FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Allen Sánchez | Allen.Sanchez@CommonSpirit.org | (505) 319-3334 

CommonSpirit St. Joseph’s Children Board of Directors Announces Dedication of their New Sobriety Program

Albuquerque, New Mexico – September 7th, 2025 – CommonSpirit St. Joseph’s Children, a leader in promoting community health via home visiting, research and advocacy, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking new sobriety and recovery program centering parents and guardians of young children. Recognizing the epidemic of alcohol and drug addiction in New Mexico, the Board of Directors of CommonSpirit St. Joseph’s Children made the decision to deliver services for those addicted to alcohol and drugs.  

“The Board of Directors heard the call of so many people who have found themselves in the vulnerable position of addiction and created a new goal: To ensure that the residents of New Mexico have access to recovery treatment and support for alcohol and drug addiction in order to reach the sobriety necessary to sustain mental health, physical health, and spiritual growth so they may achieve income, housing, and food security.” – Allen Sánchez, President and Mission Leader of CommonSpirit St. Joseph’s Children

This much needed solution is poised to transform substance abuse treatment by providing intensive universal access outpatient treatment at no cost to families in the Albuquerque area. St. Joseph’s Sobriety Program addresses a critical need in the state for behavioral health services given the state’s leading cause of maternal death is due to mental health and substance abuse and the high rates of substance use disorders and its devastating impact on young children. 

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham states, “St. Joseph’s Children’s new sobriety program aims to address our most pressing public health challenge while helping to keep families together. When we invest in recovery with compassion and wraparound services, we support stronger, healthier communities statewide.” 

John Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, continues the sentiment stating, “The opening of the St. Joseph’s Sobriety Program is a great gift to our community here in Albuquerque. We desperately need a treatment program for those who are trapped in the vicious cycle of addiction. This new program is a real godsend and it will be a game changer for so many of our fellow citizens. Thank you to the good folks at CommonSpirit St. Joseph’s Children for supporting us once again in bringing wellness to our community.” 

New Mexico Speaker of the House Javier Martínez states, “I’m grateful to CommonSpirit St. Joseph’s Children for stepping up and providing this much needed support for families struggling with addiction. This organization, once again, is showing the path forward – a selfless commitment to our most vulnerable, whether it’s children through their world class home visitation program, or now for adults struggling with substance use disorders.”

State Senator Linda Lopez shares, “I am grateful for the commitment of CommonSpirit St. Joseph’s Children to offer hope and support for the women in our community who are in need of services to change their addiction. Letting participants know they are not alone will go a long way in their journey to feel safe, build trust and have faith in themselves.” 

St. Joseph’s Sobriety Program counseling staff has been hired and trained, and is now prepared to combine the best of science, heart, and community by: 

• building motivation and real-life rewards for sobriety
• offering safe, compassionate, no-shame services
• helping parents bond and grow with their children
• healing through shared experience and connection
• offering optional, spiritual, community-based healing

Participants’ Journey to Healing Starts with St. Joseph’s Sobriety Program. They offer a 12-month outpatient experience designed for parents and caregivers ready to reclaim their lives from substance abuse.   Beginning with an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), patients receive trauma-informed care, parenting support, and holistic services all centered on rebuilding family, stability, and wellness.  

St. Joseph’s Sobriety Program offers:

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

• 12-week core recovery track
• 1 year aftercare track
• 3 clinical groups/week plus 1-to-1 counseling
• Parenting and peer-led support
• Support with childcare and transportation

Family-Focused Recovery

• Parenting curriculum manual
• Family reunification support
• Monthly family days

Wraparound and Holistic Services

• Housing and legal navigation
• Food, clothing, and transportation assistance
• Yoga, mindfulness, and expressive arts
• Connection to home visiting and mental health services

Peer and 12-Step Support

• Weekly and peer-led groups
• Optional AA/Al-Anon meetings
• Crisis and re-entry support

St. Joseph’s Sobriety Program officially opens on September 2nd, 2025, coinciding with the start of Recovery Month! 

Leveraging the proven success of CommonSpirit St. Joseph’s Children’s home visiting program, which supports over 4,000 families, and their advocacy efforts resulting in the Early Childhood Education Amendment, we are uniquely equipped to guide pregnant women and mothers through their journey of addiction recovery.

Both our Early Childhood programs and the new Sobriety Program, which offers universal access to treatment, are entirely supported by private funds, ensuring no cost to participants.

Media Contact:

Allen Sánchez | Allen.Sanchez@CommonSpirit.org | (505) 319-3334 

St. Joseph’s Sobriety Program CONTACT: 

Office Phone: 505-924-8000 

Program Address: 1516 5th Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

CommonSpirit St. Joseph’s Children

Office Phone: 505-924-8000 

Program Address: 1516 5th Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

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