NMDOH OCHW Governing Boards

1. Board Membership:

   1. The board shall be comprised of nine members who are residents of New Mexico, appointed by the secretary, and shall include:
      1. three currently practicing CHWs, including at least one tribal community health representative;
      2. the secretary or the secretary’s designee, who shall serve as chair of the board; and
      3. five additional members that the secretary shall endeavor to appoint from community health stakeholders including but not limited to health care providers, tribal representatives, individuals from institutions of higher learning, or members of the community from various geographic regions of the state.
   2. Members of the board other than the department’s representative shall serve for staggered terms of four years. The secretary shall appoint to the initial board three members to a four year term, three members to a three year term, and two members to a two year term. Each member shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed.
   3. Board members shall be reimbursed as provided for in the Per Diem and Mileage Act, Section 1081et seq. NMSA 1978 and shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.

2. Meetings:

   The board shall convene at least once per quarter at the call of the chair and as frequently as reasonably necessary to review and make recommendations regarding the CHW certification process.
   1. Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, Section 10151 through 10154 NMSA 1978. A simple majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting official business.
   2. Meeting arrangements and attendance requirements shall be determined by the board. The board shall recommend to the secretary removal of board members for nonparticipation or any other good cause.

3. Duties and Responsibilities:

   The board shall advise the secretary on the implementation of standards, guidelines, and requirements relating to the training and regulation of persons seeking certification or practicing as CCHWs.
   1. The board shall make recommendations to the secretary on the following matters:
      1. standards and requirements for the establishment and approval or acceptance of community health worker education and training programs in the state;
      2. standards and requirements for approval or acceptance of continuing education courses and programs as the board may require for recertification every two years;
      3. minimum education, training, experience, and other qualifications that a certified community health worker shall possess to qualify as a trainer in any education, training, or continuing education program for community health workers;
      4. the process to acknowledge, document, and assess relevant education, training and experience or other qualifications acquired by CHWs practicing in the state before the effective date of the Community Health Workers Act for purposes of certification while waiving minimum training and experience requirements established by the act (also known as “grandfathering”);
      5. the means to assess community health worker competency in connection with certification;
      6. the core competencies to be required for certification, in consideration of current New Mexico and national CHW workforce studies; and
      7. the scope of practice for CCHWs.
   2. The board may provide guidance to the program on issues or topics presented to the board at the program’s discretion.
   3. Board recommendations: The board shall provide to the secretary written recommendations in accordance with the duties listed in this section, including any supporting documentation or public commentary. The secretary shall make a final determination on all board recommendations.

Members:

• Eric Lujan, Chair | Tribal & Metro/Central Region
• VACANT, Co-Chair | Tribal & Metro/Central Region
• Iris Reano | CHR Representative
• Melval Lujan | Southeast Region
• Raymond Sanchez | Northeast Region
• Olivia Muskett | Northwest Region
• Maria Retana | Southwest Region
• Sandra Clavijo | Metro/Central Region
• Fred Hernandez | Metro/Central Region

Meeting Schedule

• 1st Quarterly Board Meeting scheduled on Friday, February 09, 2024, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm (In-Person Meeting) at the Presbyterian Healthcare Services / Community Health Resource Center located at 1301 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112
  NM CHW Certification Board Agenda - 02/09/2024
• The NM Community Health Workers (CHW) Certification Board will host the quarterly meeting on April 05, 2024, from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. This meeting will be held at the Santo Domingo Pueblo, Trading Post located at the north side of Indian Service Road 88 in Santo Domingo, NM 87052.

Note: A copy of the Community Health Workers Certification Board Meeting Agenda will be available 72 hours before the meeting at the Office of Community Health Workers, 300 San Mateo NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. The public is welcome to attend these meetings. If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter or any other form of auxiliary aid or services to attend or participate in the meeting, please the Bureau Chief at 505-222-8671 at least one week prior to the meeting or as soon as possible.

The committee shall be appointed by the secretary and shall be comprised of five employees of the public health division, to include the division director, the deputy director of programs, and the CHW program manager. The committee shall conduct an individualized review of the grounds for action against a certificate and shall determine whether to pursue action against a certificate by a majority vote. A certificate may be denied, suspended, or revoked, or may be subject to any lesser action, including but not limited to reprimand or probation.

2024 Meeting Schedule

• Thursday, February 08, 2024 @ 10 AM - 12 PM
  NM CHW CRC Meeting Agenda
• Thursday, April 04, 2024 @ 10 AM - 12 PM; No applications referred during this quarter.
• Thursday, July 11, 2024 @ 10 AM - 12 PM; Location and Agenda TBD
• Thursday, October 03, 2024 @ 10 AM - 12 PM; Location and Agenda TBD

Note: A copy of the Community Health Workers Certification Review Committee Meeting Agenda will be available 72 hours before the meeting at the Office of Community Health Workers, 300 San Mateo NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. The public is welcome to attend these meetings. If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter or any other form of auxiliary aid or services to attend or participate in the meeting, please contact the Bureau Chief at 505-222-8671 at least one week prior to the meeting or as soon as possible.