Conference Program

Day 1, April 23, 2026

Subject to change

  • Ms. Boone will welcome attendees, introduce team, make housekeeping announcements, and introduce first speaker

  • Mr. Reifsteck, the NM Administrative Office of the Courts Director, will share remarks related to AOT implementation and the judiciary’s role.

  • Supreme Court Justice Vargas will identify the need for the symposium, discuss relevant statewide data, and share her vision for the conference outcome.

  • Commissioner Smith will share his experience living with serious mental illness and the impact of AOT on his recovery.

  • Mr. Stettin will draw on 25 years of legislative advocacy, drafting AOT statutes and most recently reducing the impact of severe mental illness on homelessness. 

  • Ms. Johnson will outline the basic elements of an AOT program.

  • Mr. Leuschel and Ms. Pauk will provide an overview of recent legislative changes in NM and discuss how those changes will impact AOT.

  • Ms. Lukes will discuss eligibility criteria, engagement, and treatment non-adherence.

  • Mr. Stettin will review key aspects of court involvement in AOT.

     

Day 2, April 24, 2026

Subject to change

  • Dr. Rosenberg and Judge Stormer will share their perspectives on our nation’s current mental health crisis and discuss how AOT can play a role in addressing it.

  • Dr. Cloud will discuss the intersection of mental illness and criminal competency and propose solutions to the current crisis.

     

  • Ms. Johnson will walk through the building blocks to implement an AOT program.

  • Participants will wrestle with scenarios covering AOT eligibility and treatment adherence, as well as receive an overview of available resources.

  • Discussion of key aspects of local AOT programs.

    Betsy Johnson, facilitator

     Panel :

    • Amy Monica Urquieta; AOT Program Manager, 3rd JD

    • Laura Braun; AOT Program Manager, 2nd JD

    • Alan Ostrovsky; Respondent Attorney

    • Adam Leuschel; Senior AOC Attorney

    • Victor Olvera; Albuquerque PD Detective

    • Michael Aragon; Presiding AOT Judge, 4th JD

PRINTABLE AGENDA

Speakers

Judge Michael Aragon

Judge Michael Aragon has served as District Judge in New Mexico’s Fourth Judicial District since 2021, overseeing both criminal and civil matters in Mora, San Miguel, and Guadalupe counties. Appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, he was subsequently elected to the position in 2022. Before joining the judiciary, Judge Aragon practiced law privately for over two decades as owner of Aragon & Phelps Law Office, with an emphasis on criminal, family, and civil law, and served as a contract public defender. He also represented Mora County as a contract attorney, providing counsel on litigation, governance, and policy issues.

Judge Aragon’s public service includes appointments on the New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission and the Supreme Court Judicial Branch Personnel Grievance Board. He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration from New Mexico Highlands University. Judge Aragon is fluent in Spanish.

Stacey A. Boone

Stacey A. Boone is the Senior Statewide Behavioral Health Manager of the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts. Throughout her career, she has worked to develop and implement programs at the intersection of criminal justice and behavioral health. She has experience working in nonprofit leadership, criminal justice case management, behavioral health case management and court programs focused on behavioral health issues. Boone has participated in many pilot projects advancing the work of behavioral health services and diversion options for those in the criminal justice system. Additionally, she has experience developing and enhancing collaborations with local and statewide partners across multiple agencies. Boone is a national speaker and currently serves as the Secretary of the National Council of State Court Behavioral Health Administrators. Her current focus is on breaking the stigma associated with behavioral health and increasing behavioral health equity for those that are justice involved and their families.

Laura Braun

Laura Braun manages the Albuquerque, New Mexico Assisted Outpatient Treatment program in Bernalillo County, overseeing implementation, outreach, education, and collaboration with community stakeholders. Before joining AOT in 2020, she worked in various mental health roles across case management, inpatient care, foster care, education, and the judicial system.

Braun holds a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies and Psychology from the University of New Mexico and brings over 25 years of mental health experience with adults and adolescents.

Violette Cloud, Ph.D., J.D.

Dr. Violette Cloud works at the intersection of behavioral health and law, with expertise in research, policy, training, clinical practice, and legal advocacy. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and a J.D., and is a licensed attorney in New Mexico. In 2025, she joined the NM SB3 Behavioral Health Reform Initiative Executive Committee as a behavioral health expert. Since 2021, Dr. Cloud has worked at Policy Research Associates, Inc., overseeing technical assistance projects related to best practices and cross-systems collaboration on topics like Competence to Stand Trial, Assisted Outpatient Treatment, and Crisis Response. She also facilitates Sequential Intercept Model mapping workshops.

Betsy Johnson

For over 25 years, Betsy Johnson has worked to remove obstacles to effective treatment for people with serious mental illnesses. She played a key role in passing Ohio’s Assisted Outpatient Treatment law and later joined the Treatment Advocacy Center, where she helped communities across the country establish AOT programs. Currently, she continues this work as a contractor with Lukes & Associates. Johnson holds a political science degree from the University of Houston.

Adam Leuschel, J.D.

Adam Leuschel, J.D. is a Senior Attorney with the Administrative Office of the Courts. His work focuses on supporting the development of court-led behavioral health initiatives, assisting the Facilities team with the leasing and construction of courthouse facilities, and providing guidance to the Court Operations Analysis Team. Leuschel also plays a major role in reviewing and negotiating contracts of all types. Before joining the Administrative Office of the Courts, Adam clerked for the Honorable Jacqueline R. Medina at the New Mexico Court of Appeals. He also represented several different departments at the City of Albuquerque, most notably Albuquerque Community Safety, Albuquerque’s first response department that addresses behavioral health and quality-of-life crises.

