link to Rural Assistance Center Homepage skip navigation
Funding Information
Guides
News &
Events
Experts &
Organizations
Publications
& Maps
Success
Stories
State
Resources

New Mexico

On this page
  State Contacts
Organizations
Tools
Maps
Funding
Documents
Journals
Success Stories
News
 

New Mexico derived its name from the anglicized version of "Nuevo Mexico," the Spanish name for the upper Rio Grande. New Mexico is a unique state rich in art and history because of its strong heritage and traditions of Indian, Anglo, and Hispanic cultures. Native Americans, Mexicans, Spaniards and Europeans all have traveled to and established themselves in New Mexico. New Mexico covers 121,356 square miles, with a 2008 estimated population of 1,984,356 people – 670,403 living in rural New Mexico (USDA-ERS). Santa Fe, the capital, is located in the north-central region of the state. The state’s largest cities are Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, and Rio Rancho. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 84.5% of the state’s population is white, 9.5% is American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.8% Black/African American, 1.4% Asian, and 44.4% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2007).

There are 42 hospitals in New Mexico, 29 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 6 hospitals currently identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (April, 2009). There are 12 Rural Health Clinics in New Mexico (CMS, 2009), and 15 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 110 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2007). Most New Mexicans have some form of health insurance coverage, although 22.8% of its residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2006-2007.)

According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all New Mexicans in 2007 was $30,706, although rural per-capita income lagged at $27,068. 2007 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 20.8% exists in rural New Mexico, compared to a 16.3% level in urban areas of the state. 2000 data reports 25.4% of the rural population has not completed high school, while only 18.7% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural New Mexico is at 4.2%, while in urban New Mexico it is at 4.1% (USDA-ERS, 2008).

For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.

Data Sources:

U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts

USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets

North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center

Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts

Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List

State Contacts

Directory of Rural Health Contacts: New Mexico
Contact information for people and organizations in New Mexico with an interest in rural health.

Organizations

Border Epidemiology and Environmental Health Center (BEC)
State/regional organization
A mechanism to establish, organize and develop technical health activities that enhance the quality of life of the people living on the border region of United States and Mexico, focused on New Mexico-Chihuahua-West Texas border

Camino de Vida Center for HIV Services
Nonprofit/Foundation
Provides comprehensive care to persons impacted by HIV/AIDS and to improving the health and awareness of the community through HIV/AIDS prevention.

Community Action Agency New Mexico
State/regional organization
Works to help reduce the impact of poverty in New Mexico.

HUD Community Development Block Grants: New Mexico
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.

McCune Charitable Foundation
Nonprofit/Foundation
The Marshall L. and Perrine D. McCune Charitable Foundation is dedicated to enriching the health, education, environment, and cultural and spiritual life of New Mexicans.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine, South Central Region (NN/LM- SCR)
State/regional organization
Supports collaboration among libraries and information centers that serve health information needs in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

New Mexico Adult Protective Services
State government
Provides services mandated by state law on behalf of persons age 18 years of age or older. Services include investigation of reports of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation; protective placement; caregiver services; and legal services, such as filing for guardianship/conservatorship.

New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative
State government
Supports behavioral health services and planning in New Mexico by working with customers and families, providers of behavioral health services, and local collaboratives.

New Mexico Border Health Office (NMBHO)
State government
A component office of the Public Health Division, New Mexico Department of Health. Works to improve the overall health status and health services in the New Mexico border region and other border-impact areas of the state.

New Mexico Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED)
State government
Provides assistance to parents or persons with custody of a child who need help establishing a child support or medical support order or collecting support payments.

New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD)
State government
Providing information about adoption, staff recruitment and abuse/neglect reporting; about childcare, family nutrition and other provider service-based programs; and presenting information for new and not-so-new parents about the important first months of a child's life.

New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (NMDFA)
State government
Provides fiscal advice and problem solving support to the Governor and provides budget direction and fiscal oversight to state agencies and local governments so as to ensure a positive impact on all New Mexico Citizens.

New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH)
State government
The mission of the New Mexico Department of Health is to promote health and sound health policy, prevent disease and disability, improve health services systems and assure that essential public health functions and safety net services are available to New Mexicans.

New Mexico Department of Health Division of Policy and Performance (DPP)
State government
Works to create innovative approaches to improve the overall health of New Mexicans and to address multicultural disparities.

