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Welcome to
the e-Voices MONDAY MINUTE, your weekly email newsletter from New
Mexico Voices for Children. Please take a minute to add your voice
to the pressing issues of the day. Also, tell us what issues you'd like
to know more about so we can tailor the MONDAY MINUTE to your interests.
Thanks! July 31, 2006
At any given time, more than a hundred New Mexico children are in need of a "forever family." A forever family is one that adopts a child who, for a variety of reasons, is no longer in the care of their biological family. One of the more creative ways the state's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) "introduces" available children to potential parents is through their Heart Gallery. Beginning this Saturday, the Heart Gallery will display portraits of 50 children. The portraits are taken or painted by local artists who donate their talents and time getting to know each child. The results are portraits with much more heart - not to mention personality - than the standard snapshot.
A Healthy Victory Access to health care is one of the most worrisome issues facing Americans. Since Congress will not address the issue, it's been up to the states. To that end, Governor Richardson recently announced a five-point plan for expanding health care for New Mexico's children and families. Among the points were two that we, as part of the Medicaid coalition, championed - funding for a study to determine the best possible universal health plan for every New Mexican and expanding Medicaid to cover more people.
Your Two Cents on Two Issues Unfortunately, this good news on Medicaid does not fix a major problem that looms on the horizon, which threatens to kick thousands of eligible New Mexican children off the rolls. Last year, Congress tightened up the proof-of-citizenship requirements for Medicaid recipients. They did so as a misguided attempt to keep undocumented immigrants from receiving Medicaid - despite the fact that the U.S. Health and Human Services Department had already concluded that very few did. The upshot for parents is that they must now produce an original birth certificate or passport for their Medicaid-eligible children. This places one more unnecessary stumbling block between children and medical care. Because of the overwhelming burden this places on our state, the new rules won't go into effect until the first of the year. But, until August 11th, you have an opportunity to offer input.
The second issue refers to the New Mexico Children's Code - specifically, NMSA 1978 § 32A-1-1 et seq. In English, that's the Children's Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Article. The New Mexico Council on Crime and Delinquency (NMCCD) has reviewed the Code and has come up with amendments they'd like the 2007 Legislature to consider. Before then, they'd like your input on them (the amendments not the Legislature). We realize that unless you're a lawyer or someone who has or works with children affected by the Code, it likely won't make much sense to you. However, if it does - or if you just like a good linguistic challenge - please go to the NMCCD's website where you can read the proposed changes: www.nmccd.org. Race Matters Task Force The next meeting of the RACE MATTERS Task Force has been changed! Please join us on Wednesday August 23 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss the recommendations that resulted from the RACE MATTERS conference and how to take those recommendations forward. Visit http://www.nmvoices.org/racematters.htm for more information and to register. Know a New Mexico child or teen who's making a difference
in his or her community through philanthropic work? Nominate him/her for
the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award. Winners will be chosen in
three age groups, and will be honored at a luncheon and receive great
prizes. For a nomination form and contest rules, email Robin Brule at
RBrule@cnm.edu or call her at 505-244-4685.
Nominations must be postmarked by Sept. 18, 2006. Sponsored by the Association
of Fundraising Professionals, Wells Fargo and the New Mexico Business
Weekly. |