Albuquerque opened New Mexico’s first Trauma Recovery Center on Sunday, creating a centralized hub for violence intervention and trauma-informed services that city officials say represents a new approach to public safety.
The facility, operated by the city’s Albuquerque Community Safety Department, serves as headquarters for the Violence Intervention Program division and offers services including peer support, trauma-informed therapy and case management under one roof.
“The Trauma Recovery Center isn’t just a facility, it’s a promise to survivors of violence that they are not alone,” Mayor Tim Keller said in a press release. “We’re building a new model for care and safety, one that doesn’t rely on outdated systems but instead puts healing, connection, and community first.”
The center houses six specialized teams focusing on violence intervention in schools, hospitals and the community, along with youth programs and opioid education. The teams work with police units, fire department programs and community partners to provide what officials call “wraparound care.”
ACS Director Jodie Esquibel said the center fills a gap in services for people impacted by violence, trauma and substance use who have been “historically overlooked.”
“Our VIP teams are doing work that changes lives every day, and now they finally have a home that reflects the depth and purpose of that mission,” Esquibel said.
The center accepts referrals from police, fire rescue, community partners and ACS field responders, with emergency support available through direct coordination between supervisors and program leadership.
City Councilor Nichole Rogers and State Rep. Pamelya Herndon joined Keller and community leaders at the opening ceremony.
More information about the center and its services is available at cabq.gov/vip.