New Mexico Department of Health: Developmental Disability Support System (DDSD)
State government
Provides information and referral services to people with disabilities and their families who are seeking help locating the right resources in their communities. The Division also is responsible for overseeing various Medicaid home-and community-based waiver programs that are designed to help people with disabilities live as independently as possible.

New Mexico Department of Labor
State government
Provides service to New Mexico's employers and job seekers.

New Mexico Environment Department
State government
Mission is to provide the highest quality of life throughout the state by promoting a safe, clean and productive environment.

New Mexico Health Resources (NMHR)
Nonprofit/Foundation
A private, non-profit agency organized to support efforts to recruit and retain healthcare personnel in New Mexico. Also operates as the New Mexico Rural Health Association.

New Mexico Hospital Association (NMHA)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Establishes, through membership involvement, a statewide initiative for improving the health status of the citizens of New Mexico.

New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (NMMFA)
State/regional organization
A quasi-public entity financing housing and related services for low to moderate income and underserved families throughout the state. Provides a variety of affordable housing programs that range from assistance to homeless individuals and families, to developing new housing projects, to providing opportunities for homeownership

New Mexico Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
State government
Dedicated to improving primary care and rural health access in the State of New Mexico. A division of the Health Systems Bureau in the New Mexico Department of Health.

New Mexico Outreach Office, U.S. - Mexico Border Health Commission
International organization
Mission is to improve health status and health services in the New Mexico border region and other border-impact areas of the state.

New Mexico Public Education Department: Special Education Bureau
State government
A statewide resource listing events, training and news, provides a disability resource database, and access to search engines from nationally recognized centers on disability information.

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
International organization
Works to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. Serves as the specialized organization for health of the Inter-American System and as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. It is an international public health agency, and part of the United Nations.

Quality New Mexico (QNM)
State/regional organization
Develops workshops and tools to help businesses, government, non-profits, education and healthcare entities provide products and/or services to customers and stakeholders be more competitive. Administers the New Mexico Quality Awards.

Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Helps rural communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming to improve community infrastructure.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: New Mexico
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.

USDA Rural Development New Mexico State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.

Tools

Border Health Information and Education Network
Web site
A health education network designed to provide health information free of charge for the people of the border region, both healthcare consumers and healthcare providers.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. - Mexico Border Health Association

Bordering New Mexico
Web site
Provides resources about environmental issues along the New Mexico - Mexico border region. Information can be accessed in Spanish.
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Environment Department

CheckPoint
Web site
Provides reliable, valid measures of health care in New Mexico to facilitate the selection of quality health care and aid in quality improvement activities within the hospital field.
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Hospital Association

ERS State Fact Sheet: New Mexico
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service

Frontera NorteSur
Web site
Provides on-line news coverage and analysis of events taking place in the US-Mexico border region.
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico State University

MedlinePlus Go Local
Web site
Offers information about health services in local geographic areas, including hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, support groups, health screening providers and many others.
Sponsoring organization: National Library of Medicine

National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: New Mexico
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

New Mexico QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau

New Mexico Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.

New Mexico Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights compile 2000 data on levels of employment, projected growth and key environmental factors that affect demand for health care. Details for medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health and aides.
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Workforce Analysis

New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Sponsoring organization: Annie E. Casey Foundation

New Mexico State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation

State Profiles- New Mexico: Health Information Technology (HIT)
Web site
Profiles the state’s health information technology (HIT) issues. Contains sections on demographics, HIT legislation, telemedicine, Health Information Exchanges (HIE) & Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO), grant funded HIT projects, and HIT survey information.
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Resource Center

See also: Resources for All States: Tools

Maps & Map Collections

New Mexico Rural Definition Maps
Geographic coverage: New Mexico
Set of maps showing the geographic coverage provided by 9 different rural definitions for the state.
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service

See also: Resources for All States: Maps

Funding

Daniels Fund Grants
Program areas eligible for grants through the Daniels Fund fall under the categories of: Aging, Alcoholism & Substance Abuse, Amateur Sports, Youth Development, Disabilities, Homeless & Disadvantaged, and Education.

El Paso Community Foundation Grants
Grant priorities are Health and Disabilities, Human Services (basic human needs) and Public Benefit.

Kerr Foundation Grants
Provides grants in the areas of education, health, cultural development, and community service.

Wells Fargo New Mexico Grant Program
Wells Fargo makes grants in three primary areas: Human Services, Education and Community Development.

Inactive Funding

Inactive Funding Opportunities - Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.

