Los Alamos County Health Council Meeting: March 5, 2026

The Los Alamos County Health Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:28 PM at the Municipal Building, Room 110 and via Zoom. Ten members were present (Councilors Richins, Strong, Raffin, Hampton, Dehaven, Luketich-Martinez, Blackwell, Jones, Muck, and Phelps), with one absence (Councilor Riedel). The meeting focused on discussing health council member activities and projects, reviewing the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) quarterly report, and receiving updates from the chairman, staff, and the county council liaison.

Approval of Agenda and Minutes

• The agenda was approved as presented unanimously.
• The minutes from the January 8, 2026, and February 5, 2026 meetings were approved with a correction: the February minutes were noted to have omitted a staff update provided by Councilor Hand; the minutes were approved unanimously with that correction.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ramon, Executive Director of Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization (LARSO), introduced himself and expressed interest in learning more about the health council.
• Jen Demas, Executive Director of Family Strengths Network, introduced herself and stated the organization is dedicated to making families feel comfortable and included in Los Alamos.
• No additional public comments on non-agenda items were made.

Discussion Items

Health Council Activities and Projects (Item 21535-26)

• Chair Lisa Hampton led a discussion on the distinction between subcommittees (formal, require public notice and minutes) and working groups (established by chair or council for specific topics). The council decided last year to avoid subcommittees due to staff constraints.
• A survey of council members was conducted; three respondents indicated they did not wish to take on additional activities, while three expressed interest in specific areas. Input from absent Vice-Chair Riedel was also shared.
• Identified project interests included: jail recidivism reduction, a crisis response team (liaison only, as it is outside council control), community health action center advisory, advocacy (referred to the New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils), transportation (liaison with Transportation Board), housing (liaison with housing experts), a directory of providers (existing project led by Celeste Raffin and Marna Riedel), a grants lead to identify funding opportunities for partner nonprofits, a community communications lead, intergenerational events (e.g., "Found Family" program), and a guest speaker series for public education.
• The group agreed to form a communications team to handle tabling, articles, outreach, and speaker coordination, and to define other project groups (directory of providers, jail recidivism, found family). The remaining interests would be handled through individual liaisons. Chair Hampton will compile a list of projects and liaisons for members to self-select.

Review of NMDOH Quarterly Report (Item 21536-26)

• Jessica Strong presented an overview of the Department of Health deliverables and quarterly reporting process. The county's contract with NMDOH totals $110,000 for fiscal year 2026 (started July 2025), which was formally approved at the February 24, 2026 County Council meeting. An additional $40,000 is available for extra projects related to expanding Narcan access, suicide prevention, and gun lock distribution, bringing total potential funding to $150,000. The quarterly report (19 pages) tracks outreach events, articles, partnerships, and training attendees. The state uses this data to measure impact, though measuring educational outcomes remains challenging.

Reports and Updates

Chairman's Report (Item 21537-26)

• Lisa Hampton shared highlights from the New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils conference (January 2026 in Santa Fe). She emphasized correct terminology: the social services hub is now called the "Community Health Action Center," the approved document is the "Comprehensive Health Plan," and the annual submission is the "Work Plan." She noted the importance of consistent language to avoid confusion.
• Barbara Phelps reported on a potential site visit to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, including a tour of the new Cancer Center. The council will discuss scheduling a group visit at the April meeting.

Staff Update (Item 21538-26)

• Jessica Strong provided updates:
  • A Youth Summit will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Mesa Public Library from 6-8 PM, designed by high school students. Activities include food trucks, silent disco, healthy relationships workshops ("red flag, green flag"), guided meditation, art therapy, and overdose response with a peer specialist. Co-sponsored by USB, the YMCA, municipal courts, and libraries. Volunteers are still needed.
  • New police department recruits will tour the social services office on March 13, 2026, continuing a partnership to connect officers with resources.
  • A transportation representative will join a social services staff meeting on March 9, 2026, to discuss improving bus access for those needing health care appointments.
  • A training on the Unite Us closed-loop referral system was held on February 28, 2026, with 14 participants from 10 organizations (including Family Strengths Network, LARSO, local churches, probation). A monthly learning group will follow; additional training dates will be announced.

County Council Liaison Report (Item 21539-26)

• Melanee Hand reported that the County Council approved all board and commission work plans for calendar year 2026 at the February 24 regular session. She noted that the consent agenda process allows blanket approval unless an item is pulled. The council also discussed federal priorities for 2026, including wildfire mitigation and health access. A working group on the Los Alamos County Charter is reviewing term limits and political party requirements for boards and commissions; input from the health council has been submitted to the county attorney, but outcomes are pending.

Key Outcomes

• The council identified four initial project groups: directory of providers (Celeste Raffin and Marna Riedel), jail recidivism reduction, "Found Family" intergenerational events, and a communications team. These will be formalized after members self-select via an upcoming survey from Chair Hampton.
• Individual liaisons will be assigned for crisis response, community health action center, advocacy, transportation, housing, grants, and guest speakers. A list of all boards and commissions will be circulated for members to indicate liaison interests.
• The next meeting is scheduled for April 2, 2026, at 12:00 PM. Agenda items will include follow-up on projects/liaisons, a potential site visit to Christus St. Vincent's, and a presentation by Stephanie Gonzalez (NM Aging and Long-Term Services Division) on new caregiver support programs.