Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they
are used for other purposes.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR
Torres-Velásquez/Thomson/Hochman-
Vigil
/Romero, GA.
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 3/18/2025
SHORT TITLE
Study Autobiographical Storytelling
Treatment
BILL
NUMBER
House Memorial
61
ANALYST Mercer-Garcia
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT*
(dollars in thousands)
Agency/Program
FY25 FY26 FY27
3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
CYFD
Indeterminate
but minimal
Indeterminate
but minimal
Indeterminate
but minimal
Indeterminate
but minimal
Recurring General Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Relates to House Bill 345
Sources of Information
LFC Files
National Institutes of Health
Agency Analysis was Solicited but Not Received From
Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) Health Care Authority (HCA)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of House Memorial 61
House Memorial 61 notes the role that autobiographical storytelling or narrative therapy can play
as a trauma-informed strategy and requests the Children, Youth and Families Department
collaborate with speech language-pathologists and licensed behavioral mental health care
providers familiar with trauma and trauma-informed practices to provide language development
training and workshops for families and caseworkers. The memorial also requests the agency
assist children in developing autobiographical stories and designed experiences for families that
use autobiographical storytelling to process traumatic events.
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the
Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The memorial does not contain an appropriation. CYFD could likely absorb additional costs
associated with delivering the training and workshops for families within the existing Behavioral
Health Services Division budget, as actual expenditures in FY24 totaled $46 million and were
roughly $3.7 million below budgeted levels. House Memorial 61 – Page 2
In addition, CYFD received a Government Results and Opportunity appropriation totaling $1.5
million during the 2024 Legislative session to provide trauma-informed training to staff and
foster families. This appropriation is available through FY27 and has no reported expenditures to
date. These funds could also be used to implement the trauma-informed approach proposed in
the memorial.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The Behavioral Health Services Division is responsible for providing coordination and
management of behavioral health policy, programs, and services for all children in New Mexico,
not just the children who are in foster care. The majority of behavioral health services for
children in New Mexico are paid for through Medicaid, which is administered by the Health
Care Authority.
The National Institute of Health notes clinicians working with families who have been impacted
by trauma can use family storytelling to aid healing. The American Psychological Association
reports Narrative Exposure Therapy, a form of psychotherapy, is a treatment for complex and
multiple forms of trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder. While the memorial does not
specify a specific form of psychotherapy, it requests CYFD work with clinicians to provide
opportunities for children and families to process trauma through autobiographical storytelling.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
CYFD has experienced challenges with hiring clinicians and other positions within the agency,
as noted in the fiscal implications section. The bill would request CYFD to provide new and
additional children’s behavioral health services, which could be inhibited by capacity constraints
within the agency.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Relates to House Bill 345, which would require CYFD to provide the Child and Adolescent
needs and Strengths (CANS) trauma assessment within 45 days of placing a child into foster
care.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The memorial does not outline a timeline by which CYFD should initiate and complete requested
activities or any request for outcome reporting.
RMG/hj