Most communities in the United States accomplish amazing services for their residents through the unique commitments of non-profit organizations. Taos is no exception. Recent data show 54 non-profits registered in this county. All have Boards responsible for implementing the legal requirement necessary to operate under our tax code as a non-profit. Taos Behavioral Health (TBH) has been fortunate to have an outstanding group of volunteer board members over its 16- year history. They served for years to offer their special skills and commitment to our mission: promoting the wellbeing of the community by providing evidence-based interventions that stabilize and strengthen client abilities, support personal growth, and improve futures. [Read more…] about TBH Board: A Community Treasure

One of the most challenging tasks in behavioral health today is the hiring and nurturing of excellent staff. Particularly in a rural area like Taos county, hiring and maintaining clinical staff who are motivated to work in our region is difficult. Services for their children and the abundance of jobs for partners or spouses makes recruitment difficult. We at Taos Behavioral Health have tried a number of ways to advertise and recruit. Our experience shows us that some hirees are not comfortable with our cultural strengths and challenges if they have lived in a very different environment. Some are only available to provide service via zoom or other the technologies and such methods are not appropriate for a number of our clients—especially youth. [Read more…] about Strengthening the Future at TBH

New Mexico School children reported to classes on Monday August 8^th and parents, staff and administrators are hoping for a more normal productive school year. Yet there are some important changes and challenges that Taos Behavioral Health (TBH) staff see clearly.

[Read more…] about School’s in—with New Challenges!

When I served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, during our summer break from teaching we traveled down to Kenya and then to South Africa. While I was there, I bought the beautiful classic book by Alan Paton, the South African writer—Cry, the Beloved Country. Deeply moving, it was written in the Apartheid era—–which we observed close at hand. All the businesses were owned and run by the whites and in the basements or by the back doors or in segregated transportation and neighborhoods, you observed brown and black faces. And how often in the past three years have I thought of the United States and murmured “Cry, the Beloved Country. ”

[Read more…] about Caring for Each Other

Taos is a beautiful multicultural town with a wonderful Spanish-speaking community. This wonderful community needs sensitive and skilled behavioral support due to realistic barriers and challenges. The process of adjusting to a new culture or country can be complicated and stressful depending on the intensity and frequency of barriers or challenges the people could be dealing with. [Read more…] about Special Bi-Lingual Support at Taos Behavioral Health

A friend asked me the other day. “Do you really believe that people can change?” “Yes, “
I replied, “ I not only believe this, but I am also lucky enough that I see it every day.” My friend
seemed doubtful, so I continued, “In the work I do, I see people come in and frequently are
working against themselves with behavior patterns that used to benefit them, but no longer are.” [Read more…] about Can People Really Change?

A set of four programs administered by Taos Behavioral Health (TBH) provides some unique strong services—designed to be sensitive to specific needs. In the past two years, staff of these programs have been creative in responding to new needs and supporting the stress experienced by each other. [Read more…] about Unique Services for Northern New Mexico

Like the multicolored hues of our fall days, Taos Behavioral Health (TBH) provides the community with a rich variety of specially designed services to youth, adults, and families of Taos. As the school year settles into a more familiar routine—parents and youth deal with the impacts of the last two years. Academic achievement has suffered, youth lost touch with a wider group of friends, families struggled to respond to changing schedules of schools and health scares. Throughout this period, it felt like we were “holding a finger in a dike” stated TBH CEO Simon Torrez. [Read more…] about A Rich Tapestry of Services

The fall has begun—with all the anticipation of a new season—brisk weather, sports events, nature giving us beautiful arrays.  In the schools-students are back in person—connecting with friends and learning together again.

[Read more…] about Reflections and Planning Ahead

After the past two years of intense stress and frequent changes in schedules and models of education, Taos Behavioral Health (TBH) gave its youth clients a wonderful summer.  As school starts again and our services return to in-school and after-school sessions, we reflect with satisfaction on the summer.

[Read more…] about A Summer of Great Success!