The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, or CARA, is national legislation that promotes programs and strategies to address the impact of substance abuse and substance use disorders on individuals, communities, and families. CARA helps to fund prevention, education, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services. Learn more.

In New Mexico, the CARA Program focuses on supportive care for pregnant people affected by substance use and on the coordination of services for parents, caregivers and family members of newborns affected by substance exposure before birth.

Expecting and new parents and family members can partner with their health care provider to create a CARA Plan of Care. Through the Plan of Care, families are supported to access resources and to engage in services that address their family’s needs and help them to achieve their goals.

The NM CARA Program is administered through a collaboration of state government agencies, and implemented in partnership with NM birthing hospitals, Medicaid and other health insurance providers, and community-based programs across the state. To learn more about the CARA project's description and implementation in New Mexico, click here

To learn more about CARA Plans of Care and supports and services available, please use the following links:

• CARA Plan of Care. Supportive Services Descriptions and Frequently Asked Questions: Download the document.
• Information for expecting and new parents: CARA Families.
• Resources for medical and social services providers, including downloadable CARA Forms: CARA Providers Page
• Resources for grandparents and other kinship caregivers: Kinship Navigation Page (sponsored by CYFD)

CARA Program Evaluation for 2020 was released by the New Mexico Department of Health in Fall 2021. Download here.

For more information, email cara.cyfd@cyfd.nm.gov

See below for additional resources.