A brief history of the New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care:

• On January 26, 1999, a SBHC Advisory Group was formed. Jane McGrath stated that the goals of the meeting were for those working in the field to get to know each other, identify issues facing SBHCs, prioritize and set up workgroups to address those issues, and to start a local chapter of the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care. Priorities were agreed upon: funding streams, policies and procedures, services, evaluation, role of the DOH/Office of School Health, SBHC and school integration, male involvement, advocacy, education, and technical assistance. Subcommittees were formed at that first meeting. They were: advocacy, funding, and policies and procedures.

• June 1999, bylaws were voted on, the process of the election of officers was formulated, and a Native-American Committee was started in order to represent many needs and sites. The first formal slate of officers in 2000 was Susan Brower, president; Lynette Summers, president-elect; Celeste Franklin, treasurer; Maria Duran, secretary. The first annual meeting was held on March 7, 2000. Upon resignation of Susan Brower, Sue Gowing took over the presidency.
  
  
•  December 15, 2000, NMASBHC became an official chapter of NASBHC.
  
  
• In 2003, the first newsletter was published with a circulation of 96 copies, and the first annual meeting in conjunction with the Head-to-Toe conference was held on April 16, 2003.
  
  
• In 2004, at the annual meeting on April 14, the officers were elected: Nissa Patterson, president;  Maria Duran, president-elect; Connie Kane, secretary; Susan Udall, Treasurer; Dr. Susie Johns, NW Rep;  Candice Bush, NE Rep; Teresa Munoz, SE Rep; Connie Creswell, SW Rep; and Deb Hart, Albuquerque Rep.
  
  
• August 2004, NMASBHC was selected as a W.K. Kellogg Foundation School-Based Health Care Policy Project grantee.
  
  
• December 2004, the first executive director of the NMASBHC was hired — Howard Spiegelman.
  
  
• April 2006, the Board was expanded at an election at the annual meeting. In addition to the executive committee, five additional members were added to the Board.
  
  
• August 2006, NMASBHC hired its first part-time staff person — Nissa Patterson — as well as a full-time 4 Youth Program Manager. 
  
  
• February 2007, NMASBHC hired a deputy director — Debbie Birkhauser.
  
  
• April 2007, at the annual meeting, the bylaws were amended to reflect that the term for all Board members is one year, running July 1 to June 30.  An amendment was also approved by the members to allow two of the six at-large Board members to be appointed by the Board.  The remaining four members will be elected by the membership.