Las Cruces Sun-News
Nov. 6, 2017

NM Voices for Children and Ngage NM will host a KIDS COUNT Conference in Las Cruces this week to focus on child well-being in the southern part of New Mexico.

The conference will offer a deep dive into child well-being data sets, will address public policies and encourage discussion about the impact the changing political landscape might have on children, a news release stated.

The 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranked New Mexico 49th in overall child well-being, and 50th in education.

“As child advocates it’s our job to inform the public and our lawmakers about the unmet needs of our children and the ways in which the state can meet those needs in order to build a stronger economy and a safer, healthier state for everyone,” said James Jimenez, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children.

Conference speakers include: Nick Johnson, senior vice president for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Amber Wallin, KIDS COUNT director; and Erica Surova, data analyst for the Center for Community Analysis at New Mexico State University. Lori Martinez of Ngage NM will moderate a panel of state and local lawmakers from the Las Cruces area. The PBS film “The Raising of America” will be screened, followed by facilitated table conversations.

The conference is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave.

Tickets are $15 general admission; $30 for those earning Continuing Education credits; free for NMSU/Doña Ana Community College students, and will include breakfast and lunch. 

Copyright 2017, Las Cruces Sun-News (http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/2017/11/06/conference-tackle-child-well-being-southern-new-mexico/836193001/)