County resource guide
Lea County, New Mexico
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Lea County. New Mexico statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
13 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Carlsbad · multi-county
Carlsbad Medical Center — Pediatric & Behavioral Health
Carlsbad Medical Center is the primary hospital for Eddy County in the Permian Basin. Developmental screenings and behavioral health referrals are available; full autism evaluations typically require referral to UNM Children's Hospital via telehealth or travel to Lubbock, TX (~165 miles east).
Permian Basin oil/gas region. Lubbock TX (Texas Tech UMC Children's) is a common specialist destination for Eddy County families.
Hobbs
Southeastern New Mexico Medical Center — Behavioral Health
Southeastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell serves as a specialist hub accessible to Lea County families. Comprehensive autism evaluations are typically conducted via referral to UNM Children's Hospital or, due to proximity, in Lubbock TX (~90 miles east of Hobbs). The Permian Basin oil economy has improved insurance coverage for some Lea County families.
Lubbock TX (~90 miles from Hobbs) has significantly more specialists than Roswell or Albuquerque for Lea County families. Ask providers about cross-state referrals — Texas Medicaid is different from NM Medicaid.
Albuquerque · multi-county
UNM Health — Telehealth Developmental Pediatrics
UNM Children's Hospital offers telehealth consultations for developmental and autism concerns across rural New Mexico. Chaves County families can access UNMH developmental pediatricians remotely without the 3-hour drive to Albuquerque.
Telehealth available statewide. Ask specifically for developmental pediatrics telehealth when scheduling.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Roswell · multi-county
Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program — Southeast Region
New Mexico's IDEA Part C early intervention program for children birth to three in Chaves County. FIT provides free evaluations, service coordination, speech, OT, and developmental services for families in the Roswell area.
FREE under IDEA Part C. No income requirement. Call to request a free evaluation.
Carlsbad · multi-county
Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program — Southeast Region
New Mexico's IDEA Part C early intervention program covering Eddy County. Free developmental evaluations and home-based services for children birth to three. Service coordinators reach families throughout the county including rural oil-field communities.
FREE under IDEA Part C. No referral needed. Call to request a free evaluation.
Hobbs · multi-county
Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program — Southeast Region
New Mexico's IDEA Part C early intervention program for Lea County. Free evaluations and home-based services for children birth to three in Hobbs, Lovington, and surrounding Permian Basin communities. FIT is often the most accessible early developmental service in southeastern NM.
FREE under IDEA Part C. No referral needed. Lea County FIT can provide local referrals for other services.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Hobbs
Centria Autism — In-Home ABA (Lea County)
In-home ABA therapy for Lea County families through Centria's NM network. Center-based ABA is not locally available in Hobbs or Lovington; in-home delivery is the primary option. Accepts NM Medicaid (Centennial Care). Lubbock TX-based ABA providers may serve Lea County with commercial insurance — confirm when calling.
NM Medicaid covers ABA. Lubbock TX ABA providers may be an option for commercially insured Lea County families. Permian Basin economy means some families have strong commercial coverage.
Carlsbad · multi-county
Centria Autism — Telehealth & In-Home (Eddy County)
In-home and telehealth-supported ABA therapy for Eddy County families through Centria's NM network. BCBA-supervised. Accepts NM Medicaid (Centennial Care) and most commercial insurance for ABA.
NM Medicaid covers ABA. In-home delivery important in this geographically dispersed oil-patch county.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Albuquerque · multi-county
Autism Society of New Mexico
Statewide autism family organization connecting Eddy County families to peer support, resource navigation, and events across New Mexico. Contact them for information about families and resources in the Carlsbad area.
Albuquerque · multi-county
Autism Society of New Mexico
New Mexico's statewide autism family organization providing peer support and resource navigation for Lea County families. The Hobbs/Lovington area's connection to the Permian Basin economy may offer some informal employer-connected resources not found in other rural NM counties.
Statewide virtual support. Lubbock TX autism community resources may also be accessible for Lea County families.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Albuquerque · multi-county
EPICS — Parent Training & Information Center
New Mexico's federally funded PTI center (Empowerment for People in Community Settings) serving Chaves County families. Free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and family support. Bilingual English/Spanish services available.
FREE. Serves all NM counties. Remote/phone advocacy available for rural Chaves County families.
Albuquerque · multi-county
EPICS — Parent Training & Information Center
New Mexico's federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy and special education rights support for Eddy County families. Bilingual English/Spanish services available — important for the significant Hispanic population in the Carlsbad area.
FREE. Bilingual English/Spanish. Remote advocacy available for rural Eddy County families.
Albuquerque · multi-county
EPICS — Parent Training & Information Center
New Mexico's statewide PTI providing free IEP advocacy and special education rights support for Lea County families. Remote and phone advocacy are available — important for this southeastern NM county far from Albuquerque.
FREE. Statewide. Phone/remote advocacy available for Lea County families.
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See all New Mexico resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in New Mexico.
New Mexico state guide →