some services may include almost all barriers while others include a handful of specific challenges. Our county report offers details for county-based 100% New Mexico initiative action teams to analyze.

• Costs too much
• Wait list is too long
• No insurance coverage
• I can’t find a provider
• Appointment times don’t work for me
• It’s too far to travel
• I don’t have reliable transportation
• I feel bad and/or worried about going
• I don’t don’t know where to get this service
• They don’t speak my language
• I was told I don’t qualify
• This service does not exist near me

SOLUTIONS ABOUND

The Anna, Age Eight Institute offers ideas for reducing barriers to services in all ten service areas, called the services for surviving and thriving.

10 VITAL SERVICES

Please note that service may change. Please update with any changes.

Medical/Dental Care

We list approximately 1 service organization under “medical.” An area of concern is focused on the capacity of the county’s providers to respond to an unpredictable pandemic, as well as high rates of substance use disorder related illness and injury.

Opportunities to explore to reduce barriers to services include:

• Urgent Care
• Nighttime Care
• Weekend Care
• Transportation to health care
• Medical care at all school sites serving students and families
• Telemedicine for residents (addressing digital divide to ensure access)
• Telemedicine (professional mentoring, support) for providers
• Assisted care for chronically ill or injured
• Hospice

Behavioral Health Care

We list approximately 1 service organization under “behavioral health care.” An area of concern is focused on the capacity of the county’s providers to respond to potentially high levels of depression, anxiety and adverse childhood experiences and joblessness.

Opportunities to explore to reduce barriers to services include:

• Urgent Behavioral Health Care
• Nighttime Behavioral Health Care
• Weekend Behavioral Health Care
• Transportation to behavioral health care
• Behavioral healthcare at all school sites serving students and families
• Telemedicine for residents (addressing digital divide to ensure access)
• Telemedicine (professional mentoring, support) for providers
• Assisted living for those residents with chronic mental health challenges

Food Security Programs

We list approximately 5 service organizations under “food.” High rates of joblessness may result in a higher need for food security programs.

Opportunities to explore to reduce barriers to services include:

• Expanded hours for weekday food pantries
• Expanded nighttime access to food pantries
• Expanded weekend access to food pantries
• Transportation to food security programs
• Food pantries at all school sites serving students and families
• Web-based support for food security program providers

Housing Security Programs

We list approximately 2 service organizations under “housing.” High rates of joblessness may result in a higher need for housing security programs.

Opportunities to explore to reduce barriers to services include:

• Expanded nighttime access to housing security programs
• Expanded weekend access to housing security programs
• Transportation to housing security programs programs
• Navigators at all school sites to direct families to housing security programs
• Web-based support for residents (addressing digital divide to ensure access)
• Web-based support for housing security program providers
• Domestic violence shelter and rapid rehousing program
• Homeless shelter and rapid rehousing for high risk populations
• Long-term assisted living for chronically ill and disabled
• Long-term assisted housing for elders

Transportation Programs

We list approximately 1 service organization under “transportation” that includes potential help for elders.

Opportunities to explore to reduce barriers to services include:

• Expanded nighttime access
• Expanded weekend access
• Transportation from homes to transport hub
• Subsidized ride share program to vital services
• Expanded ride share program for students/youth
• Expanded ride share program for elders

Parent Supports

We list approximately 1 service organization under “parent supports.”

Opportunities to explore to reduce barriers to services include:

• Urgent Parent Supports local hotline
• Nighttime Parent Supports
• Weekend Parent Supports
• Transportation to parent supports
• Parent supports at all school sites serving students and families
• Web-based education for residents (addressing digital divide to ensure access)
• Web-based professional support for providers

Early Childhood Learning Programs

We list approximately 2 service organizations under “early childhood learning.” If child care is listed, only those licensed by the state are in the directory.

Opportunities to explore to reduce barriers to services include:

• Nighttime child care (for night shift staff)
• Weekend child care
• Transportation to early childhood learning programs
• Web-based education for residents (addressing digital divide to ensure access)
• Web-based professional mentoring and support for providers

Community Schools

Under “schools” we include the 2 schools.

Under “schools” we include educational institutions serving learners of all ages. They are not necessarily what is known as fully-resourced community schools with a school-based-health center and full-time director of community schools programming for students and parents. Further assessments can detail which school sites have fully-resourced school-based health centers serving students and families with medical, dental and mental health care services.

Opportunities to explore to reduce barriers to services include:

• The Community Schools model with a director of community schools and additional staffing and programming
• Expanded nighttime instruction
• Expanded weekend instruction
• Transportation to learning programs
• Expanded web-based education for residents (addressing digital divide to ensure access)
• Web-based professional mentoring and support for educators and staff

Youth Mentoring Programs

We list approximately 1 service organization under “youth mentoring” that is in the neighboring county of Grant. If the mentoring program does background checks on adults serving as mentors and group activity leaders, this is noted in the program description.

Opportunities to explore to reduce barriers to services include:

• Expanded nighttime mentoring
• Expanded weekend mentoring
• Transportation to mentoring programs
• Web-based mentoring for residents (addressing digital divide to ensure access)
• Web-based professional support for mentors and agency providers

Job Training

Under “job training” we include approximately 3 organizations focused on workforce development, vocational education and higher education. We include links to UNM and NMSU, both with web-based courses and programs. High rates of joblessness may result in a higher need for job training and placement programs.

Opportunities to explore to reduce barriers to services include:

• Expanded nighttime instruction
• Expanded weekend instruction
• Transportation to learning programs
• Expanded web-based education for residents (addressing digital divide to ensure access)
• Web-based professional mentoring and support for educators and staff

NEXT STEPS

We hope you will join us by identifying gaps in ten services and removing barriers to ensure 100% of Socorro County residents can thrive. Contact us for more information on removing barriers and expanding access to the vital services for surviving and thriving. The 100% New Mexico initiative is one way to mobilize around creating a county where 100% can access services and thrive. Ask us about starting the initiative and about the work the Anna, Age Eight Institute is doing across New Mexico.