Amy Lukes, LICSW

Amy Lukes is an experienced social work professional specializing in community mental health and the supervision of evidence-based, client-centered care. She brings over 10 years of experience providing education and consultation on involuntary outpatient commitment (AOT). Lukes has expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and substance use disorders and has delivered training to national, state, and local audiences. Now semi-retired, she founded Lukes & Associates to continue providing technical assistance to programs serving individuals with severe mental illness.

Victor Olvera

Victor “Vic” Olvera is a Detective with the Albuquerque Police Department assigned to the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU). He has served in law enforcement since 2006. Detective Olvera began his career in patrol and later served as a bicycle officer in the downtown area, where he gained extensive experience working with unhoused individuals and those experiencing mental health disorders. These assignments provided him with a strong foundation in crisis response, de-escalation, and community-based policing.

In his current role, Detective Olvera focuses on behavioral threat assessment, crisis intervention, and collaborative case management involving high-risk individuals. He works closely with multidisciplinary partners to identify risk factors, implement proactive interventions, and enhance public safety while prioritizing mental health considerations.

Alison Pauk

Alison B. Pauk earned her degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management with Highest Honors from New Mexico State University and her J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law. She spent 14 years at the Law Offices of the Public Defender in Albuquerque representing youth in juvenile justice cases and adults in criminal court. In 2021, she joined the Administrative Office of the Courts as Senior Attorney and Court Improvement Program Director, supporting efforts to enhance Children’s Court statewide. Pauk collaborates with the Supreme Court’s Tribal State Judicial Consortium and staffs committees focused on mental health and youth. She is also a Board Member for the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy.

Kenneth Paul Rosenberg, MD

Dr. Kenneth Paul Rosenberg is a psychiatrist, filmmaker, and author focused on mental health advocacy. Raised in Philadelphia and trained in New York City, his career was inspired by his sister's struggle with schizophrenia. Rosenberg has produced award-winning documentaries and books on America's mental health crisis, including "Bedlam," which highlights systemic challenges and the need for reform. His work has earned recognition such as the Peabody Award.

Eric Smith

Eric Smith’s journey with mental health is a testament to his resilience and advocacy. Born with mental health challenges, he faced a crisis point where he believed he was a secret agent threatening his mother’s life. His story is one of hope and recovery, as he navigated through delusions and a lack of insight that led to a crisis. Smith’s journey has been documented in various media, including People magazine, Oprah Daily, and Yahoo! News, highlighting his role as a mental health advocate and public speaker.

Smith’s work includes consulting with families and individuals impacted by serious mental illness, and he has been involved in significant mental health events, such as the 2022 Judicial Summit on Mental Health in Texas and the first-every Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health Summit in 2023. Smith currently serves as a Commissioner on the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health.

Brian Stettin, Esq.

From 2022 to 2026, Brian Stettin was senior advisor on severe mental illness for the New York City Mayor's Office, collaborating with city agencies to develop psychiatric care policies. From 2009 to 2022, he was policy director at the Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC), drafting legislation to improve civil commitment laws and expand access to mental health treatment, and supporting assisted outpatient treatment programs nationwide.

Before TAC, Stettin served as assistant New York state attorney general, drafted “Kendra's Law,” and held counsel roles in state government focused on public health and criminal justice strategies. He graduated from the City College of New York and the University of Texas School of Law.

Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer

Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, a graduate of Davidson College and The University of Akron School of Law, has had a distinguished career as a trailblazing judicial leader in Ohio. Appointed to the Akron Municipal Court in 1990, she pioneered Ohio’s first Municipal Drug Court and Mental Health Specialty Court. Elected to the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in 2004, she introduced Summit County’s first Reentry Court for felons returning from prison. In 2012, she was elected to Summit County Probate Court, where she initiated programs such as mediation, a help desk, and the Senior Visitor and Volunteer Guardian Programs.

In 2016, Judge Stormer launched New Day Court, Ohio’s first court for individuals with severe mental illness, which has become a national model. She has received numerous awards, including the 2022 Thomas J. Moyer Award for Judicial Excellence, for her innovative contributions to judicial practices and mental health reform. Judge Stormer is also active in community service, having served on various boards and created the Curated Courthouse art initiative in partnership with the Summit County Probate Court.

Monica Urquieta

Monica Urquieta coordinates programs in Dona Ana County as part of the Stepping Up initiative, helping people with mental health and substance use issues who are involved with the criminal justice system. She manages several programs, including Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) and RISE, which focus on expanding access to care, building community support, and keeping participants engaged in their treatment.

Urquieta holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and a master’s degree in Psychotherapy. Her approach centers on collaboration, equity, and practical strategies that lead to better outcomes for both individuals and communities. She has also served as a consultant for the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), offering technical assistance to ministries of health and leading trainings for healthcare professionals to bring mental health services into primary care across the U.S.–Mexico border, South America, and Europe.

Driven by her belief that effective systems put people first, Urquieta is dedicated to transforming research and policy into meaningful change.

Chief Justice Julie J. Vargas

Chief Justice Julie J. Vargas was appointed to the New Mexico Supreme Court in December 2020 by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, after serving for four years on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. While serving on the Court of Appeals, Justice Vargas was the co-chair of the Advisory Committee on the Code of Judicial Conduct. Before joining the Court of Appeals, Justice Vargas spent 23 years in private practice representing clients in business and real estate litigation matters. During her years in private practice, she served as co-chair of the State Bar’s Ethics Advisory Committee, and was a member of both the Disciplinary Board, and the Board of Bar Commissioners. Justice Vargas is a 1990 graduate of Brown University, receiving a degree in History and English Literature. She received her J.D. from the University of New Mexico in 1993, where she was an editor of the New Mexico Law Review. She has served on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, volunteered for the Run for the Zoo, and rappelled down a 16-story building to raise money for Special Olympics.