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Youth Initiative and School Based Health Centers Grants

Ages 8–24

NMCF’s Youth Initiative strengthens systems that serve children and youth while building the field’s capacity for positive youth development and youth civic participation in New Mexico. It’s mission is to expand and multiply quality positive youth development opportunities for all of New Mexico’s children and youth.

The Youth Initiative aims to literally give young people a voice, supporting Cultural Energy – Taos, Youth Radio Network – Santa Fe, and KUNM Youth Radio Albuquerque. The Initiative has been a primary supporter of the NM Forum for Youth in Community, which aims to ensure that young adults are fully prepared for the workforce, and for life.

The NMCF Youth Initiative is supported with funding from our partner foundations, including the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the McCune Charitable Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the William Randolf Hearst Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation. In addition to the United Health Foundation, grants from the Coca-Cola Corporation and the American Legacy Foundation focus on reducing tobacco smoking in Native American areas served by School Based Health Centers.

Funding School Based Health Centers (SBHC)

Under the NMCF’s Youth Initiative, SBHC grants aim to improve access, provide funding for renovation and medical equipment, increase behavioral health services, including screening, referral and treatment to address youth suicide, increase funding for teen pregnancy prevention, treatment and education, and provide support towards workforce improvements, project management, technical assistance and on-going training to SBHCs.

  • First year grants aimed to provide support to Native American SBHCs (2005-2006).
  • Second year grants focused on the border area, which faces issues of poverty, teen pregnancy and lack of access to healthcare (2006-2007).
  • Third year grant areas of grant focus include rural areas around the state (2007-2008).
  • Fourth year grants focuses on urban areas around the state (2008-2009).

A School Based Health Center is an accessible, friendly place where students can receive a wide variety of health care services. Legislation and state funding has allowed New Mexico to double the number of school-based health clinics from 36 to 72. The United Health Foundation has provided NMCF with a one million four-year grant to support this program.

SBHC’s are supported by the United Health Foundation, the Coca-Cola Corporation and funding from the American Legacy Foundation, which addresses tobacco cessation in Native American Communities.

Courth Youth Center

Learn about NMCF’s role in the Court Youth Center.