About Local Collaborative 8

Local Collaboratives (LCs) were established in 2005 by the Interagency Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative to serve specific geographic areas or populations aligned with New Mexico’s judicial districts. There are 13 judicial districts across six regional areas in New Mexico, along with recognized LCs representing Native American communities, tribes, and pueblos.

The purpose of forming and recognizing LCs is rooted in values such as building on local strengths, promoting cultural competence, delivering individualized and community-based services, and supporting family- and consumer-directed care. LCs are designed to address the full spectrum of behavioral health needs across all age groups, offering integrated systems of services and supports.

Local Collaboratives play a critical role in ensuring that changes made at the state level reflect the needs and voices of New Mexico’s diverse communities. By organizing well-informed local participants, LCs advocate effectively for culturally responsive and community-driven solutions (LC Guidelines, 2005).

LCs focus on addressing the behavioral and mental health needs of their communities. Membership should reflect the diversity of the population, with particular attention to cultural and ethnic representation, as well as the unique needs of frontier, rural, and urban communities, and Native American tribes. Everyone has a voice.

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Dr. Trinidad De Jesus Arguello,

PhD, LCSW, PMH-RN-BC, CCBT

Latina Scholar | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse | Advocate for Equity and Justice

Dr. Trinidad De Jesus Arguello is a distinguished Latina professional, educator, and clinician with over four decades of leadership and service in mental health, psychiatric nursing, social work, and community advocacy. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Spanish Harlem, New York City, Dr. Arguello’s lived experiences as a woman of color have profoundly shaped her commitment to addressing racial inequality, systemic injustice, and the social determinants impacting underserved ethnic minority communities.

Her career has spanned psychiatric nursing, social work, academia, and community-based clinical leadership, always rooted in the core belief that everyone deserves access to equitable, culturally competent care and representation. As a long-standing advocate for systemic change, Dr. Arguello has contributed to local, state, and federal efforts to dismantle racism and uplift the voices of those historically excluded from social welfare and health systems.

Dr. Arguello is an active member of the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) and currently serves as Chairperson of Local Collaborative 8, which supports behavioral health systems across Taos, Colfax, and Union Counties. She is also a gubernatorial appointee on both the New Mexico Behavioral Health Planning Council and the New Mexico Commission on Disability, where she serves as Vice Chair.

Academic & Clinical Credentials

  • PhD in Social Work, University of Utah

  • MSW, New Mexico Highlands University

  • BA in Psychology, University of Washington

  • Associate of Arts in Nursing, University of Albuquerque

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

  • Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Registered Nurse (PMH-RN-BC)

  • Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CCBT)

Leadership & Community Impact

Dr. Arguello’s extensive leadership includes clinical directorships, program development, policy consultation, and forensic mental health services. She has worked with state and tribal health systems, correctional facilities, domestic violence programs, and aging services. Notable positions include:

  • Founder & Administrator, Compostela Community Family Cultural Institute (2014–Present)

  • Board of Directors, Holy Cross Medical Center (2017–Present)

  • Mental Health Evaluator, Taos County Detention Center & 8th Judicial District Court (2017–Present)

  • Chairperson, Domestic Violence Task Force – Taos County (1995–1998)

  • Program Director, ACT Program – Tri-County Community Services (2008–2015)

  • Clinical Supervisor & Coordinator, multiple outpatient mental health services in Utah, California, and New Mexico

Academic Appointments

Dr. Arguello has held faculty roles across multiple universities, mentoring the next generation of social workers and nurses:

  • Adjunct Professor, University of Utah, College of Nursing & School of Social Work

  • Adjunct Faculty, San Jose State University, College of Social Work

  • Adjunct Instructor, New Mexico Highlands University, School of Social Work

  • Guest Lecturer, University of New Mexico – Taos & Northern New Mexico College

Publications & Presentations

Dr. Arguello has published widely on topics related to domestic violence, social work administration, and cultural identity, including:

  • "Mrs. Walter": A Case Study, Delivering Human Services, Hangman Press, 1986

  • Book Reviews, including works by Irene Blea and Albert R. Roberts

  • Co-Author, Administrative Supervision: A Brief Guide for Supervision in Social Services, Sage Press, 2010

She has also presented at numerous conferences nationwide, including the NASW, Council on Social Work Education, and regional events on migrant health and domestic violence intervention.

Ongoing Commitments

  • Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Member, 8th Judicial District

  • Stakeholder Member, SAMHSA ISMICC (2020–2025)

  • Statewide Trainer, Community Healthcare Training (2018–Present)

Dr. Arguello continues to be a fierce advocate for justice and community well-being through every role she holds. Her life's work has been dedicated to promoting equitable systems of care, empowering future scholars, and uplifting marginalized voices in New Mexico and beyond.