Blog Posts – Page 2 – New Mexico Voices for Children

Nov 03 2018

The next governor should improve our tax system and increase wages

Web Admin2018-11-05T16:30:08-06:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Economic Security News Coverage, News Coverage, Tax and Budget Blog, Tax and Budget News Coverage|

First, we recommend that the new governor work to make our tax system fairer and more stable. Thanks to 15 years of failed trickle-down tax cuts, New Mexico is now much too dependent on revenue from oil and natural gas extraction to fund our state services like education and public safety. But the amount of revenue we collect from oil production is based on prices that are set at the global level, so we’re stuck in a boom-or-bust cycle.

Oct 23 2018

Child advocates offer voters info on candidate positions

Web Admin2018-10-23T12:31:36-06:00Blog Posts, Human Rights/Civic Participation Blog, Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, News Coverage|

Election issues are at the very heart of the values that matter most to us and our families – educating our children; improving our communities; and protecting our rights, safety and the world around us.

Oct 22 2018

Local conference will focus on childhood trauma

Web Admin2018-10-22T10:33:33-06:00Blog Posts, Health Blog, Health News Coverage, Kids Count Blog, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage|

This year’s conference Childhood Trauma: From Symptoms to Systems Change, will take a hard look at ACEs – what causes them, what can be done to prevent them, and how we can promote resiliency. We will look at the importance of building trauma-informed practices throughout our agencies and organizations.

Oct 19 2018

To make all kids count, we must count all kids

Web Admin2018-11-14T13:48:59-06:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog, Kids Count Blog, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

This is a perilous moment for New Mexico’s children. There’s no getting around it. Yet the future is not predetermined for kids in New Mexico. This state’s leaders can be inspired by this moment to do better by its children. They can choose to collaborate inclusively and act boldly and swiftly. That’s what it will take — both to position the state well for the 2020 census and to give children a better chance to thrive.

Oct 10 2018

State agencies (still) need a culture shift, and fast!

Web Admin2018-10-10T09:40:47-06:00Blog Posts, Health Blog|

Prior to the ACA, the Human Services Department (HSD) played the role of gatekeeper for the programs they administered, such as Medicaid. Instead of working hard to enroll everyone who was eligible, they seemed to view their job as making sure that as few people got enrolled as possible – even though they were eligible.

Aug 29 2018

Fighting the Current: Why New Mexicans need a Higher Minimum Wage

Web Admin2018-11-14T13:50:57-06:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Health Blog, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

A minimum wage increase is long overdue – it hasn’t been raised in almost a decade. As prices increase, purchasing power erodes, and families find themselves sinking deeper into dire straits. Our $7.50 minimum wage is now worth just $6.30.

Jul 24 2018

Ruling in K-12 funding lawsuit is movement in right direction

Web Admin2018-07-30T12:32:05-06:00Blog Posts, Education and Early Learning/Care, Education Blog, Kids Count Blog|

Given the many challenges faced by our children, New Mexico should be making whatever investments are necessary to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive and achieve success. Instead, over the last decade New Mexico has made some of the deepest cuts to K-12 education in the country. While some funding was restored during the 2018 legislative session, we are still far behind where we should be on a per-student, inflation-adjusted basis.

Jun 15 2018

On Father’s Day and every day, families belong together

Sharon Kayne2018-06-23T13:54:06-06:00Blog Posts, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

As a recent college graduate returning to my home state after four years, I feel grateful to be able to celebrate Father’s Day with my family this summer. We devote time every year to celebrate our parents and all that they do for us because, as Americans, we value family. But this Father’s Day, I cannot help but think about the current immigration policies that are tearing young children away from their moms and dads and ignoring the importance of family.

May 11 2018

The devastating math of the child care cliff effect

Armelle Casau2018-06-26T12:21:51-06:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog|

Imagine having to turn down a raise in pay because it will actually make you less financially secure. Sounds crazy, but that's what many working parents have to do--and just when they're making headway in the quest to provide their family with economic stability. It's all due to the "cliff effect" and, in New Mexico, the cliff effect for child care assistance can throw families who get even a small raise right back into poverty.

Apr 19 2018

Preserving this conservation fund will keep public spaces safe, available for kids

Sharon Kayne2018-04-19T19:53:31-06:00Blog Posts, News Coverage|

Much of New Mexico’s array of scenic beauty has been enhanced and protected by a relatively little-known federal program called the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Unfortunately, at the end of the federal fiscal year, the sun will set on one of our country’s greatest conservation programs if Congress fails to reauthorize it. The loss of the LWCF would not bode well for America.