Yearly Archives: 2015


Summer Academy Assistant AmeriCorps Volunteer

The Southwest CHI—FORWARD NM Program is seeking AmeriCorps Volunteers for the following position:   Summer Academy Assistant: The summer academy assistant will make a difference in the community through participation in the FORWARD NM workforce development team at CHI, assisting with media and promotional materials, clubs and camps, and internship […]


Office Clerk

Position: Office Clerk                                                Date Issued: November 2015 Department: Administration                                Reports to: Administrator   Job Classification: Non Exempt Hourly   The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed.  […]


Southwest NM could break new ground with food hub

Gwyneth Jones of the Silver City Daily Press interviews CHI’s Ben Rasmussen on the study he is leading to strengthen southwest New Mexico’s local food system. “Increasing food security and resiliency in southwest New Mexico means ‘growing the growers,’ by increasing their numbers and their opportunities to succeed. Toward that […]


One Month Rural

Medical student Michelle Blumenschine discusses her rural rotation in Southwest New Mexico, which was arranged by CHI’s FORWARD NM program. “While I regularly witnessed disparities in access to healthcare and staggering rates of mental illness, I was astounded by the pride and passion of the community and the effectiveness of […]


Fiscal and Administrative Management

Southwest Center for Health Innovation (CHI) provides support to nonprofit organizations with a public health and/or social service focus. Using a shared services model, we provide financial, program management, resource development, and organizational and systems improvement services. CHI manages several grants and contracts on behalf of, or in collaboration with […]


Convening and Partnering

As an independent nonprofit, CHI is highly innovative and adaptable, which is not always the case with government agencies or universities. CHI is uniquely situated to engage a broad range of stakeholders, from grassroots non-profits to government agencies, in discussion and action to make communities healthier.  Recent convening of innovators […]


Research and Evaluation

CHI partners with universities and other researchers to provide community participatory research, as well as translation of existing data sources to inform healthcare systems, programs and policy. Research coauthored by CHI staff members includes: The Role of Community Health Centers in Assessing the Social Determinants of Health for Planning and […]


Training and Technical Assistance

CHI staff provides strategic consulting and technical assistance to individual organizations, community coalitions, state and federal agencies and national associations and organizations. Our clients include the New Mexico Primary Care Training Consortium, the National Center for Frontier Communities, the National REACH Coalition, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, the […]


REACH Su Comunidad Consortium

The REACH Su Comunidad (RSC) Consortium was a partnership between Southwest Center for Health Innovation (CHI) and University of Arizona College of Public Health, Northwest Regional Primary Care Association, and University of Texas School of Public Health. The RSC Consortium worked with ten communities in five states to address disparities […]


Solid Policy and Heroic Effort – New Mexico’s Pathways to Health Careers

Southwest Center for Health Innovation (CHI) Executive Director Charlie Alfero shares his insights on what makes the FORWARD NM program successful and how community-based planning, collaboration and policy efforts are driving change. He explains the necessary components for long-term sustainability and strengthening a frontier health system by investing in health […]


Rural clinical internships and rotations

FORWARD NM rotates approximately 60 learners per year from various disciplines including Family Medicine Residency, medical students, dental students, nurse practitioner students, and physician’s assistant students. For more information or to request an internship, shadowing experience or rotation contact us. Rural rotations Program staff work with higher education institutions to […]


Health Career Pipeline Activities

Dream Makers Health Career Clubs Dream Makers health career clubs stimulate students grade 6th through 12th to pursue health related careers. The club highlights numerous healthcare professions and the college requirements, as well as the important role of health disparities and diversity in healthcare. During the sessions, the participants have […]


Patient and Community Health Support Systems

Patient and Community Health Support Systems is a model for the integration of Community Health Workers into primary care. Based on the successful programs established by Hidalgo Medical Services, the model has resulted in improved patient health outcomes and lowered health care costs. Southwest Center for Health Innovation (CHI) staff […]


FORWARD NM AHEC

What is an AHEC – FNM AHEC Advisory Board – NM AHEC Scholars Program – Rural Rotations/Internships – Pipeline Activities – Continuing Education – Contact Us The vision of the Center for Health Innovation (CHI) Frontier and Rural Workforce Development New Mexico (FORWARD NM) program is to enhance access to […]


REACH Su Comunidad

REACH Su Comunidad was a program that empowered Community Health Workers, or promotores, to address health disparities experienced by Hispanic/Latino communities. Southwest Center for Health Innovation (CHI) and our partners provided training and technical assistance to ten communities across five states as their community health workers expanded their roles beyond […]


Understanding Provider Demands and Advancing Timely Evidence in New Mexico (UPDATE NM)

UPDATE NM promotes safe prescribing practices Understanding Provider Demands and Advancing Timely Evidence in New Mexico (UPDATE NM) is an academic detailing service which distills and disseminates evidence-based information and recommendations so healthcare providers can better serve their patients. UPDATE NM is free of charge to healthcare providers (funding is […]