New Mexico’s Health Councils

County and Tribal Health councils, established in 1991 by the New Mexico legislature, help communities organize to identify and focus on local health priorities. The functions of Health Councils were reaffirmed in 2019 by the County and Tribal Health Councils Act (HB 137).

Health Councils are mandated to identify community needs, resources, and priorities; evaluate the community’s system of care with an equity lens; and support education, programming, and advocacy efforts to improve community health.

Health Councils continue to produce detailed assessments of local health needs and resources on an annual basis.
Health Councils mobilize communities to address important local health problems.
Health Councils develop comprehensive, detailed, long-range community health improvement plans that have guided the work of healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, and state, county, city, and tribal government agencies.

New Mexico’s 33 County Health Councils and 10 Tribal Health Councils are supported by the collaborative efforts of the New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils and the New Mexico Department of Health’s Health Promotion Regional Teams.

FAQ About Health Councils

Engaging With Your Health Council: A Story

Quay County Health Council’s 2021 Fun Run / Walk

The Community Engagement Liaison Specialist , Cynthia Killough, at the University of New Mexico's Health Sciences Center, has attended various health councils since 2019 and has developed great relationships with them. By engaging with the health councils, Ms. Killough is able to achieve her health research work goals and also assists the health councils achieve their priorities. The bidirectionality created by meaningful engagement means that New Mexicans have more opportunities to lead healthy lives.

“When I first started my job and attended various health councils there was a steep learning curve and a lot of information to take in. I want to share what I’ve learned and help others who might not be from the health council’s community but have a common interest in the community’s health and well-being. Being a native New Mexican, I love my state and I want to encourage collaboration so New Mexicans can achieve their health goals.”

-Cynthia Killough / ckillo@salud.unm.edu

The impact of engaging with New Mexico Health Councils can be so rewarding on so many different levels. Click here to learn more about Ms. Killough’s engagement.