Taos Community Foundation Awards $240,000 to Expand Youth Behavioral Health and Community Support Services Through Anchorum Community Health Fund

Taos, NM — Taos Community Foundation (TCF), in partnership with the Anchorum Health Foundation (Anchorum), is proud to announce the distribution of $240,000 in grants to organizations working on the frontlines of community well-being. This grant cycle represents the second phase of a five-year collaborative effort between TCF and Anchorum to address the social determinants of health and support organizations advancing community-driven solutions that improve health and quality of life across the region.

Funding priorities were shaped through a community-centered process that began with a Listening Session held in March 2025. More than 100 community members shared insights into Taos County’s greatest strengths as well as gaps in services needing additional support. Among the top priorities identified were improved access to behavioral healthcare and expanded youth and family support services. A full and summary version of the Listening Session report is available at: https://www.taoscf.org/2025-taos-community-listening-report/

According to CJ Grace, CEO of the Taos Community Foundation: “This grant cycle was special because the needs were identified by the community itself, leading to community driven solutions from local nonprofits. Together, these partners are elevating the good and finding meaningful ways to support health and well-being across Taos County.”

The organizations receiving funding are deeply embedded in the communities they serve and bring trusted, on-the-ground expertise to address local needs. Together, they play a vital role in strengthening support systems, responding to immediate challenges, and advancing long-term, positive changes across Taos County.

Grants were awarded to:

Community Against Violence — Community-Based Education

Community Against Violence’s prevention education programs in both school and community settings will be expanded. By engaging youth during key developmental stages, these programs reduce risk factors while promoting healthy relationships, resilience, and overall community safety. The expanded efforts will reach a greater number of students in response to increasing demand from schools and community partners.

DreamTree Project — Taos NEST Shelter

DreamTree Project’s Taos NEST will be expanded from an overnight shelter into a comprehensive Family Resource Center. Designed as a “one-stop” hub, the center will bring together cross-sector services under one roof. Community members will be able to access coordinated support across a wide range of needs, including physical health, education, legal assistance, employment, behavioral health care, substance use treatment, and early childhood services, strengthening pathways to long-term stability and greater well-being for families and individuals.

MAS Comunidad — The S.P.O.T. Office

S.P.O.T. Office’s Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) service program will grow infrastructure to transition into a sustainable, long-term resource for the Peñasco area. The program currently provides direct, hands-on case management to more than 400 adults, helping individuals navigate applications for food and housing assistance, connect with employment opportunities, and access programs that support mental and physical health as well as overall quality of life.

The impact of the funding is especially significant in rural communities like Peñasco, where organizations often serve as critical access points for families navigating multiple barriers to care. According to Doris Gonzáles, Executive Director of MAS Comunidad, “Limited access to healthy food, wellness programs, and support services in Peñasco creates significant barriers to youth and family behavioral health. This funding will help MAS address that challenge by allowing us to strengthen and sustain these critical services for the Peñasco community.”

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps — Healthy Futures Coalition

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps will use funding to support the implementation of the Healthy Futures Coalition, a youth-led initiative focused on prevention and behavioral health in Taos County. The program engages high school students and out-of-school youth ages 17–21, equipping them to serve as peer leaders in prevention efforts, substance misuse awareness, and mental health promotion to reduce risk factors while strengthening protective factors within schools and families.

Taos Alive — Taos High School Wellness Room

Taos Alive will expand mental health support at Taos High School by increasing Wellness Room hours. In partnership with Taos Alive, the program has already supported hundreds of students, with 90% reporting improvement after visits. Students describe the impact in their own words, sharing that “the social emotional circles help me calm down so I can focus the rest of the day,” and “it helps there be a better overall mood in the school.”

Taos High School Principal, Emy Martinez-DeHerrera emphasizes the importance of this work, noting that, “At Taos High School, we know that students are most successful when they feel supported, connected, and cared for. The wellness programming provided by Taos Alive has become an invaluable resource for our students, offering them a place to build healthy coping skills, strengthen relationships, and access support when they need it most. We are incredibly grateful to TCF and Anchorum for making this work possible through their generous grant. Their investment in student mental health is an investment in our students’ futures, and we are proud to continue this important partnership.”

The funds awarded through this grantmaking partnership reflect the shared commitment of Taos Community Foundation and Anchorum Health Foundation to elevating the work of local nonprofits and strengthening the systems that support them. Together, they recognize the essential role these organizations play in meeting community needs and building long-term solutions. It also reinforces a vision of a more connected and caring community, one where all residents have access to the resources, support, and opportunities needed to thrive.

The Taos Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization foundation, publicly supported by families, individuals, foundations, other nonprofits, and government entities and overseen by an independent, community-based board of directors. For more information, access www.taoscf.org.

Anchorum Health Foundation is dedicated to improving the conditions that have the greatest influence on the health of communities in our region. We are committing our resources to strengthening community-based partners tackling critical local issues. For more information, visit anchorum.org.