NCCBS is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization that was established early in 1994. NCCBS is organized and operated for charitable, educational, and community social services, and in particular, to provide children, youth, and their families with a system of care incorporating mental health, and prevention services. It is governed by a committed Board of Directors which is representative of its diverse constituency. NCCBS is dedicated to the improvement of the health and social well being of inter-cultural communities.

NCCBS grew out of grass-roots efforts to address the needs in geographically isolated communities. The underlying premise for the establishment of the organization was that the integration of the region would galvanize resources and services that the demographics of any one of the communities could not justify or subsidize in terms of funding. Our particular emphasis has been on youth and youth empowerment to change the future positively for all northern New Mexico residents.



The central operating premise of NCCBS is that the local community must be empowered to identify local problems and participate actively in devising and implementing local solutions. This commitment is articulated in our by-laws and evidenced in both management theory and practice. NCCBS policy and procedures address the critical importance of culturally competent service provision. It is our belief that the surest way to achieve this objective is to train local community members to provide services whenever possible. This philosophy and practice requires a capacity-building approach and a transfer of relevant technologies.

NCCBS has completed several multi-year federal grants including several CSAP Partnership and Coalition grants, a Family Strengthening grant, an OJJDP grant to work on Asset building at the high schools in the region, a Department of Justice funded domestic violence prevention grant for all of Rio Arriba county, and a JUMP high school mentoring program funded by the Department of Justice.

NCCBS currently provides Life Skills, Across Ages mentoring programs, SYNAR, and alcohol environmental strategies through contracts with the New Mexico Department of Health, Behavioral Health Services Division. In addition, NCCBS is administering a Drug-Free Communities Grant to enhance coalition development.