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
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 about CONNECT.
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.