Clinical Director, New Mexico Access to Behavioral Health for Children
Center for Development and Disability, University of New Mexico
Karen Longenecker, LISW, IMH-E(3) is Clinical Social Worker who is the Clinical Director of the New Mexico Access to Behavioral Health for Children. In this role, Ms Longenecker serves as the Clinical Director for program development and implementation as well as a Subject Matter Expert in early childhood within a larger clinical team. Ms. Longenecker’s experience includes programmatic approaches to improving behavioral health services for high-risk families impacted by trauma and substance use disorder. Her emphasis is on providing integrated, trauma-informed services in a primary care medical setting that supports early childhood development, parent-child relationships, and sustained progress for adults addressing trauma and addiction. Additionally, Ms Longenecker manages the UNM HATCH Program, which provides home visiting services to families who have been impacted by having a baby in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Her teaching and training for the University of New Mexico has focused on early childhood mental health, supporting babies and parents who have experienced Neonatal Opiate Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) and supporting attunement for professionals working with families of young children. She provides state-wide training to early childhood professionals in New Mexico to improve services with families of young children, and is recognized as a national trainer in this area. She has extensive experience in supporting new systems development, integrated behavioral health care, consultation with primary care providers, and medical/clinical social work.