New Mexico’s child poverty rate is either the highest in the nation or better than the national average – depending on which poverty measurement is used. Both poverty rates come from the U.S. Census Bureau, but take very different factors into account. In order for state lawmakers to make informed decisions about public policies affecting children, they must understand the factors that influence these poverty measurements.
Report The first in a series of reports on how public benefits programs and tax credits impact poverty in New Mexico, this tackles the various ways in which poverty is measured. (State-level data on overall and child poverty rates.)
Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative--In Doña Ana County, the most populous in Southern New Mexico, about one in three children live in poverty, according to New Mexico Voices for Children.
Source NM--“When you look at the supplemental poverty measure, it’s actually measuring the impact of a lot of really strong anti-poverty programs like our tax credits and SNAP programs, and even school lunches are included in that measure. And so it kind of gives us a better sense of basically what a household has in resources,” said Emily Wildau, Senior Research & Policy Analyst/KIDS COUNT Coordinator for New Mexico Voices for Children.
Fact Sheet From our friends at the Immigration Research Initiative and Economic Policy Institute, this fact sheet looks at some of the economic benefits immigrants bring to the state. (State-level data on immigrants and employment and economic output.)
NM Political Report--“We know that poverty is a policy choice,” Uballez said through the release. “Fortunately, our state lawmakers continue to invest in state tax credits and income support programs that lift New Mexican families above the poverty line. We build upon our success by continuing to enact policies that work for our kids and families to improve access to benefits while also exploring new opportunities to build wealth, raise wages, and break generational cycles of poverty.”
KUNM FM--“So, you look at a child tax credit or the earned income tax credit, you look at non-cash benefits like SNAP, those things are having a significant impact on lifting people above the poverty line,” she said.
“This information is crucial for lawmakers as it shows how anti-poverty policies improve children's daily lives by providing essential resources that enhance well-being and lead to better long-term outcomes for families,” said Gabrielle Uballez, Executive Director of NM Voices for Children. “It's equally exciting to note that this data doesn’t even count one of the state’s newest anti-poverty policies – the Child Tax Credit.”
Santa Fe New Mexican--Jordan said his crowning achievements include the yearslong fight to draw more dollars from the state’s land grant permanent fund for early childhood programs and reforming New Mexico’s tax code to better serve children and families.
NM In Depth--Trip Jennings talks with longtime NM Voices for Children lobbyist Bill Jordan who retired last week after more than 30 years spent lobbying New Mexico lawmakers on a variety of issues. He and Trip talk about his experiences and together they try to demystify the Roundhouse for readers and viewers.