Local Data

Mar 24 2016

HSD inefficiencies cost New Mexico money and deny eligible families food and medical assistance

Alex McCausland2021-08-25T16:31:47-06:00Health Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Fact Sheet For a quarter of a century New Mexico has been under a court order to improve how it processes applications for food and health care benefits. Yet it continues to be in contempt of court. This fact sheet looks at the problems and presents solutions. Produced in conjunction with the NM Center on Law and Poverty. (State-level data on NM HSD's problems processing Medicaid and SNAP applications)

Feb 29 2016

Valuing Families at Work: The Case for Paid Sick Leave

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T14:10:36-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Local Data, Publications, Racial and Ethnic Equity Publications|

Report Many low-wage occupations do not come with benefits like paid sick leave. So workers who are already earning low wages have to forfeit those wages in order to stay at home to tend a sick child or care for themselves. The U.S. has no national policy, so states and cities are taking up the issue. With the lowest rate in the nation of workers with paid sick leave, New Mexico has much to gain by enacting such legislation. (State-, national-, and international-level data on sick leave policies, some by race and ethnicity)

Feb 07 2016

Reasons to fully fund the Medicaid expansion #3

Alex McCausland2021-08-30T12:18:19-06:00Health Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Fact Sheet Some lawmakers have balked at fully funding Medicaid now that we have to start paying our share of the Medicaid expansion, but there are many reasons to do it. Actually, there more than 800,000 reasons to fully fund Medicaid -- because that’s how many New Mexicans are able to receive health care thanks to the program. (County-level data on Medicaid enrollment)

Jan 05 2016

Helping Food-Insecure Households in New Mexico Afford Healthier Choices through the SNAP Double Up Food Bucks Program

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T14:17:02-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Local Data, Publications, Racial and Ethnic Equity Publications|

Policy Brief New Mexico is a poor state with high rates of food insecurity and with too many adults and children suffering from nutrition-related chronic conditions. Programs that incentivize consumption of locally grown, fresh produce to food-insecure individuals offer both health benefits to low-income communities as well as economic benefits to local farmers. (State-level data on economic well-being and health disparities by race and ethnicity)

Sep 24 2015

Why So Many Parents Can’t Put Enough Food on the Table

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T14:20:27-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Kids Count Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Presentation Looks at the economic issues around food insecurity, presents some data on child well-being from the 2015 national KIDS COUNT Data Book, as well as offers some policy solutions. Presented at the Second Annual End Hunger in New Mexico Summit. (State-level data on economic security and child well-being)

Sep 08 2015

Raising the New Mexico Minimum Wage

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T14:22:52-06:00Economic Security Publications, Local Data, Publications, Racial and Ethnic Equity Publications|

Report Raising the minimum wage is an important and effective strategy for reducing poverty particularly given the erosion of the purchasing power of the state wage since it was last raised in 2009. In New Mexico, approximately 112,000 workers are earning the current state minimum wage of $7.50. In January, New Mexico lawmakers should act to raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour by 2018. While this increase should not be considered a living wage, thousands of families would benefit. (State-level data on characteristics of minimum wage earners, including by race and ethnicity)

Jul 14 2015

By the Numbers: Hunger and Unemployment

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T14:33:33-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Infographic With the highest long-term unemployment rate in the nation, New Mexico is in no position to require parents to find a job in order to receive food benefits. Unfortunately, some state officials are pushing for just that. (State-level data on hunger, SNAP recipiency, and economic security)

Jul 14 2015

Fight hunger by making work pay

Alex McCausland2024-03-19T16:45:42-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Infographic Focusing on the economic realities that food-insecure families face, this was created as a handout for the National Commission on Hunger, which asked NM Voices to join their discussion on food insecurity. (State-level data on hunger, SNAP recipiency, and economic security)

Jul 09 2015

SNAP Double Up Food Bucks offer many benefits for New Mexico

Alex McCausland2021-08-30T12:22:33-06:00Health Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Fact Sheets This 4-page fact sheet includes data on food insecurity, food-related health issues, SNAP rates, and the Double Up Food Bucks program that helps low-income families purchase more fresh produce at local farmer’s markets. (State- and county-level data on food insecurity and health)

Apr 28 2015

Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce … Hispanic Children

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T15:52:54-06:00Education Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Presentation Created for the 2015 MAFO national conference, this looks at how Hispanic children in New Mexico and the nation are faring, provides a brief overview of the state's Hispanic Education Act, and offers some policy solutions for better preparing this future workforce. (State-level data on educational outcomes by race and ethnicity)