Documents, Reports and Other Publications

Border County Health Workforce Profiles: New Mexico
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
Provides information on the health workforce, relevant population characteristics, and basic health indicators for the U.S.-Mexico Border region in the State of New Mexico.
Date: 05 / 2007

Border Report: A Status Report On The Health Of People In El Paso County, Texas And Dona Ana County, New Mexico
Sponsoring organization: Paso del Norte Health Foundation
Presents selected health information on two communities in the U.S. - Mexico border region. Information is based on the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a telephone-based survey of randomly-selected adults. The survey gathered information about many health conditions and personal behaviors that affect health across the United States.
Date: 2005

Building a Healthy New Mexico!
Author(s): Alfredo Vigil
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
Identifies the New Mexico Department of Health’s goals for its programs and priorities for through fiscal year 2009.
Date: 2007

Closing the Health Disparity Gap in New Mexico: A Roadmap for Grantmaking (Executive Summary)
Author(s): Lisa Cacari Stone, Deborah Boldt
Provides information and recommendations necessary to be aware of, and respond to the health rights and needs of culturally and demographically diverse peoples and communities of New Mexico.
Date: 05 / 2006

Demographic and Economic Profile: New Mexico
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, and more. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 11 / 2008

Education: A Regional Overview
Author(s): By Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Explores education characteristics in the western states and examines how it impacts rural development.
Date: 2008

Employment, Income and Poverty: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines and compares employment and income in western states with both rural and urban data.
Date: 2008

Health and Longevity: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines health and longevity for states in the western region.
Date: 2008

Land Use and Resources: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines land use and resources in the western states.
Date: 2008

New Mexico Department of Health 2007 Quarter Three Performance Report
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
Provides an overview of the current state of health in New Mexico. Includes reports on a variety of topics related to telehealth, rural populations, health disparities, teen pregnancy, behavior health and people with disabilities
Date: 03 / 2007

New Mexico Health Guide: Resources for the Uninsured
A guidebook identifying New Mexico's network of health resources including medical, dental, and behavioral health services and insurance coverage.
Date: 2009

New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey(YRRS): 2005 Report of State Results
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
Presents the findings from the 2005 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey conducted in New Mexico public high schools, with 5,679 students in grades nine through twelve participating. Identifies health risk behaviors among students with the intent to increase academic success by decreasing those behaviors that create barriers to student learning.
Date: 2006

Pandemic Influenza Emergency Response
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
Promotes an effective statewide response to pandemic influenza, should it emerge in New Mexico. Includes strategies to reduce pandemic influenza-related morbidity, mortality, and social disruption.
Date: 03 / 2006

Small Business Profile: New Mexico
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2008

State of New Mexico: Population Brief
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Baseline information for the advancement of rural development that examines population changes and characteristics within New Mexico.
Date: 2008

State Profiles - New Mexico: Reforming the Health Care System
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Detailed profile of the state's health care system. Covers demographics, expenditures and financing, health status, utilization and quality of services, health care providers, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance coverage, and key trends.
Date: 12 / 2005

The Changing West: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Provides baseline data for identifying population changes in the western states for use in advancing rural development.
Date: 2008

See also: Resources for All States: Documents

Journals

New Mexico - NMHHSA Update
Monthly updates including meeting minutes, upcoming events, funding news, and more.
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Hospital Association

Success Stories

Wellness Partnership for a Healthy McKinley County
This project involved an innovative education program that used high school students to mentor elementary students in diabetes prevention techniques with the goal to improve the wellness of the community by developing healthy living skills in the 10-to 12-year-old population, and specifically to incorporate diabetes awareness activities into this target group's school day.

Border Area Mental Health Services, Inc. Project
The main goals of the project were to increase access to appropriate levels of care for mental health and/or substance abuse services,to increase capacity to provide services to individuals with substance abuse and/or mental health disorders; and to improve access to and management of psychotropic medications.

Healthy Nations Initiative
The Healthy Nations Initiative was funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help Native Americans reduce the harm caused by substance abuse in their communities.

RSS What's New (RSS)
About RSS Feeds

Add Add to Favorites
Email Email This Page
Delicious Delicious
Digg
Share on Facebook
google Share with Google

Page last updated 11/6/2009
State last reviewed 12/08/2008

About this Page
Credits
Maintained by:
Kathy Spencer
kathy@raconline.org

Suggest a resource for this page