Las Cruces Bulletin
Dec. 28, 2020
New Mexico performs well on access to health care but is falling short on food security and mental wellness, according to the recent household data in “Kids, Families and COVID-19: Pandemic Pain Points and a Roadmap for Recovery,” a 50-state report developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) analyzing how families are faring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A news release from the nonprofit New Mexico Voices for Children (NMVC) said the report, citing U.S. Census data, shows 20 percent of New Mexico households with children sometimes or often do not have enough to eat. Only one other state – Mississippi – has as high a rate, while the national average for food insecurity is 14 percent.
New Mexico also has the highest rate – 27 percent – of adults living in households with children who feel down, depressed or hopeless. Mississippi and Pennsylvania also have a rate of 27 percent in this category, while the national average is 21 percent, the report said.
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