100% Otero’s vision is that all children in Otero County grow up in a safe, supportive environment and become healthy, productive members of society. We use the “100% Community” model developed by the Anna, Age 8 Institute to ensure that all families have access to ten vital services children need to survive and thrive: food, housing, medical/dental care, behavioral health services, transportation, parent supports, early childhood learning, community schools, youth mentoring, and job training.

100% Otero recognizes how these services are interrelated, thus our tagline, “Weaving It All Together.” For example, we know that a parent seeking job training may also need access to transportation and extended-day childcare. Several of our projects have been jointly developed by two or more sectors working together. The 100% Otero transportation and medical/dental teams held two roundtable discussions to address patients’ difficulty getting to and from medical appointments since there are limited transportation options, due in part to reimbursement rates remaining unchanged in over twenty years.

Chaparral Day of Hope - 100% Otero . Image Courtesy of 100% Otero.

Another part of our “big picture” is gathering and disseminating information. A frequent barrier to accessing services is a lack of public awareness about childhood trauma and available local services. Each 100% Otero team member developed a directory of service providers in their sector with contact information, location, hours of operation, eligibility, and cost. These directories are available in printed form and online at the Ten Vital Services website ( https://www.tenvitalservicesnm.org/) which we promote and keep current. We share information about adverse childhood experiences, the consequences and costs in our communities and the good news about what can be done to prevent trauma whenever possible, with groups large or small.

100% Otero’s interventions and experiments assist people of all ages, ethnicity, race, economic level, and sexual orientation. Our activities benefit most those who have the most difficulty accessing needed services: families struggling economically, individuals with substance use issues, residents experiencing homelessness, those affected by racism and discrimination, families living in more remote areas, and people who do not conform to society’s expectations of sexual orientation and gender identity. All will benefit whether or not they have or are children, increasing health equity in Otero County.