You Can Make A Difference

Yes!  I would like to support La Buena Vida, Inc.  La Buena Vida, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) outpatient behavioral healthcare organization with offices in Bernalillo and Los Lunas, New Mexico.

Please make your tax deduction donations to:   

La Buena Vida, Inc.
PO Box 1147
Bernalillo, New Mexico 87004

Name: __________________________________ 

Address: _________________________________

Phone:   _________________________________

_$25     _$50     _$100     _Other $_________                           Thank You!

Are you looking for a way of giving to the community?  Are you looking for a source of lifetime income?  Are you looking for ways to combat ever-increasing taxes?  If you said yes to these questions, Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) are destined for you.

Want to make something simple, quick and tastes wonderful?  Try a recipe from our collection.  With contributions from our staff and friends, La Buena Vida, Inc. has published a cookbook with over 200 recipes. Our Cookbook has a laminated cover to eliminate those pesky stains from a wet counter and each recipe is completely printed on one page for easy use. There is information about substituting ingredients, fat and sodium content of foods and even guidelines for feeding large groups, incase everyone is coming to your home for the Holidays. 

Sandoval County is a large and demographic diverse community.   It contains 3,714 square miles of mountains, mesas, high desert plan and several rivers, including the Rio Grande.  There are six incorporated municipalities within the county (Bernalillo, Corrales, Cuba, Jemez Springs, Rio Rancho, and San Ysidro), whole or major portions of seven Indian Pueblos (Cochiti, Jemez, San Felipe, Sandia, Santa Ana, Santa Domingo, and Zia), the eastern-most fringe of the Navajo Nation (Counselor, Ojo Encino, and Torreon), and a variety of smaller incorporated communities.

Sandoval County is also one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse counties in New Mexico.  There are six different languages spoken, including Spanish, Navajo, Tewa, Towa, Keresan, and English, accompanied by a rich array of cultural practices and traditions. According to the 2000 U.S. Census , the white population (non-Hispanic) was at 50.3%, the Hispanic population at 29.4% which is up 2.49% from the 1990 U.S. Census.  The Native American population shows a decrease of 3.4% from 1990 to 2000.  This trend is primarily due to the growth of Rio Rancho where the majority population is White, non-Hispanic.

While Sandoval County has concentrated areas of middle and upper income persons and families (e.g., Rio Rancho, Corrales, Placitas), the more rural parts of the county experience a high degree of poverty.  According to the 2000 US.  Census, 12.1% of persons living in Sandoval County are below the federal poverty level and 37.9% were below 200% of the federal poverty level – an indication of the percentage of  “working poor” or persons with low-paying jobs.

The percentage of single women who are heads of households is also a measure of poverty.  In Sandoval County, this percentage is particularly high in rural communities, again indicating the higher levels of poverty in the rural areas of the county.  According to the 2000 US Census, the percentage of families in Sandoval County who are headed by single women is 14.4% of the total households.  The Native American Pueblo communities experienced even higher percentages; 37.7% at San Felipe, 37.5% at Jemez and 32.9% at Santa Domingo.  (NOTE:  the percentages for the Pueblos are probably over-represented as many women who have Native American partners claim single parent status to keep BIA/IHS benefits for themselves and their children. )  The county’s Medicaid-eligible individuals continually increase each year.  According to the New Mexico Human Service Department’s monthly statistical report for October 2003, the Medicaid eligibles for Sandoval County stood at 17,536.  In 1997 Medicaid eligibles for Sandoval County stood at 8,382.

Additionally, La Buena Vida, Inc. has successfully conducted adult community correction programs in Sandoval, and Valencia Counties.  These programs began operation in July 2001 and continue today.  The agency has contracts with both State and Federal Probation for these services.