Office of School and Adolescent Health
The Office of School and Adolescent Health (OSAH) works to improve student and adolescent health through integrated school-based or school-linked health services.
Table of Contents
- Recent Activity
- Overview
- Conferences & Workshops
- School-Based Health Centers
- Behavioral Health Services
- Adolescent Health
- School Nursing
- Native American Initiatives
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Initiatives
Recent Activity
News Articles
Latest
- Departments of Health and Public Education host upcoming student health conference (November 9, 2023)
- Bill to codify school-based health centers ensures quality healthcare services for students (March 16, 2023)
- Legislation to codify school-based health centers passes first committee (February 17, 2023)
Popular
- Conference on School and Adolescent Health (April 10, 2018)
- School-Based Health Center Changes (April 6, 2016)
- Conference on School and Adolescent Health (April 4, 2017)
Publications
Featured
Latest
- SHM - Chapter 1 - Supervisory School Nurse Performance Evaluation Tool for Medical Supervisors (Form)
- SHM - Chapter 1 - School Nursing and School Based Health Centers Poster (Marketing)
- SHM - Chapter 2 - Advocay: The Case for School Nursing (General)
Popular
- School Health Assessment of Bureau of Indian Education Schools 2008 (Report)
- SHM - Chapter 4 - Suctioning Skills Checklist (Form)
- SHM - Chapter 6 - Guide to Helping the Student with DM Succeed (Guide)
Resources
Latest
- SHM - Chapter 6 - Helping the Student with DM Succeed Training (Level 1)
- SHM - Chapter 6 - Helping the Student with DM Succeed Training (Level 2)
- SHM - Chapter 6 - Helping the Student with DM Succeed Training (Level 3)
Popular
Overview
OSAH engages in adolescent health promotion and disease prevention activities directly and through collaboration with public and private agencies across New Mexico. OSAH staff guide policy development on school and adolescent health issues and are involved in workforce development and training's for those providing services to New Mexico youth.
We also provide on-going technical assistance and training to school health personnel and other partners including pandemic flu preparedness, chronic disease management, traumatic loss in the school or community, suicide prevention and response, asthma and diabetes support systems, state immunization policy, and the New Mexico School Health Manual.
Mission
- Improve health of all students and adolescents in New Mexico.
Priorities
- Youth suicide prevention
- Teen pregnancy prevention
- Immunizations
- Healthier weight
- Teen dating violence
- School-Based Health Centers (SBHC)
Vision
- Universal access for students and adolescents to high-quality, integrated, prevention programs, primary care and behavioral health services.
- School-based health centers located in all schools interested and ready to implement one.
- The relationship between health and academic success acknowledged by all state and community partners.
- All students and adolescents in New Mexico with the rights to be safe, supported, and resilient; to pursue an education; and to contribute to their future.
Values
- Inclusion and respect for diversity at all levels.
- Health equity and uses its influence in program and policy development to address improved access to care.
- Collaboration and partnership as a cornerstone to effective systems integration and development.
- Individual and organizational strengths and resiliency and pursues a “no failure policy” as it partners with youth, their families and the community.
- The public health model and uses these tenets to guide its program and policy activities.
- Positive youth development and is dedicated to implementing youth-adult partnership models and approaches.
- Open communication and teamwork recognizing the importance of relationships to accomplish its goals.
- Unconditional positive regard and is committed to demonstrating the utmost respect when working with teens, youth and their families, internal and external partners.
- Holistic approach reflected in its integrated approaches in all its programs.
School Health Manual
The New Mexico School Health Manual was developed for the purpose of providing guidelines and recommendations to school nurses and other school health personnel for coordinated school health practice and programs throughout the state.
OSAH continues to assist users of the manual to transition from the historical heard copy to the Web-based version and Compact Disc version.
One updated Compact Disc copy is available annually for distribution from OSAH to each New Mexico school district and can be replicated by the district as needed.
Conferences & Workshops
School-Based Health Centers
OSAH promotes quality accessible student and community health services through the development and support of School-Based Health Centers. These centers provide comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services by using a multi-disciplinary health team.
One of the many services provided by School-Based Health Centers is reproductive health care and education. For communities where teen birth rates are high, School-Based Health Centers (SBHC) can be supportive partners in teen pregnancy prevention.
The New Mexico SBHC initiative is a collaborative partnership among the New Mexico Department of Health, Public Education Department, Human Services Division, and Children, Youth & Families Department.
