Together We Can Make a Difference!

YDI VALENCIA DIRECTORY

MEDICAID ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (NMPCA) is designed to enroll children and their families in Medicaid and SCHIP in Valencia and Bernalillo Counties.

Edwina Moya for appointment 352-3473

Cecilia Vazquez for emergency walk-in 352-3475 (lots of field work, call first)

YDI VALENCIA TEEN COURT is a first offenders program that guides youth through the experience of court from sentence compliance to jury panel. Valencia County youth volunteers are also trained as Teen Court Attorneys to represent the first offender clients.

Devon Caldarera 352-3492

TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM (TOP) is aimed at reducing teen pregnancy by educating middle school students, raising community awareness and strengthening life & leadership skills.

Devon Caldarera 352-3492

LOW COST CAR SEAT PROGRAM in partnership with Safer New Mexico is designed to provide education and access to low cost car seats to families in need.

Ambar Chavez by appointment 352-3496 (best 459-0460) Needs $20 money order, child (unless pregnant) and vehicle present.

COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE (CASA) PROGRAM trains community volunteers, appointed by a judge to represent the best interest of a child in court. CASAs provide hope for a brighter future for our children.

Tasa Stromei 352-3483

YDI-VIDA CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM ensures that providers serve nutritious meals to children and/or disabled adults in Valencia, Bernalillo and Socorro counties.

Victoria Flores 352-3484

NO EXCUSES-COURTS FOR SPORTS PROGRAM in partnership with Los Lunas Magistrate Court provides financial assistance to income qualifying families for all individual youth activities. Lack of resources should never be an excuse to go without.

Edwina Moya 352-3473 (must pick up/submit application at YDI Valencia) Needs to submit sponsor request application with proof of income-1040 tax form and activity application.

FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TOGETHER (FACT) PROGRAM uses an attachment-based curriculum to improve resiliency and reduce risk factors by focusing on the individual child and the family environment. FACT specializes in At Risk families with children from 0 to 5 years of age but can assess and refer others to ensure that our community families have access to the resources and support needed. Let’s work together to make a difference.

Cyndi Manning 352-3479 or 990-9516

Jeff Aragon 352-3480

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION & ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM focuses on reducing underage drinking, DWI, binge drinking and tobacco use. In collaboration with law enforcement, youth and community partners we implement strategies to build coalitions, educate, mobilize and change public policy to improve the quality of life in Valencia County.

• YDI’s Ghostriders-Underage Drinking Prevention & Enforcement Task Force
• YDI’s Junior Ghostriders-Substance Abuse Prevention & Enforcement Youth Coalition (SAPEYC- “Say Peace”)
• FDA Tobacco Advertising and Labeling Enforcement Program
• Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Program

Ambar Chavez 352-3496 (best 459-0460)

What is Teen Court?

YDI-Valencia Teen Court Program is an alternative court where teens are judges and sentenced by a teen jury.  All teen court cases are heard at Thirteenth Judicial District Court house 1835 New Mexico 314  Los Lunas, NM 87031 the first Thursday of each month from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Teen attorneys facilitate court and also prosecute and defend the misdemeanor cases.

Teen Court does not determine guilt or innocence; Teen Court is for sentencing only.  A teen must accept complete responsibility for their offense (s) to be heard in Teen Court.

Teen Court is a way for eligible teens to keep their record clean.  If a teen successfully completes his/her sentence the charges and fines are dismissed.

YDI Valencia Teen Court is a first offenders program that guides youth through the experience of court from sentence compliance to jury panel. Valencia County youth volunteers are also trained as Teen Court Attorneys to represent the first offender clients.

Please contact Devon Caldarera at 505/352-3492 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information on how to volunteer or the referral process.

Referrals accepted from Juvenile Probation Office, Valencia County Magistrate Courts, Valencia County Municipal Courts, Valencia County Schools and more...

Teen Outreach Program is aimed at reducing teen pregnancy by educating middle school students and raising community awareness and strengthening life and leadership skills.

Please contact Devon Caldarera at 505/352-3492 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information on the next TOP recruitment or any other TOP questions.

• YDI's TOP Youth are strongly engaged in service learning activities and currently are working in partnership with the Valencia County Animal Shelter raising funds and community awareness of animal cruelty and it's connection with other risky behaviors that currently plague our communities.

YDI TOP Youth have raised over $1000 for the Valencia County Animal Shelter. Proceeds are used for shelter maintenance and transportation of shelter critters to no-kill shelters.

• YDI TOP Youth also have partnered with Scoutreach in the co-adoption of Ana Becker Park. Let's Make Valencia County beautiful! LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Donation of your time or materials can be arranged with Devon Caldarera.

