Bernalillo County CARE campus "Peer Living Room" program wins national award

Walking into the south entrance of the Bernalillo County CARE Campus on Wednesday morning, one could hear the faint sound of a television.

The source of the noise was coming from a room off to the left of the front desk. Inside the room, two men were sitting on separate couches, quietly sipping their drinks and watching TV. Behind them, another man was checking his emails on a computer.

This is a typical scene during most days at the Adán Carriaga Living Room Center.

Named after the longtime Albuquerque community and behavioral health leader, this living room space launched in October 2022 with the goal of providing a safe, clean and welcoming environment for those in need. Modeled after similar programs around the country, the room includes couches, a television, computer and phone for people to use free of charge. Several certified peer support counselors are available for consultation at any time. Refreshments are available, as well as pet food and a water bowl for anyone who brings an animal.

The people walking into the living room may just be looking for a safe place to relax and rest or might be dealing with a substance abuse or mental health issue. Staff also assists with crisis intervention, peer councilor support and referrals for emergency housing, health care, food and mental health services.

“(The Living Room) is really about building trust with clients,” said Jessica Jaramillo-Salazar, Bernalillo County behavioral health director. “Every time they visit and we learn something new about them or learn what they may need, we build that trust.”

The Living Room is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition to the safe space and amenities, it continually is staffed by several certified peer support workers. These peer workers all share similar life experiences to some who walk through the Living Room’s doors.

One of those certified peer support workers is Rosia Bias, who said having a person who can relate to the issues of substance abuse or mental health helps build a connection with that client faster and may even open them up to the idea of seeking help.

“(The client) knowing that it’s not coming from a clinical book, we’ve actually lived it, shows them there’s a brighter light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “Some people don’t have support from family or friends and if you’re feeling like you want to get clean, this could be the only place that we capture that one time they’re thinking about getting sober.”

Fellow certified peer support worker Victoria Gurule echoed Bias’ point.

“We know the struggles, and that gives us more room to work with them on that level,” she said.

The program was awarded the 2024 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties, a noncompetitive honor that recognizes innovative county programs from around the nation.

Jaramillo-Salazar said she was overjoyed to see this program getting recognized on a national level, “because all the work we’re doing is showing that we’re doing a good job and doing something right in our community.”

Jaramillo-Salazar was quick, however, to deflect the praise for winning the award to the certified peer support workers, calling them the real “superstars” of the program. For Gurule, the award signals much more than just the work she and her colleagues are doing.

“Sometimes this job isn’t easy, but it’s extremely rewarding to help someone see the potential in themselves that we see and help them to believe in themselves,” she said. “To walk with them through that journey and help them see what they could do is amazing.”