News & Updates

Thursday, November 5, 2020; Silver City, NM: The Center for Health Innovation (CHI) is pleased to welcome two new staff dedicated to bolster the organization’s finance and administration effectiveness.  The staff additions include new administrative assistant Arlene Salazar and returning staff Erika Burke as human resources and payroll specialist. “We are thrilled to have these […]

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2020; Silver City, NM: The Center for Health Innovation (CHI) pleased to welcome two new board members who are familiar faces to the organization which serves as New Mexico’s Public Health Institute.  After years of serving on committees to shape CHI’s programs, community health leaders John E. Kutinac, MPH, MBA, and Joaquin […]

Tuesday, October 20, 2020; Las Cruces, NM:  On Saturday, (October 24, 2020) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local police departments and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 19th opportunity in nine years to clean out their medicine cabinets to prevent medication misuse and theft by ridding their homes of […]

Tuesday, October 20, 2020; Grant County, NM: For the first time ever, the rural communities of Cliff and Mimbres will have a chance to participate in Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host […]

Wednesday, October 21, 2020; Columbus, NM: For the first time, the Columbus will join the effort to safely remove prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from homes before the holidays during the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Columbus Courthouse, 244 Lima […]

Thursday, September 17, 2020; Las Cruces, NM:  Native Las Crucian, Michelle Rincon has joined the Center for Health Innovation (CHI), New Mexico’s Public Health Institute.  Her expertise will support CHI’s prevention efforts at the Unified Prevention Coalition for Doña Ana County (UP!C). “Michelle has a history of working with health councils and community coalition,” said […]

This article is part of the Unified Prevention Coalition for Doña Ana County’s bi-monthly guest column in the Las Cruces Sun-News. Visit their site to learn more. How did an unassuming agricultural plant, used for rope and textiles, end up classified as one of the most dangerous drugs in the nation by the U.S. Drug […]

Friday, July 30, 2020; Silver City, NM:  When mapping public health data, it can be hard to get your bearings especially if you are looking for an elusive location like a home. New Mexico Community Data Collaborative (NMCDC) has discovered a new home for its future evolution at the Center for Health Innovation (CHI). The […]

by Piper Coalson, Unified Prevention Coalition This article is part of the Unified Prevention Coalition for Doña Ana County’s bi-monthly guest column in the Las Cruces Sun-News. Visit their site to learn more. Saturday, June 13, 2020; Las Cruces, NM – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 130 Americans die every day from […]

Dear Friends, The Center for Health Innovation, New Mexico’s Public Health Institute,  acknowledges systemic racism as a public health crisis. We understand the protestors calling for police reform and demanding an end to the brutality and racial inequities which have plagued our nation since before its founding. Working towards health and racial equity in New […]

by Edward M.Rubin, Chair of the Unified Prevention Coalition This article is part of the Unified Prevention Coalition for Doña Ana County’s bi-monthly guest column in the Las Cruces Sun-News. Visit their site to learn more. Saturday, June 6, 2020; Las Cruces, NM: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, alcohol sales across the United States have […]

Coalition makes maps public of county’s alcohol outlets in relation to crimes Monday, May 25, 2020; Las Cruces, NM: The Unified Prevention Coalition for Doña Ana County (UP!) has released a report, and accompanying maps, for county residents to explore how alcohol sales impact crime throughout the county. The “Alcohol Outlet Density Report for Las […]

Monday, May 18, 2020; Las Cruces, NM: After conducting a national search, the Center for Health Innovation (CHI) has named Joy Gomez as the new Director of Prevention and Community Collaborations. CHI Chief Executive Officer Susan Wilger said of Gomez’s appointment, “We are very excited to have Joy join the CHI team. As a lifelong […]

Thursday, May 14, 2020; Silver City, NM: After conducting a nationwide search, the Center for Health Innovation (CHI) is pleased to announce a familiar face will take the helm of the organization. Susan Wilger will step into the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for CHI effective in 2020. CHI Board President Dr. Magdaleno Manzanarez […]

Thursday, April 9, 2020; Deming, NM: The outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent quarantine efforts to stem the spread of the virus, have threatened the required community’s participation in the New Mexico Community Survey (NMCS), a vital statistical tool used by the Coalition Against Teen Substances (CATS). “The New Mexico Community Survey provides the Coalition Against […]

Wednesday, April 8, 2020; Silver City, NM: The outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent quarantine efforts to stem the spread of the virus, have threatened the required community’s participation in the New Mexico Community Survey (NMCS), a vital statistical tool used by Grant County’s Youth Substance Abuse Coalition (YSAPC). “The survey supports prevention efforts in the […]

This article is reprinted from the Las Cruces Sun-News. Visit their site to learn more. The Unified Prevention Coalition for Doña Ana County and New Mexico State Universities Wellness, Alcohol and Violence Rx, your local drug prevention programs, are working to collect the New Mexico Community Survey on behalf of the New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division […]

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic the Center for Health Innovation staff are primarily working remotely. We will work to assist you to the best of our ability. You can contact staff directly by email or phone. Staff phone numbers can be found on our website under “Contact Us” or  HERE.  Staff emails are [first initial […]

Wednesday, December 4, 2019; Anthony, NM: A November house party in Anthony, NM, led to a felony arrest for the adult who provided alcohol to underage youth, who had a lot of explaining to do when picked up by their parents during the wee hours of the morning once released from police custody. Anthony Chief […]

Tuesday, November 19, 2019; Silver City, NM: What’s one thing residents can do to save the brains of Grant County youth? Stop supplying youth with alcohol! That’s a topic that is brain worthy, according to the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (YSAPC) which is featuring a panel discussion on Thursday, November 21, 2019, at 6 […]

The first Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Drug Take Back Day in Luna County was a success with 11 pounds of unused medications disposed of by residents during the last Saturday of October. Pictured (from right to left) Deming Police Department’s Lieutenant Sergio Lara, John Costilla-Gonzalez of the Coalition Against Teen Substances (CATS), a program of […]

Monday, November 11, 2019; Grants, NM: This October’s Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day netted over 75 pounds of unused medication in Cibola County. There were two sites residents safely disposed of their unused medications: Grants Walmart and the Laguna Police Department. Cibola County has participated in Drug Take Back Day for […]

Tuesday, November 5, 2019; Bayard, NM: This October’s Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day was the first-time residents could dispose of medications at two locations in Grant County: Bayard Public Safety Building and Silver City’s WalMart Super Center. County-wide, nearly 200 pounds of unused medications were collected in a single day. The […]