New Mexico has more than 80 SBHC bringing health care to where students are – in the school. SBHCs provide comprehensive health services, so students can avoid health-related absences and get support to succeed in school. They also give students medical and behavioral health attention when they need it, providing opportunities to catch problems like asthma, diabetes and depression in the early stages and therefore preventing bigger problems later, SBHCs also help with barriers such as transportation to medical sites and parent’s time off work.
Alliances
New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care
The New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care (NMASBHC) represents school-based health centers in New Mexico and promotes, facilitates, and advocates for comprehensive, culturally competent health care in schools.
Visit the New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care website for details.
School-Based Health Alliance
The mission of the School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA) is to improve the health status of children and youth by advancing and advocating for school-based health care.
Visit the School-Based Health Alliance website for details.
Behavioral Health Services
School Health Request Portal
Get your questions answered through the School Health Request Portal. The portal includes access to the following.
- Free weekly one hour lunchtime behavioral health presentations! A great opportunity for case discussion and consultation and free continuing education credits.
- Updated Protocols & Algorithms regarding school behavioral health risk management.
- Non-urgent school health case consultation with response from a child psychiatrist within 3 working days.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among those 1-34 years old in New Mexico, making it a priority issue for the Office of School and Adolescent Health.
Current activities include the following.
- Students in New Mexico have access to behavioral health services at the 52 school-based health centers.
- Teachers in New Mexico have access to a free, one hour, on-line interactive gatekeeper training simulations designed to prepare high school and middle school teachers and staff to recognize the common indicators of psychological distress, approach an at-risk student and refer to the appropriate school support service. To take training, click here: At-Risk for Educators. Don't forget to print certificate of completion when finished.
- A statewide Youth Suicide Hotline network was developed in 2006 to offer resources for those in crisis. Receiving approximately 17,000 calls annually, the statewide network reaches youth in crisis and provides bilingual services.
- A federally funded SAMHSA Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention grant was awarded in August of 2012 for statewide suicide prevention initiatives.
- The Office of School Health, in collaboration with the New Mexico Suicide Prevention Coalition and New Mexico Suicide Intervention Project provide trainings on suicide prevention and intervention throughout the state.
Youth Hotlines
A total of three contracts are funded through State General Funds and issued annually to support a statewide suicide hotline network. Currently funded members of the Network include the University of New Mexico Agora Crisis Line, New Mexico State University Crisis Assistance Listening Line, and Presbyterian Medical Services Santa Fe Crisis Hotline. Each provides bilingual services to callers in crisis and act as back-up responders to calls unanswered by the other hotlines, acting as a 24 hour network of response. For assistance with a crisis, please use the resources below.
- Agora Crisis Center @ 1-866-HELP-1-NM
Teen Dating Violence
Teen dating violence among adolescents ages 10-24 is a major public health concern (Foshee, et al, 2004). Between one in four and five teens nationally experience physical or sexual violence by their dating partner (American Bar Association, 2005). New Mexico ranks 12th nationally in its rate of teen dating violence, where one high school student in nine (12.6%) reports being hit or physically hurt within the twelve months preceding the survey (New Mexico YRRS 2007). OSAH has sponsored Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Weeks, held the first week of February annually, since 2008.
Please visit the Love is Respect and That's Not Cool websites to learn several different ways you can identify and possibly prevent teen dating violence.
Success in Schools Committee
The Success in Schools (SIS) committee was developed in 2005 to support the statewide transformation of children’s behavioral healthcare in a way that included schools.
The guiding philosophy of the committee is that effective school-based and school-linked behavioral health services improve student academic achievement, school attendance and safety. Currently, the SIS committee is co-led by OSAH and PED and is an active workgroup of the Children’s Subcommittee.
SIS membership consists of participants from Medicaid, OSAH regional and administrative staff, PED Special Education Department, the statewide behavioral health entity, Parents for Behaviorally Different Children, and administrative and direct line staff from school districts statewide.
The primary accomplishment of SIS is the development of New Mexico Guidelines for Behavioral Health in Schools. These guidelines support evidence based practices and help to develop an understanding of professional roles in school settings. The document will be finalized and submitted to NMDOH, PED, and CYFD for approval in September of 2009. Once finalized, the guidelines will be distributed on this website and through other venues.
