SANTA FE – New Mexico has been selected to receive $100,000 from the National Community Care Corps to strengthen senior services in rural areas of the state. 

New Mexico's Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) is one of 23 organizations chosen from a pool of 122 national applicants to receive funding. Grant recipients were determined through a highly competitive process that prioritized innovation, community need, and a commitment to serving diverse and underserved populations. 

The Community Care Corps is a nationwide collaboration between the Administration for Community Living, The Oasis Institute, Caregiver Action Network and USAging. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham played a key role in the program's early development, sponsoring both the National Care Corps Act and the Care Corps Demonstration Act, which helped secure the initial federal funding. 

The goal of the Community Care Corps is to fund creative local initiatives that engage volunteers in supporting family caregivers, older adults, and individuals with disabilities through nonmedical services. 

"Transportation is often a barrier to accessing services and maintaining independence, especially for those in our more rural areas," said Emily Kaltenbach, ALTSD Cabinet Secretary. "We are thrilled to be selected and look forward to utilizing this funding to help meet the needs of our older adults." 

The grant period runs from April 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. During this time, ALTSD will work with the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging to expand a volunteer driver and chore service program serving rural seniors who are transitioning from a long-term care facility back into a community setting. Through this program, a network of trained volunteers will provide transportation, chore and companionship services for seniors in their community to help combat isolation and assist aging in place. 

 For more information about the Community Care Corps, visit www.communitycarecorps.org.