When inspiration isn’t enough
Las Cruces Sun-News--New Mexico ranked 49th in child well-being based on data gathered before the coronavirus pandemic. The year before, our state was 50th. New Mexico Voices for Children partners with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to release the annual Kids Count report that tracks 16 metrics of children's access to education, health and economic and social stability at home.
Schools and kids should not be dependent on the oil and gas industry
The physical and economic health of our states depends on fair and responsible management of publicly owned resources -- everything from our school buildings to our state and national parks. But because of the broken federal oil and gas leasing system, our schools have received less-than-promised funding and discarded oil wells are polluting our cherished public lands.
Governor Lujan Grisham understands why oil and gas regulation is a public health imperative
The health of our communities depends not just on the health of its residents, but on the health and stewardship of its air, water, and land. As organizations dedicated to protecting the health of New Mexico’s children and families, we appreciate Governor Lujan Grisham’s focus on public health as a guiding principle in her administration’s approach to a range of issues. However, the work is far from done.
Pre-pandemic improvement in child well-being a glimpse at what investments can do
Las Cruces Sun-News--Incremental improvements show us both that progress is possible and also that creating the nurturing environments our kids deserve and need to thrive will require bold and sustained actions and investments.
New Senate effort to fund oil and gas well plugging could benefit New Mexico’s bottom line
Carlsbad Current Argus--“Defunct oil and gas producers have littered New Mexico with orphaned wells while taxpayers are forced to foot the bill to clean them up,” he said. “Those critical funds could be spent supporting our children and schools instead of cleaning up the mess oil and gas companies have left behind.”
Policy Brief: Despite Increases, State’s Public Education System Still Underfunded
“Studies show that it costs 40% more to educate a child from a family earning low wages than to educate their more affluent peers. But our highest poverty districts get just 2% to 3% more in funding per student than the average district does.”