ABOUT US
We seek to empower tribal behavioral health professionals.
Open to supervisors, directors, therapists, interns, peers, and billing staff. Whether you’re looking to build capacity, stay informed on policies, track funding opportunities, or have a collective voice in state-level decisions, NMTBHPA is here for you.
Our History
The New Mexico Tribal Behavioral Health Providers Association (NMTBHPA) was formed in response to a Needs Assessment conducted during a CMS Recovery Planning Grant. Seeing the critical need for tribal behavioral health support, Executive Director Sindy Bolaños-Sacoman stepped up to lead the effort, aiming to improve access to quality care, strengthen tribal capacity, support Medicaid billing, and amplify tribal voices in policy discussions.
In October 2020, key tribal stakeholders confirmed the need, leading to the first meeting on March 19, 2021, during the pandemic. Since then, NMTBHPA has remained dedicated to unifying and advocating for Tribal behavioral health providers, ensuring representation, and shaping policy at the state level.
Our Mission
Advocate as a unified tribal voice for a quality behavioral health system accessible and responsive to tribal matters that affect the collective.
Our Vision
Our Team
Sindy Bolaños-Sacoman, MPH
Executive Director
Melanie Montoya
Pueblo of Santa Clara
Planning Committee Member
Teresa Gomez, MA
Pueblo of Isleta
Planning Committee Member
Lonna Valdez, MSW, MBA
Jicarilla Apache
Planning Committee Member
Jennifer Nanez, MSW, LMSW
Pueblo of Acoma
Planning Committee Member
Intern's Corner
The New Mexico Tribal Behavioral Health Providers Association was honored to host Tanya Henderson as an intern during her Master of Public Health (MPH) studies at Grand Canyon University. Under the supervision of our Executive Director, Sindy Bolaños-Sacoman, Tanya contributed her skills and enthusiasm to advancing our mission of supporting tribal communities through culturally attuned behavioral health initiatives.
During her time with us, Tanya assisted with the planning and coordination of our first annual conference, helped expand our growing provider network, and shared thoughtful observations during association meetings that enriched our collective work. We congratulate Tanya on successfully completing her internship and on her upcoming graduation. We are grateful for her dedication and wish her continued success in her career in public health. Click here to view her final internship poster.
Recognitions
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Health Care Authority
Office of the Secretary
Health Care Authority
Medical Assistance Division
University of New Mexico
Community Behavioral Health
Contact Us
Please direct any inquiries to our team using the form below. You may also reach out to our executive director :
Sindy Bolaños-Sacoman, MPH
sindysacoman@sbsconsulting.org
(505) 818-8021
