Taos Behavioral Health

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Taos Behavioral Health is Here for You

Mary Gray McPhailAs the world deals with the challenge of COVID-19  and New Mexico acknowledges that it had a rapid uptake early in the pandemic, we want Taos to know we are still serving clients.  On March 23, 2020 the NM Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Kathyleen M. Kunkel issued an emergency order closing all businesses and non-profit entities except those deemed essential .  The order requires that certain essential businesses must continue to function and under section (6)k of that order, Taos Behavioral Health is considered an essential business and must continue to function.  

Following the issuance of the order, TBH  began to immediately plan with staff how to continue to function effectively.  Meetings between the administration and each individual staff member established that ALL TBH employees were willing to continue to serve clients. [Read more…] about Taos Behavioral Health is Here for You

Relieving Stress: Services to Taos High School and the Chrysalis Program

Mary Gray McPhailBy Mary McPhail Gray
Board Chair

“Whenever we first receive a referral on a student who is struggling at school, we always ask them if there is anything going on at home that we should know about,” says Madalena Miera, the manager for the Comprehensive Community Support Services (CCSS) program for Taos High School and Chrysalis Program.  The CCSS staff at Taos Behavioral Health provides wrap around services for students referred by teachers and counselors.

“Sadly, we may hear that a student is sleeping on the floor, that there is no heat in the house, that there is not enough food” states Miera—all situations that result in stress that can be seen at school. The CCSS staff then tries to activate appropriate community support to help the family and the  student. [Read more…] about Relieving Stress: Services to Taos High School and the Chrysalis Program

The Healing Ponies

Mary Gray McPhail

By Mary McPhail Gray
Board Chair

The shiny blue pickup drives into the Enos Garcia Elementary School parking lot  pulling a large red horse trailer. Out steps Madalena Miera, a CCSS Taos Behavioral Health worker, and opens the gate to lead out two miniature horses, Mama and Mickey.  Across the lot dash a group of smiling elementary students with joy in their eyes. The pony therapy session is beginning!

Miera and Siena Sanderson,  with Los Cumbres Community Service, had initiated some work with  vulnerable youth a year ago — until funding ran out. Taos Behavioral Health then identified funding and a structure to start a program this fall at Enos Garcia and Taos Middle School.  The program is based on Miera’s work over the past four years with her two miniature ponies and her review of the research on equine therapy and youth.

The youth coming to the classes have been referred by clinicians serving the schools with approval from their parents.  The experience has been life changing — or at least significant behavior changing — for a number of the youth.  These changes — observed by clinicians and teachers and the pony therapy staff — echo research findings:  Higher self-esteem, increased  self-control, greater focus, calm, joy, and trust.

Foreground: Sophia Montoya leading Micky . . . Background: Damika Martinez leading Mama

[Read more…] about The Healing Ponies

My Heart is Hurting: Things that Touch the Children

Mary Gray McPhail

By Mary McPhail Gray
Board Chair

I wondered why some of my clients were acting more vigilant—and hyperalert?” commented a Taos Behavioral Health clinician in the Taos schools.  Soon he had an explanation—ICE was in town.

While most of the attention and talking about undocumented residents is about adults — we at TBH see the evidence of how children and youth are impacted.  At a minimum, a family with undocumented adults is often living in very small quarters with few resources to provide for their children.  Adults who work usually make minimum wages and are often subjected to a variety of abuses in their employment.

The fear of deportation or of family separation is real.  Some families work with  Sin Fronteras Nuevo Mexico  and Taos Immigrant Allies (TIA) to establish guardianship for their children in case the parents are arrested and taken away.  The guardian assumes responsibility for the children’s needs until the parent is able to resume their primary role.  This arrangement can be comforting to the children IF the selected guardian is well known to the children and the parents have thoroughly explained the circumstances to them.  However, TBH clinicians have clearly heard children say that if their parents were deported, they naturally would want to go with them. [Read more…] about My Heart is Hurting: Things that Touch the Children

New Services at Taos Behavioral Health

Mary Gray McPhail

By Mary McPhail Gray
Board Chair

“It’s a client empowerment  program!” says Brian Salazar in describing the new Community Coordinated Social Services (CCSS) program at Taos Behavior Health.

