FASD Center for Excellence

Doña Ana County, New Mexico

CSAP visited Doña Ana County, New Mexico, May 7-8, 2002. The team met with staff of the Ben Archer Health Center, the lead organization for this site. CSAP conducted individual interviews with the executive director of the Ben Archer Health Center, the Maternal Child Health Coordinator of the Ben Archer Health Center, and the Chair of the Maternal Child Health Council. In addition, CSAP conducted group discussions with a group of health care providers and with a group of potential partner organizations. Finally, CSAP attended the monthly meeting of the Maternal Child Health Council.

Through this site visit, CSAP learned that Doña Ana has a small population, but covers a large geographical area (it is the largest county in New Mexico) and is comprised of distinct communities. Based on the group discussions, it was determined that in addition to Las Cruces (the only city in Doña Ana County), two rural communities (northern and southern Doña Ana County) also deserve the attention of the Partnership.

Doña Ana County is also a border community; its proximity to Mexico has implications for maternal and child health service needs and patterns of alcohol consumption. For instance, many men and women cross the border to deliver their babies in the U.S., which is valued for providing a safer delivery than what is available in Mexico. Doña Ana County's proximity to the border also encourages underage drinking. Young people are known to drive to Juarez, where the legal drinking age is 18 and poorly enforced. Other challenges facing the community include poverty, a large number of undocumented workers, and barriers to services such as transportation and insurance.

Fortunately, as the community faces these challenges, it can draw on its significant strengths. Known as the "Chile Capital of the U.S.," the Doña Ana community is tightly knit. This cohesiveness is expressed through informal social networks, including extended families and close neighborhoods, which foster a sense of accountability for the care of all members of the community. It is also evident in the formal support network, which has a strong community involvement component, institutionalized through community involvement teams and the "promotora" or health educator model. It is anticipated that this commitment and capacity to "do with the people, instead of for the people" will form the basis for the local Partnership to Prevent FASD effort.