PTW treatment program - the pueblo of pojoaque is seeking federal funding to expand substance use disorder (SUD) treatment capacity in the path to wellness (PTW) intertribal healing to wellness…

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $340,000 to the Pueblo of Pojoaque on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.490) to expand substance use disorder treatment capacity in the Path to Wellness Intertribal Healing to Wellness Adult Drug Court Program.

The Pojoaque PTW Treatment Program will serve court-involved adults with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders across the Pojoaque Valley, including the Pueblo of Pojoaque and the tribal and Hispanic communities of San Ildefonso, Nambe, Santa Clara, Tesuque, and Ohkay Owingeh in northern New Mexico. The geographic catchment area encompasses approximately 25,000 daily vehicle transits through the Pueblo, creating vulnerability to substance distribution. The region is designated a mental health professional shortage area and faces limited access to evidence-based treatment and step-down options due to geographic isolation and provider shortages.

The program will improve health and recovery outcomes for justice-involved adults with substance use disorders through coordination, evidence-based treatment, trauma-informed care, comprehensive case management, and culturally responsive services. Work is performed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with a period of performance through September 29, 2031. The Pueblo of Pojoaque, operating as Tribal Administrative Services, is a federally recognized tribe that serves as a prime recipient across diverse federal grant portfolios spanning social services, infrastructure, and community development.

PTW treatment program - the pueblo of pojoaque is seeking federal funding to expand substance use disorder (SUD) treatment capacity in the path to wellness (PTW) intertribal healing to wellness adult drug court program. The geographic catchment area includes the pueblo of pojoaque, a rural tribal community with a land base of 13,800 acres, and the rural tribal and hispanic communities of the pojoaque valley, including SAN ildefonso, nambe, santa clara, tesuque and ohkay owingeh. Pojoaque is situated just south of RIO arriba county, a community that has been severely impacted by opioid use disorder (OUD) and SUD for decades, and just north 30 minutes north of the capital city of santa FE, NM, along the only major highway north towards colorado outside of interstate 25. Due to the geographical proximity to the state capitol, LOS alamos national labs, and all routes north to colorado, approximately 25,000 vehicles travel through the pueblo of pojoaque daily making pojoaque particularly vulnerable to the sale and distribution of substances. Due to geographic isolation, limited treatment availability, and mental health provider shortages, there is limited access to appropriate evidence-based treatment (EBT) and step-down options for individuals transitioning from treatment (NM HCA, 2026). Pojoaque valley is designated as a mental health professional shortage area with a score of 16, indicating a moderate-to-high behavioral health workforce shortage (hrsa data, 2026). The pojoaque PTW treatment program will address the unmet treatment needs of court-involved individuals experiencing SUD and CO-occurring mental health disorders. This project has one overall goal, two primary goals and five objectives. The overall goal of the pojoaque PTW treatment program is to improve health and recovery outcomes for justice-involved adults with SUD. The program will achieve this through coordination, EBT, trauma-informed care, comprehensive case management, and culturally responsive recovery supports. Goal 1: expand access to comprehensive SUD treatment and case management for justice-involved adults. ● objective 1.1. By september 30, 2031, engage 125 eligible justice-involved adults in EBT for SUD and CO-occurring mental health disorders, with 90% retained in treatment for at least six months and 80% successfully graduating from the PTW program. ● objective 1.2. During the project period, strengthen coordinated care and referral pathways among PTW partners, including the courts, probation department, behavioral health providers, treatment providers, overdose prevention program (ROAD), medication-assisted treatment (mat) providers, community health representatives (CHRS), with 100% of participants receiving linkage to appropriate services. ● objective 1.3. During the project period, provide comprehensive case management services to improve health and recovery outcomes among PTW participants, resulting in a 60% reduction in criminal justice involvement or recidivism, a 60% increase in employment, education, or vocational participation, a 55% reduction in self-reported substance use, and 80% sustained engagement in treatment and recovery support services within six months of enrollment. Goal 2: strengthen family engagement and long-term recovery. ● objective 2.1. By september 30, 2031, 85% of participants will participate in at least one family centered recovery service or family engagement activity. ● objective 2.2. By september 30, 2031, at least 50 PTW graduates will engage in an alumni recovery program to strengthen social connections, accountability, and long-term recovery. With these core goals and objectives, pojoaque PTW treatment program will strengthen its capacity to deliver effective SUD treatment, address the behavioral health provider shortages for a region that lacks adequate access to providers, EBT, and timely diversion programs, respond to the escalating drug-related incidents within the region, and prevent overdose with responsive, coordinated car