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New Mexico Social Workers: We Need Your Voices and Wisdom!

Over the past week, many of you have already taken the time to participate in the 2026 Social Workers of New Mexico Survey. On behalf of our research team, we want to sincerely thank you. Your willingness to share your experiences, perspectives, and hopes for the future of our profession means a great deal. To ensure the quality and integrity of the data collected, we have had to relaunch the survey using individualized survey links and extended the deadline to June 15, 2026.

Today, you will receive an email directly from SurveyMonkey containing your unique survey link. Please watch for this email and complete the survey using the individualized link provided. Because each survey link is unique to the recipient, please do not forward your individualized survey email to others. If you previously completed the survey, we are kindly asking that you complete the updated version as well. We know this is an additional request of your time, and we are deeply grateful for your partnership, patience, and commitment to this effort.

The purpose of this survey is simple: To better understand the realities facing social workers across New Mexico. Your responses will help inform workforce development, professional supports, supervision, education and training, recruitment and retention efforts, and policy discussions affecting our profession and the communities we serve.

Social workers are often asked to advocate for others. This survey is an opportunity to advocate for our profession by ensuring that decisions about our workforce are informed by the voices and experiences of social workers themselves. Please help us spread the word by sharing about this survey with your colleagues and professional networks and encouraging them to watch for their individualized survey invitation.

Thank you for all that you do for New Mexico’s individuals, families, communities, and systems every day. We are honored to learn from your experiences and grateful for your partnership in this important statewide effort. 

Research

At the Center for Excellence in Social Work, our research drives transformative change in New Mexico’s social work landscape. We tackle pressing issues like behavioral health disparities and rural workforce shortages, bridging academia and real-world practice. Our data-driven studies inform policy, shape interventions, and empower social workers statewide. Through culturally relevant, community-centered research, we’re not just documenting challenges – we’re catalyzing positive change and setting new standards for social work practice and education across New Mexico and beyond.

2026 Rooted in Community, Ready for the Future: New Mexico’s Strategic Blueprint for Strengthening Social Work and Behavioral Health Career Pathways

This Blueprint highlights the cultural, linguistic, and lived expertise of social workers and behavioral health professionals who serve in the very communities that shaped them, particularly in rural, frontier, and tribal regions.

2024 Social Workers of New Mexico Survey Report

Survey findings portray a highly committed and overwhelmed social work workforce in need of enhanced community resourcing and a deeper investment in their retention and wellbeing.

2024 Snapshot of New Mexico's Social Workers

 To learn more about New Mexico’s social workers and the workforce challenges they face, the CESW conducted its first biennial Social Workers of New Mexico Survey. This brief focuses on initial survey findings.

Prepared to Promote Educational Equity: The Case for Specialized School Social Work Training in New Mexico: A Policy Brief

Given the correlation between social needs and educational performance, school social work services create essential pathways to educational equity and success. In many New Mexico communities, school social workers (SSWs) are the only accessible providers of these critical services.

School Social Work Guide to Provide Evidence-Based Practice that is Grounded in Critical Disability Theory: A Practice Brief

SSWs must possess an understanding of different models of disability and their implications for practice. This practice brief will explore these models and provide an introduction to Critical Disability Theory (CDT) as an essential theoretical framework in which SSWs can anchor their practice.

Culturally Informed Strategies for Supporting Latino Families in Autism Care: A Practice Brief

This practice brief outlines an innovative, research-grounded approach to improving autism services for Latino families—particularly mothers, fathers, and professionals—through culturally responsive, bilingual, and identity-grounded strategies. 

A Proposal for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curriculums in Publicly Funded Elementary and Secondary Schools in New Mexico

The proposed LGBTQ+ Education Act requires few resources and has the potential for large benefits, most importantly improving the wellbeing of youth across the state of New Mexico.  

Mindfulness Practice as a Multidimensional Strategy for Social Workers to Cultivate Wellbeing, Healing, and Commitment to the Struggle: A Practice Brief

This practice brief discusses the recommendation that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) be intentionally woven into educational and workforce development strategies that support social workers.

Addressing LMSW Telehealth restrictions and low quality job opportunities: A Policy Brief

This policy brief outlines resolving legislative gaps for LMSWs providing telehealth care, the risks of creating low-quality, limited intervention jobs, and actionable recommendations to safeguard New Mexico’s mental health infrastructure.

Interested in Writing a Brief?

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Contact Information

Center for Excellence in Social Work

ceswnm@nmhu.edu

505-429-1340

1700 Grande Blvd. SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 Rooms 229 and 230

Professional Development

socialworkceu@nmhu.edu

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