Turning research into action to build safer, healthier communities.
Injury and violence are leading causes of hospitalization, disability, and early death in New Mexico. Every day, preventable events, such as motor-vehicle crashes, falls, suicide, child maltreatment, domestic violence, and substance-related injuries impact individuals and families across the state. These harms also affect schools, workplaces, and the overall health and stability of communities.
The University of New Mexico Department of Pediatrics, Division of Prevention and Population Sciences (UNM PPS) partners with other UNM departments and divisions, the New Mexico Department of Health, community coalitions, and statewide networks to advance injury and violence prevention research, evaluation, and community-led prevention. We recognize that injury and violence are not isolated problems, they are linked to broader issues such as poverty, limited access to care, and social isolation. Preventing harm requires upstream, coordinated, and community-driven solutions.
UNM PPS works in several areas to reduce risk, strengthen resilience, improve systems of care, and support environments where all New Mexicans can thrive. Our initiatives include:
The CORE State Injury Prevention Program (CORE SIPP) strengthens New Mexico’s statewide capacity to prevent injury and violence through community partnerships, technical assistance and evaluation. This work brings together local coalitions, state agencies, and cross-sector partners to address shared risk and protective factors across multiple forms of injury and violence with a focus on prevention of motor vehicle crashes, traumatic brain injuries, and adverse childhood experiences. Together, these efforts help shape a coordinated, culturally responsive approach to upstream prevention.
CORE SIPP Reports
Capacity Building Strategic Plan for CORE SIPP (2023)
This plan lays the foundation for strengthening prevention infrastructure across the state, including coalition development, data-sharing systems, and long-term sustainability.
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/54/
CORE State Injury Prevention Program Listening Sessions Report (2025)
This report summarizes community insights on key injury and violence issues, local strengths, and priority prevention needs across New Mexico.
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/74/
New Mexico experiences one of the highest opioid death rates in the country. Preventing these deaths is multifaceted and includes primary prevention (e.g., reducing poverty, reducing drug use, increasing resilience factors, etc.) as well as addressing opioid use disorder through access to effective treatments (e.g., buprenorphine) and rescue medication (e.g., naloxone). With funding from the NM DOH, UNM PPS conducted a research study to determine the extent to which community pharmacies in New Mexico stock the opioid use disorder treatment medication, buprenorphine.
Buprenorphine Access Study (2026)
This report details the study findings regarding access and geographic distribution of the medication among community pharmacies in the state.
UNM PPS is part of the hub team for the violence prevention ECHO which focuses on firearm injury prevention. The curriculum runs twice yearly, in the fall and the spring, and each series has a different focus (e.g., youth violence, intimate partner violence, political and religious violence). The program aims to provide health care providers with the knowledge, evidence-based strategies, and communication skills necessary to more effectively work with patients and families to prevent violence, especially gun violence. For more information, see the project ECHO website here: https://iecho.org/public/program/PRGM169403777489726XA6LZX0H/
Another avenue for getting involved in gun violence prevention in New Mexico is with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence https://newmexicanstopreventgunviolence.org/
UNM PPS is part of the Child Health Grand Challenge, a multidisciplinary effort to reduce and address child maltreatment in New Mexico. This effort focuses on multiple aspects of child maltreatment prevention including improved data collection, better understanding of protective factors, and interventions to promote play, encourage early childhood home visiting, and discourage corporal punishment as discipline. Different principal investigators lead different research studies under this umbrella, all with a common goal of improving the lives and wellbeing of children in New Mexico. More information about the Child Health Grand Challenge can be found here: https://grandchallenges.unm.edu/childhealth.html
A recent publication examining violent child deaths in New Mexico can be found here:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10775595261465668
Sexual violence prevention in New Mexico is grounded in long-standing partnerships, data-driven strategies, and statewide planning efforts. These reports collectively highlight the need for accessible prevention programs, culturally responsive approaches, and coordinated systems that support safe, respectful environments for all New Mexicans.
Sexual Violence Prevention Reports
New Mexico Sexual Assault Needs Assessment (2024)
This report identifies gaps, workforce needs, and opportunities for strengthening statewide prevention systems.
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/59/
Sexual Violence Free New Mexico: Statewide Strategic Plan (2015–2020)
This plan provides the original prevention roadmap for the state, focused on primary prevention, collaboration, and community engagement.
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/12/
Sexual Violence Among New Mexicans Living with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (2019)
This report highlights the need for inclusion, accessibility, and specialized prevention strategies for people with disabilities.
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/38/
Domestic and intimate partner violence are major public health challenges in New Mexico. Prevention requires trauma-informed systems, strong interagency partnerships, and community-driven strategies that reflect survivor experiences. The following reports document the evolution of statewide needs, challenges, and opportunities for systems improvement.
Domestic Violence / IPV Reports
Survivor Perspectives Needs Assessment (2023)
This report centers survivors’ experiences and identifies opportunities for trauma-informed system improvement.
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/55/
New Mexico Domestic Violence Needs Assessment (2021)
This needs assessment includes a statewide analysis of service access, workforce capacity, and system coordination.
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/45/
Family and Community Impacts of Domestic Violence (2020)
This report documents community-level and family-level impacts of domestic violence across New Mexico.
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/41/
Domestic Violence Systems Strengthening Framework (2019)
This document outlines strategies to strengthen system coordination and improve cross-agency response.
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/37/
Infant safe sleep work in New Mexico focuses on understanding cultural norms, caregiver beliefs, and the real-life barriers families experience. The findings help shape safe sleep messaging, education, and training that supports caregivers in ways that are respectful, practical, and culturally grounded.
Infant Safe Sleep Focus Group Report (2024)
Explores caregiver beliefs, cultural practices, barriers, and realistic approaches to supporting safe sleep among families at elevated risk of SUID.
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/20/