New Mexico Voices For Children
Improving children’s lives through advocacy
The future of our society is in our children’s hands. When all children have the opportunities they need to thrive, we all benefit, so it makes sense to ensure that every child has access to the educational, emotional, health, and economic supports they need to grow up healthy and strong, and to become contributing members of society. We believe that the best way to ensure this is to discover the underlying reasons that some children lack these supports and then to advocate for the public policies that will address the gaps. Learn more about our work to accomplish that here.
Recent Blog Posts
Voces Innocentes: How Immigration Enforcement is Eroding Children’s Health and Well-Being
The possibility of encountering immigration officials can have a chilling effect on immigrant and mixed-status families, leading many families to avoid public spaces and services, miss critical pediatric appointments or delay or forgo necessary treatment as they fear the presence of immigration officers at or near health care facilities.
Protecting New Mexico’s Children: Understanding the New Public Charge Rule and Its Impact on Immigrant Families
The reach and impact of the many investments New Mexico’s leaders have made to support immigrant communities, families and children are threatened by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) final “public charge” regulation, which went into effect Friday, Sept. 18.
The Supplemental Poverty Measure Continues to Show Us That Poverty is a Policy Choice
The U.S. Census Bureau released new 2025 data from the Current Population Survey on September 15, which includes a comparison of the most recent Official Poverty Measure (OPM) and the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). The data primarily represent national poverty levels, but state-level data for 2023-2025 are also released in supplemental tables.
Recent News Coverage
New Mexico improves from 50th to 48th in national child poverty rankings
The Albuquerque Journal--Poverty in New Mexico declined over the last three years, especially for people under 18, improving the state’s standing among the poorest in the nation. New Mexico’s overall average poverty rate fell from 17.2% between 2022 and 2024 to 16% from 2023 through 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest three-year estimates, outstripping a national decline of 0.4 percentage points over the same period.
New Mexico child advocacy group seeks input on closing gaps
Public News Service--A report by New Mexico Voices for Children shows 15 of the state's 33 counties don't have a single pediatrician, one of several facts included in the Children's Roadmap, which focused on three main areas, including education, health and economic security. It was released by the group earlier this year and is being discussed at statewide outreach meetings.
New Mexico Voices for Children takes latest report on the road
KRQE--The nonprofit organization New Mexico Voices for Children is holdings its New Mexico Children’s Roadshow, traveling across the state to hear firsthand the issues residents face when it comes to children and their families. The organization, in partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, produced a report that highlights how recent investments have improved opportunities for children in New Mexico and identifies ongoing challenges that children and families still face.
Make an impact
