LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE

The duties and responsibilities of the ACQ includes, but are not limited to the following:

a. Conduct meetings every other month and listening sessions every alternate month.

b. Advise and assist the HCA in reviewing outcomes regarding the quality assurance system for people with I/DD and their support networks.

c. Provide information and feedback about service availability and current needs with regard to people with I/DD and their support networks.

d. Participate in any statewide assessment and evaluation processes.

e. Recommend priorities for the development, modification, and expansion of services to meet the needs of people with I/DD.

f. Advise and assist the HCA in planning for services to people with I/DD.

g. Promote collaboration efforts among state agencies and community-based programs serving people with I/DD.

h. Advocate for systems change to improve on the quality of services addressing the specialized and individual needs of people with I/DD.

i. Advise the HCA on policy changes and policy development; and

j. Review and/or provide feedback on any policy changes affecting waiver recipients or Council membership. This includes the biennial (every odd year) rate studies, standards changes, annual workforce data collection, changes to the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC), and other changes to services.

Please see the Advisory Council on Quality By-Laws to learn more.

Here is a link to the ACQ Board Member Orientation Presentation

The ACQ meets every other month, and at other times as deemed necessary by the Division Director and/or ACQ co-chairs. The current meeting schedule appears below. The meetings are held at the Center for Development & Disability or virtually via Zoom.

• ACQ Meeting Agenda: 12/11/2025
• ACQ Meeting Agenda: 10/09/2025
• ACQ Meeting Notes: 10/09/2025
  
• ACQ Meeting Agenda: 08/14/2025
• ACQ Meeting Notes: 08/14/2025
• ACQ Meeting Agenda: 07/10/2025
• ACQ Meeting Notes: 07/10/2025
• ACQ Meeting Agenda: 04/10/2025
• ACQ Meeting Notes: 04/10/2025
• ACQ Meeting Agenda: 02/20/2025
• ACQ Meeting Notes: 02/20/2025

The Advisory Council shall consist of a minimum of fifteen (15) voting members with a maximum of thirty-six (36) members and have seventeen be either family members or individuals with disabilities. Over 50% of the ACQ shall consist of individuals with disabilities and family members. The following membership categories represent the maximum number of members for each category.

• Fifteen (15) People with I/DD and members of their families – Individuals with a diagnosis, either in childhood or adulthood, of an intellectual or developmental disability or family members or family guardians (i.e., not corporate guardian) of that individual. One member shall receive services at an Intermediate Care Facility/IDD.
• Three (3) Direct Support Professionals – Individuals who work hands-on directly with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are NOT therapists, consultants, family members or case managers.
• Ten (10) Providers of Services – Service professionals NOT covered by the direct care staff category including case managers, consultants, therapists, corporate guardians, and other providers to individuals with I/DD. The following categories are required: At least one case manager, one therapist, one behavior support consultant and one representative of an Intermediate Care Facility/IDD.
• Two (2) Self Advocacy Organizations and networks – Organizations or networks where the majority of the membership includes individuals with disabilities and the primary goal is to advocate for the needs and wants of individuals with I/DD.
• Three (3) Advocacy Organizations and networks – Organizations who do NOT provide services to people with disabilities and whose primary goal is to represent the interests of people with I/DD and their family members either as individuals or as a group of individuals.
• One (1) designee of the Family Infant Toddler Interagency Coordinating Council as appointed by the membership of the Family Infant Toddler Interagency Coordinating Council;
• One (1) designee of the Mi Via Advisory Committee as appointed by the membership of the Mi Via Advisory Committee; and
• One (1) designee of the Medically Fragile Waiver Family Advisory Board as appointed by the membership of the committee Medically Fragile Waiver Family Advisory Board.
• Members are required each year to sign a statement listing all potential conflicts of interest (i.e., financial interest in providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities).

To submit an application for membership, please complete the following attachments and return them along with a current resume to: Kelley Harvey,  ACQ Administrator at kbethharvey@gmail.com

For assistance in completing these forms contact: Kelley Harvey,  ACQ Administrator at kbethharvey@gmail.com

• ACQ Membership Application
• ACQ Authorization Form for Release of Information

There shall be eight (8) standing committees: The Executive Committee, the Policy and Quality Committee, the Nominating Committee, the By-Laws Committee, the Mi Via Advisory Committee, ACQ Mi-Via Vendor Stakeholder Committee, the Family Advisory Board, Residential Services for Children and Youth and other sub-committees or workgroups as determined by the Advisory Council membership.

• Executive Committee: shall be responsible for developing the agenda for the ACQ’s bi-monthly meetings and shall be composed of the Co-Chairs, the Co-Chairs-elect (if applicable), the Division Director or designee, and two (2) members from the Advisory Council at-large. Executive Committee members must all be Advisory Council members and shall meet at the call of the co-chairs. This Committee will meet with the Division Director or designee at least two (2) weeks prior to regularly scheduled bi-monthly meetings. Executive Committee members will be recruited from and voted on by ACQ Board members.
• The Policy and Quality Committee: shall function as the policy developing and information review agent for the full Advisory Council.
• The Nominating Committee: shall manage the recruitment and election of members and officers of the Advisory Council, Family Infant Toddler Interagency Coordinating Council: shall provide guidance and assistance for the Family Infant Toddler Program of the Early Childhood Education and
• The By-Laws Committee: shall review the by-laws as needed, make recommendations for changes, and the By-Laws Committee will meet at least once every other year to review the by-laws.
• The Mi Via Advisory Committee: shall provide guidance and assistance to reinforce the Mi Via philosophy of self-direction; and ongoing evaluation and improvement of the Mi Via Waiver.
• The Mi Via Vendor Stakeholder Committee: shall provide vendors with timely information about the Mi Via program and allow input on the program by vendors and related stakeholders.
• The Family Advisory Board: shall provide guidance and assistance for the Medically Fragile Waiver by working collaboratively with families and professionals.
• Residential Services for Children and Youth: Advocate for New Mexico to add community based residential services for children and youth with ASD, IDD, and serious problem behavior as a service under the current Developmental Disabilities Waiver benefit package.
• Sub-committees or workgroups shall be created at the discretion of the Division Director or designee or the Advisory Council Co-Chairs. Membership may include non-Advisory Council members. These subcommittees and workgroups shall report to the Advisory Council as a whole.

Kelley Harvey

ACQ Administrator

Email: kbethharvey@gmail.com

Siri Guru Nam Khalsa

ACQ Co-Chair

Email:  sirigurunamkaur@hotmail.com

Tracy Perry

ACQ Co-Chair

Email: tracy@directtherapyservices.com