“Less than one year ago, lawmakers were scrambling to pay for basic services like schools, roads, and public safety. New Mexico has become too reliant on the oil and gas industry to fund these services, which has created boom-or-bust cycles for our economy, and therefore, for all New Mexicans. Right now we’re in a boom time, but we mustn’t forget that the bust times may be right around the corner."
Carlsbad Current-Argus--“When industry wastes gas extracted on public lands they deprive New Mexico of huge amounts of royalties and put our kids health at risk,” said Bill Jordan, policy director for New Mexico Voices for Children. “At a time when the state is struggling we can't afford to be losing tens of millions of dollars that could be put towards education."
The recent decision to include a question on citizenship status in the 2020 decennial Census is certain to increase the number of people who won’t respond to the census. And that’s exactly the political motivation behind the decision to include a question that hasn’t been asked since 1950. This change will be particularly bad for New Mexico.
The Chronicle of Social Change--“That we rank so low in child well-being is really a symptom of a larger problem. When children aren’t doing well it means their families and communities aren’t doing well either. Many of these policy recommendations would improve the state’s economy and the quality of life for all residents.”
KRWG--“When industry wastes gas extracted on public lands they deprive New Mexico of huge amounts of royalties and put our kids' health at risk,” commented Bill Jordan, Policy Director for New Mexico Voices for Children. “At a time when the state is struggling we can't afford to be losing tens of millions of dollars that could be put towards education."
New Mexico Voices for Children has released a children’s agenda of policy recommendations they hope candidates for state- and national-level offices will adopt. The agenda, “Kids at the Crossroads: A Children’s Agenda for Making KIDS COUNT with Candidates,” contains 30 policy recommendations spanning three categories: economic well-being, education, and health. The group hopes that the agenda will spur candidates to will make concrete plans for improving child well-being.
Policy Agenda With the highest rate of child poverty in the nation, New Mexico is not providing the opportunities our children need to succeed. But the good news is that we can improve opportunities for New Mexico’s kids through public policy. This children's agenda for candidates in the 2018 election provides 30 policy recommendations that will help improve child well-being in New Mexico.
County Data Sheets These KIDS COUNT profiles include data for the 16 indicators of child well-being -- such as child poverty, teen birth rate, etc. -- as well as demographic data -- such as population by race and ethnicity, median household income, etc. -- for several New Mexico counties. (A KIDS COUNT publication; county-level data on indicators of child well-being)
Santa Fe New Mexican--For Amber Wallin, deputy director of Voices for Children, facing such trials “sets [children] up for a lot of challenges in school and later on in life,” and makes investment in early childhood education all the more important. “Too many of our kids are … hungry,” Wallin said. “They face a risk of child abuse and other risks. The more opportunities we can give them in those early years, the more chance they have to succeed, not just in those early years, but also later in life.”
Las Vegas Optic--Invited speakers are expected to enlighten and inform the summit goers. Those speakers include NM Voices for Children, SWOP, Prosperity Works, and officials from San Miguel and Mora counties, as well as from the municipalities of Santa Rosa, Pecos and Las Vegas.