“Our goal is to empower all clients to be as independent as possible” says Salazar, who coordinates the newly-hired staff of 10.

All referrals of youth and adults receive a qualifying diagnosis and are supported by Medicaid.  After an initial clinical assessment, goals are set in the areas of socialization, education, employment or work participation, positive living, and  recreation/self-care.  Services can be offered in our offices, in the school, homes or communities—wherever a goal can be worked toward and the client is comfortable.

The new CCSS workers are assigned to specific programs housed in the TBH agency: [Read more…] about New Services at Taos Behavioral Health

Taos Behavioral Health Ready to Support You as School Opens!

Mary Gray McPhail

By Mary McPhail Gray
Board Chair

Thursday, August 15th—the first day of the school year 2019–,2020!  The buses are rolling, the teachers are finishing last minute tasks, the schools are shining clean and the administrators stand ready to meet, greet and solve unexpected problems.  Excitement is in the air as the village starts the tasks of supporting our education system.

In homes, students are excited and nervous, and parents are hurrying to prepare them with needed supplies and encouragement as the family schedule changes.  Plans are finalized for transportation and after school activities.

For all students—the new school year brings change—new teachers and friends—new academic challenges.  For some students change is exciting and rewarding, and for many, change brings anxiety and stress.  Will they feel comfortable in new classes? Will they be with their friends?  Will they find new friends?  What if someone bullies them?  Who will be there to help?  Will the classwork be too hard? [Read more…] about Taos Behavioral Health Ready to Support You as School Opens!

Open for Business: Comprehensive Community Support Service!

Mary Gray McPhail

By Mary McPhail Gray
Board Chair

“Everything changes,” declared Angela Sisneros in describing the impact she has seen Comprehensive Community Support Service (CCSS) has on clients at Taos Behavior Health.  “They come in with a smile on their face, they are much more apt to talk to others in the waiting room, and they readily make additional appointments.  It is so different than when they first come in feeling negative and worried.”

Taos Behavioral Health now has four employees who are fully certified in CCSS, and six others in the process of being certified. The CCSS provides clients who are eligible for full Medicaid benefits with a path to self-sufficiency and more successful participation in the community.

Sisneros has been certified for a number of years through her education and participation in various behavioral health positions in Taos.  From a multi-generation Taos family, Sisneros was a single parent who knew she wanted to help others—initially with a goal of being an educator.  Her work at UNM-Taos began to emphasize alcohol and substance abuse treatment and intervention in abusive situations.  She found those topics compelling and following her completion of an associate degree she took a position at Taos Detox. [Read more…] about Open for Business: Comprehensive Community Support Service!

A New Service at Taos Behavioral Health

Mary Gray McPhailBy Mary McPhail Gray
Board Chair

“I work from a deep commitment to partnership with my clients—asking them how we can help them achieve their goals” states Brian Salazar, the Director of the new Comprehensive Community Support Service (CCSS) program at Taos Behavioral Health.  CCSS is a Centennial Medicaid-supported community-based behavioral program for individuals of all ages struggling with a mental health challenge that interferes with their successful independent functioning in the community.  It provides psycho-social services to assist participants with learning the skills necessary to achieve the highest level of independent functioning, stability and independence.

After an assessment by a clinician, a plan is made with the client to cover five domains: community or independent living, employment or work, socialization, recreation and self-care, and thinking.  Through group and individual sessions, the CCSS worker and client work together on goals in each area.  “The client  is in charge of making a self-assessment as we work together” states Salazar.  If they are making progress, the client is able to find support for more fully participating in the community and building a satisfying life.  In contrast to case management, where a professional performs the actions to link the client to systems,  the CCSS professional teaches the client how to navigate systems and make use of  resources  they have seen as not open to them.

[Read more…] about A New Service at Taos Behavioral Health