Santa Fe County and City of Santa Fe launch Youth ARISE Pilot to prevent youth violence

Santa Fe County and the City of Santa Fe have launched the Youth ARISE Pilot, a new program designed to prevent youth violence and help young people build safer, more stable futures.

Youth ARISE focuses on young people ages 24 and under who are considered at risk of becoming involved in violent behavior. The program connects them with a strong support team and practical resources to help them make positive changes in their lives.

Referrals to the program come from the First Judicial District Attorney's Office and Juvenile Probation. Once referred, each young person works with a case manager to create a plan based on their specific needs and goals. They are also paired with mentors, peers who have faced similar challenges and successfully turned their lives around.

Several local organizations are working together to make sure participants get the help they need, whether that includes counseling, education, job support, or other services. The goal is to help young people define their own path forward and, over time, become leaders and mentors for others.

Youth ARISE stands for Action, Respect, Intervention, Strength, and Empowerment. Planning for the program began in 2021 after community members called for new approaches to youth violence-approaches that focus less on punishment and more on accountability, healing, and opportunity.

The program is built around a few key goals:

• Listen to and learn from young people and families most affected by violence

• Reduce barriers to services and opportunity

• Strengthen coordination among existing community resources

• Support healing and long-term stability

While the program draws ideas from diversion court models, Youth ARISE is tailored specifically to the needs of local youth. The team includes mentors with lived experience, clinicians, and community partners working together to support each participant's growth.

Success in Youth ARISE is not measured only by avoiding trouble. It also includes helping young people find purpose, build healthy relationships, and create clear plans for their future.

"At the heart of Youth ARISE is the belief that young people have strengths, goals, and potential worth investing in," said Chanelle Delgado, Santa Fe County's Youth and Family Services Division Manager. "Lasting change happens when young people feel supported by their community."

Sandy Emory, City of Santa Fe Violence Prevention Program Manager, added: "Youth ARISE looks at the full picture of a young person's life. Instead of focusing only on punishment, we're working to address the underlying challenges and create real opportunities for change."

The pilot will continue to evolve based on results and community feedback, with the goal of expanding successful strategies across Santa Fe County and New Mexico.

Youth ARISE is a joint effort led by Santa Fe County and the City of Santa Fe, with funding from both governments and the New Mexico Department of Health's Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

Contact Information:

Santa Fe County - Chanelle Delgado, LMSW

[email protected]

City of Santa Fe - Sandy Emory

[email protected]