Adolescent Health
Positive Youth Development
OSAH implements strategies that encourage partnerships and strategic planning around adolescent health through the Positive Youth Development approach. This approach supports young people in building their capacities and strengths for adolescence and young adulthood. Individuals, families, programs, and institutions that provide support and opportunities for young people to grow towards positive outcomes are all involved in youth development.
The youth development approach invites youth to be involved in influencing, contributing, and designing policy, as well as, services and programs.
Head to Toe Youth-Adult Partnership Track
Illustrating how young people and adults can work together to create solutions to adolescent health issues and improve the health and well-being of New Mexico youth. Youth/ Adult sessions will be interactive and feature both youth and adult presenters. For more information or to register for the conference go to Youth Health Link.
Youth Leadership Forum
This year's Youth Leadership Forum is hosted in collaboration with New Mexico Civic Engagement Partnership, The New Mexico Youth Alliance, and the Albuquerque Partnership. This annual event brings together youth from throughout the state whom participate in community based organizations. The goal is to allow youth to network, share experience and concerns, develop a statewide youth agenda, all while receiving valuable tools to achieving articulated concerns. Please contact us for more information.
Adolescent Health Strategic Plan
The Office of School and Adolescent Health initiated an adolescent health system capacity assessment in 2006. This process created momentum for developing the Adolescent Health Strategic Plan (AHSP) 2008-2010. The overall process was to create a system that utilizes the expertise and innovation within New Mexico in more efficient ways, thereby, strengthening the public health system to address the needs of adolescents in New Mexico. The AHSP focuses on the following capacity areas.
- Youth Development
- Commitment to Adolescent Health
- Partnerships
- Planning & Evaluation
- Policy & Advocacy
- Education & Technical Assistance
- Surveillance & Data System
Adolescent Health Data Report
In addition, the New Mexico Adolescent Health Data Report (2008) was developed to provide a comprehensive overview of adolescent health needs in a variety of health focal areas. This report is being distributed as a companion document to the AHSP.
School Nursing
School Nurse Action Committee
The New Mexico School Nurse Action Committee (SNAC) includes school nurse leadership from across the state and has the following functions.
- Provides information and feedback to NMDOH and PED.
- Influences and impacts issues important to school nursing and school health.
- Educates school administrators about health issues and laws relating to school health.
- Shares information with other school nurses.
Native American Initiatives
Project TRUST
In an effort to address the disparities in mental health among Native Americans, a model is being developed for culturally-appropriate services for Native American youth and their families. This effort is a partnership with researchers at the University of New Mexico and a group of concerned community members, organizers, health providers, and public health advocates.
Native HOPE
The Native HOPE training/program focuses on strengthening adult – youth partnership and community action planning. Key elements include the following.
- Overview of the Native HOPE Model
- Team Building
- Community Action Planning
Rez Hope
Rez Hope is a docu-drama highlighting some of the most troubling issues currently facing Native American youth. It also reminds viewers of the assets that exist in culture and community that are supportive of children. It affirms that the responsibility of reaching out to, listening to, and “raising” young people rests with all of us. The Rez Hope project seeks to get this powerful video tool out into communities (chapters, churches, schools, service organizations, etc.) in order that people be able to view it together to think and feel about it together, and to move toward healing and action together.
Please contact Janie Hall at 505-722-4391 for more information.
Bureau of Indian Education School Health Assessment
American Indian people experience the poorest rankings in nearly all social, health, and economic indicators, despite federal efforts to improve the outcomes among this population. Young people are of particular concern. Although disparities are narrowing, American Indian youth are still far behind. Fifty-seven percent of American Indians graduate from high school, compared to 76 percent of the white population. American Indian youth are affected by startling rates of sexual risk behaviors, suicide, substance abuse, unintentional injuries, and violence. These statistics, along with the impact of poor health indicators on educational achievement, demand an examination of the institutions that serve this population.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIE) and several health related organizations are collaborating on an initiative to assess the school health services and programs in BIE schools. This effort is expected to yield information that will be used to strengthen school health services in them.
Please see the School Health Assessment of Bureau of Indian Education Schools 2008 report to learn the complete results of this assessment of BIE schools.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Initiatives
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) youth experience disproportionately high rates of substance abuse, tobacco use, depression, suicidality, and violence as compared with their straight counterparts. As such, OSAH plans to form a partnership with researchers at the University of New Mexico and a group of concerned community members, organizers, health providers, and public health advocates to begin addressing these health disparities.
Please visit the resources below to learn more about LGBT initiatives.