La Clínica del Pueblo de Río Arriba
Strengthening early childhood health in rural communities
La Clínica del Pueblo de Río Arriba has been an essential part of northern New Mexico’s healthcare landscape for more than 50 years. Founded by local community members, the clinic was created to ensure that families living in a rural and remote region could access quality, culturally sensitive healthcare close to home — especially during pregnancy and the earliest years of a child’s life. With the nearest hospital often an hour to an hour and a half away, La Clínica serves as a primary source of care for infants, toddlers, and their caregivers.
The clinic provides comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, emergency, and support services to families facing significant barriers to care, including geographic isolation and high poverty rates. More than 20% of residents in Rio Arriba County live below the poverty line, with poverty disproportionately affecting young children.
To further support families with young children, La Clínica recently launched La Clínica Baby Essentials, a new initiative designed to address the urgent needs of families with infants and toddlers. This program establishes a “baby bank” to provide essential supplies, along with parenting education and infant health screenings. By easing financial and logistical burdens and offering trusted guidance, Baby Essentials helps ensure that children in our community have a healthy, supported start in life.
Through early intervention, preventive care, and long-standing relationships with families, La Clínica remains a cornerstone of early childhood health and family wellbeing in northern New Mexico.
This work is supported by a 2025 grant from the Santa Fe Baby Fund at the Santa Fe Community Foundation, helping La Clínica continue advancing early childhood health and family well-being across northern New Mexico.
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The Santa Fe Community Foundation invited its nonprofit partners to submit stories related to our January topic of Early Childhood & Families.
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