Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Campos

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-31-06

HB

SHORT TITLE NM HIGHLANDS SOCIAL WORKER TRAINING SB 309

ANALYST Lucero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$250.0

Recurring

General fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Office of Workforce Training and Development (OWTD)

New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU)

Human Services Department (HSD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 309 appropriates $250.0 from the general fund for expenditure in FY07 to Office of

Workforce Training and Development for the purpose of funding a social worker work experi-

ence program to be administered by New Mexico Highlands University.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $250.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert to the

general fund.

New Mexico Highlands University currently administers a social work stipend program for so-

cial work students that provide federal funds to students with the goal that graduates would work

Senate Bill 309 – Page

2

for CYFD upon completion. At this time, approximately 46 stipend social work students from

three New Mexico universities have committed to work for the Department for a specified period

of time.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

NMHU provides the following statement:

Currently there are close to 480 Social Work students enrolled at all NMHU campuses (210+

Bachelor of Art students and 260+ Master of Arts students). The New Mexico Highlands Uni-

versity Social Work Training Initiative was established in 2004. The Social Work Training Ini-

tiative targets low-income Hispanic and American Indian high school students for professional

work training.

This initiative consists of a year-long program, twenty-four-hour, seven-day-a week, eight-week

summer mentorship. Bilingual (Spanish, Navajo, Pueblo) undergraduate and graduate social

work students live in NMHU dorms with more than 95 impoverished and at-risk Northern New

Mexican teens and provide them with academic tutoring, college mentorship, career counseling,

alcohol and drug abuse prevention, and one-on-one mental health counseling. There are six

graduate social work students who oversee the summer program. These students work in con-

junction with the Office of Workforce Training and Development.

This training program provides social work students with a year-long practicum that trains them

in the areas of clinical practice, direct practice, community practice, and most importantly, stu-

dent and family mental health counseling. These undergraduate and graduate social work stu-

dents/interns are given group and individual training on working specifically with low-income

students and their families who are in crisis, facing issues of job loss, addiction, domestic vio-

lence, depression, and suicide. Professional training is a crucial component of this training initia-

tive. The social work students/interns meet with the initiative director on a daily basis to consult

on and receive training in social work service delivery, behavior management, adolescent and

family counseling, and crisis intervention. These students also receive training in classroom

management, curriculum development, staffing, case-note writing, and student and family case-

management.

HSD provides the following information:

SB 309 does not describe a targeted population for participation in this program. Without spe-

cific information it is difficult to evaluate the relation with the TANF and WIA integration pro-

ject.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The bill could positively impact CYFD Human Resource performance measure of “social worker

vacancy.” The bill could also positively impact CYFD child welfare worker caseloads. Social

worker turnover and vacancy rates are a national problem, as well as an ongoing human resource

issue for CYFD in most areas of the state. Local universities are an important source of social

workers and child welfare workers for the Department.

The bill fails to mention performance criteria OWTD is to use in evaluating and developing this

program. Bill contains no provisions for coordination with Higher Education Department cur-

riculum development or course credit. No provisions are identified for the coordination of em-

Senate Bill 309 – Page

3

ployer participation requirements, which is essential in workforce training programs.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The bill provides an appropriation to OWTD to fund the program, but OWTD is not given guid-

ance as to administrative costs it can use to monitor and evaluate the performance of New Mex-

ico Highlands. Work experience implies unpaid work yet this is not specified.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

SB 309 is vague on whether the funding is for program or administrative purposes and does not

identify the target population of this funding.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

HSD has been tasked by the Governor’s Office to work with OWTD to integrate TANF New

Mexico Works services with the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program. In FY 2006, HSD

entered into a Governmental Services Agreement (GSA) with OWTD to provide integrated ser-

vices in two out of four New Mexico service areas. HSD and OWTD are currently evaluating

the implementation of the two remaining service areas for integration in FY 2007. The FY 2007

Executive and LFC budget recommendations include a TANF appropriation of $11,740.0.

ALTERNATIVES

This is a great program and the industry is in dire need of these trained professionals. OWTD is

willing to work with Highlands University and the Department of Higher Education in develop-

ing a more detailed plan – including reporting requirements, coordination parameters, adminis-

trative parameters, oversight plan, performance requirements, etc..

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Not funding SB309 will hinder outreach and the ability of NMHU to serve a larger number of

marginalized families. It will preclude inclusion of more high school students and social workers

in the summer program at NMHU. In addition, social work students/interns will not be exposed

to more comprehensive work training.

AMENDMENTS

Amend the bill to clarify the targeted population and use of the funds.

CYFD could also serve as a practicum “social work experience” site for NMHU students.

DL/mt