As awareness of student mental health needs in New Mexico grows, programs like EOP are working to expand and support school-based mental health providers. However, significant gaps remain in preparing, defining, and integrating these roles, and there is a further need to improve connections between school mental health providers and the families and communities they serve. The need to create and refine supportive policy frameworks to ensure the effectiveness of school mental health professionals in response to these gaps is critical.

This presentation draws on existing research and recent data from school social worker in New Mexico to present a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of school mental health services in the state. Attendees will gain insights and tools to advocate for improvements that strengthen the effectiveness of these services. The session will include substantial opportunities for practitioners to share their own voice and experience in order to support, counter, or refine the analysis with the goal of creating a practitioner and community-led framework for policy action in these areas.