Medicaid Enrollment Program is designed to enroll children and their families in Medicaid and SCHIP in Valencia.

For Pregnant Women , Children, Families and Individuals

YDI Valencia and First Choice Offer a range of opportunities to get your children on Health Insurance. New Mexico Medicaid provides coverage for Children ages 0-19. You can also apply for Family JUL Insurance, pregnancy related services and prenatal care or Family Planning Services available to women with children or child baring age. Also there is the State Coverage Insurance for individuals ages 19 to 64. Medicare Individuals may qualify to get help paying for Part A and/or Part B premiums.

All services are based on household size and income.

Para Ninos Mujeres Embarazadas , Familias y Individuales

YDI Valencia y First Choice ofrece varias oportunidades para obtener cobertura de salud para sus hijos. Medicaid de Nuevo Mexico ofrece cobertura a ninos de 0-19 anos. (No importa el estado legal del padre para aplicar para sus hijos en Medicaid )

Tambien puede aplicar para servicios para familias de bajos ingresos, o para mujeres embarazadas, cuidado prenatal y servicios de planeo familiar para mujeres con ninos o mayores de 19 anos.  Para individuales de edades de 19 a 64 esta la aseguranza del estado. Individuales con aseguranza Medicare pueden calificar para pagar los premios de la aseguranza.

Estos servicios son disponibles dependiendo la cantidad de miembros en su hogar y sus ingresos.

YDI-Elev8’s full-service community school approach combines high quality educational and youth development practices and partnerships to assure young people are prepared to learn and succeed. Elev8 New Mexico supports five middle schools across three school districts. YDI-Elev8 NM’s focus is on increasing learning time, engaging families, strengthening community and school connections, and coordinating resources with three key components:

“Mi Voz: One Community, Many Voices”, is a YDI after-school program that involves middle school aged youth in all aspects of filmmaking. Subjects include: directing, scripting, acting and operating sound and video equipment. Through a series of lectures and hands on trainings, youth gain important developmental skills in problem solving, critical thinking and work ethic. Other benefits include: improving self-confidence, fostering creativity and teaching a means of expression.

Wise Men & Women Mentorship Program is a school-based, school-year program that helps children and youth, ages 6-14, build strong character, achieve positive self-esteem, and create solutions to their everyday problems with the help of a caring relationship with an adult volunteer mentor.

The Sandoval County Day Reporting Center provides services to juveniles in need of an alternative to detention, a sanction for probation/parole technical violations, graduated sanction placement for probation/parole and Drug Court clients, as well as, placement for Drug Court community services and an alternative placement for suspended or expelled students. Services are available for youth age 12-17. Youth involved with juvenile justice services must be court ordered and referred by their respective probation/parole officer. Sandoval County school entities are the referral source for suspended or expelled youth. Youth can participate in the program for a maximum of 30 days. The program can serve up to 20 youth per day. Program staff include a Certified Teacher and a Youth Care Worker.

For more information call 505-896-1310

Click here to fill out a referral form for YDI’s Behavioral Health Services.  After you complete the form, you can either print and fax it to (505) 877-3533 or click on the "Submit" button at the top of the page to send the form directly to YDI.

The Family Therapy Project uses an effective, practical and problem focused model called Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT). This clinical intervention model has been proven to successfully reduce problem behaviors in children and adolescents while strengthening the family. The program works with children/youth age 6-17 and their families. Brief Strategic Family Therapy is delivered in 8-12 weekly sessions of 1 to 1 1/2 hours each session. The project has an 84% success rate with families.

For more information call 505-212-7405

Click here to fill out a referral form for YDI’s Behavioral Health Services.  After you complete the form, you can either print and fax it to (505) 877-3533 or click on the "Submit" button at the top of the page to send the form directly to YDI.

Amistad Crisis Shelter is a short-term (14-30 days) program that provides residential services to youth, ages 12-17. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and also offers a 24-hour hotline. It offers the following services: crisis intervention, assessment, counseling/therapy, recreational activities, life and social skills training, case management, educational/vocational assistance, job training skills and referral assistance.

Amistad's primary focus is to reunite youth with their families. In cases where reunification is not possible, alternative placement is secured, such as foster care, residential treatment, group home, independent living or placement with other family members. Aftercare services are also available once youth discharge from the program. The program has a 16 bed capacity.

Address:  1706 Centro Familiar SW, Albuquerque NM  87105

For more information please call:  505-877-0371

Click here to fill out a referral form for YDI’s Behavioral Health Services.  After you complete the form, you can either print and fax it to (505) 877-3533 or click on the "Submit" button at the top of the page to send the form directly to YDI.