Contact the Youth and Family Services Division


Julie Sanchez
Division Director
jjsanchez@santafenm.gov

Christa Hernandez
Youth and Family Services Program Manager
CONNECT
chernandez@santafenm.gov

Brittany Rodriguez, MPH
Youth and Family Services Program Manager
Homeless Solutions
bcrodrigez@santafenm.gov

Sophie Andar, EDD., CHES
Youth and Family Services Program Manager
Violence Prevention
sxandar@santafenm.gov

Justin Gonzales
Project Specialist
CONNECT
jmgonzales@santafenm.gov

Need Help?


CONNECT is a network of navigators at clinics, community organizations, and city and county programs. Navigators are community health workers, volunteers, or social workers who link people to services and resources in our community. Agencies in the network are connected through a shared technology platform enabling navigators to send and receive secure electronic referrals, address residents’ social needs, and improve individual and community health. Click here to learn more. 


 

 

CYC Strategic Plan


The Children and Youth Commission is pleased to present its Strategic Action Plan for the FY2023 - 2026 cycle, which reflects key decisions made in the annual strategic planning sessions held in the fall of 2022, as well as builds upon the planning and health improvement efforts reflected in the 2019 Children and Youth Commission goals.

In 2019, the Children and Youth Commission adopted the Results-Based Accountability (RBA) methodology to develop a strategic framework that identifies funding priorities to leverage key health and social determinants indicators for community impact. The Children and Youth Commission gathered information on critical community needs and inequities identified through qualitative and quantitative data, needs assessments, and information gathering.

The Ends Framework outlines the desired results or outcomes proposed in the following three priority areas:

  1. Safety and Basic Needs
  2. Early Childcare and Supplemental Education
  3. Youth Wellness

 

Youth and Family Services Boards, Committees, Commissions


The Youth and Family Services (YFS) Division oversees multiple boards, committees, commissions, and City of Santa Fe special projects. 

 

Youth Programs


The City of Santa Fe's Youth Programs provides an opportunity for kids to experience a wide range of activities supervised by a caring and supportive staff. Programs are festive because the staff ensures that activities are fun, educational & safe.
The City of Santa Fe Recreation Division oversees all direct youth services programming. Please click here for updates and information. 

 

Committees, Commissions, and Boards


Children and Youth Commission

Through the Children and Youth Commission, the city improves Santa Fe children's lives by providing funding and support for local non-profit organizations and public school programs that work for kids. The Commission celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2009-2010. They are one of twenty continuum sites state-wide. All sites are funded through the State of New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJPD).

Human Services Committee

The Human Services Committee was formed by Resolution in 1987 and is charged by the City of Santa Fe Ordinance (2016) with advising and recommending health and human service policies, assessing and advocating for human service needs, coordinating resources to maximize cost-effectiveness, evaluating local human service programs, providing technical assistance to programs, and making funding recommendations to the City Council to support nonprofit organizations that provide and maintain a safety net of services to meet the essential health and human service needs of the adult residents ages 18+ of Santa Fe. 

The Committee receives two percent (2%) of the gross receipts tax and administers funding through the Human Services Fund to local nonprofits on a two-year funding cycle at approximately $800,000+ annually (funding amount varies due to GRT fluctuations).  The Committee works in partnership with the City liaison and the Youth and Family Services Division staff to provide advice on ways to effectively plan, coordinate and support health and human service efforts in the Santa Fe community, and present a plan to the governing body for approval. The committee also works in collaboration with the Children and Youth Commission on shared priorities to improve population health and reduce health disparities.

Mayor's Youth Advisory Board

The role of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Board is to advise the Mayor and the member of the City Council on youth issues. We serve to represent and convey the views of the youth of Santa Fe to the city government and organizations. Current projects include community service, supporting events, and youth participatory budgeting for city capital dollars.

Immigration Committee

This committee is dedicated to addressing the human rights status of non-citizens in Santa Fe. The committee membership consists of 9 representatives residing in the county of Santa Fe and selected from the following areas: Human Rights, Social Services, Business Community, Health Care, Labor Organizations, Religious Community, Youth Service Providers, Women's Advocacy Groups, Educators, and Legal Services.

Veterans Advisory Board

In recognition of the service of veterans and to meet the needs of veterans in this community, the Santa Fe City Council, by unanimous vote, approved resolution 2015-18 to create a Veterans' Advisory Board to advise the Governing Body on veteran affairs and streamline Santa Fe's veteran services.

Women's Commission

The Santa Fe Women's Commission was established to identify opportunities to improve City of Santa Fe programs and policies and to strengthen the quality of life of women and girls in Santa Fe so they can thrive, personally and professionally.

 

If you need to contact CYFD on a court case or need to report child abuse, Click Here.