News Coverage

Sep 27 2018

Report: Young NM Parents Need Support to Thrive

Alex McCausland2024-04-04T15:37:55-06:00Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage|

Public News Service--Amber Wallin, deputy director of New Mexico Voices for Children, says the 50-state report shows the national average of young parents is 10 percent, but in New Mexico, it's 16 percent. "Those young people are facing the same challenges that all young people are facing, things like finishing high school or maybe going into college, getting their first jobs, learning how to manage money and increase their earning potential," she points out. Her organization, which includes New Mexico Kids Count, maintains one way to improve outcomes for young parent families is to increase home-visiting programs and coaching for first-time parents.

Sep 16 2018

New Mexico no longer in last place on child poverty

Alex McCausland2024-04-04T15:38:21-06:00Economic Security News Coverage, Education News Coverage, News Coverage|

Santa Fe New Mexican--The numbers, while encouraging, are not necessarily a comprehensive look at childhood poverty, says Sharon Kayne, communications director for child advocacy group New Mexico Voices for Children. Kayne pointed out that the poverty line referenced by these statistics is drastically low, around $20,000 a year for a family of three and about $25,000 for a family of four. So, even though the official count holds that 30 percent of New Mexico’s children are living in poverty, Kayne said the percentage of children who struggle with poverty-induced stress on a day-to-day basis is certainly higher.

Sep 05 2018

Children’s Advocacy Focus Of Voter Info Website

Alex McCausland2024-04-04T15:38:55-06:00Education News Coverage, Health News Coverage, Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity News Coverage|

KUNM FM--Pediatric society president Brian Etheridge said it’s a resource for voters to hear from candidates on more detailed questions. "What we're trying to do is draw attention to various issues that obviously affect children," Etheridge said.

Sep 05 2018

Jobs are up, wages flat this Labor Day

Alex McCausland2024-04-04T15:39:38-06:00Economic Security News Coverage, News Coverage|

Las Cruces Sun-News--A new study by Voices for Children found that the state minimum wage will only purchase $6.30 of the $7.50 buying power it had nine years ago. To keep pace with inflation, the new rate would need to be $8.95 an hour. “Given our rate of child poverty, which is the highest in the nation, it’s unconscionable that we haven’t raised the minimum wage to help New Mexico’s hard-working families and our economy,” Jimenez argues.

Aug 28 2018

Website quizzes governor, Congress and Land Office candidates on child well-being

Alex McCausland2024-04-04T15:46:26-06:00Education News Coverage, Health News Coverage, Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity News Coverage|

New Mexico In Depth--“Unfortunately, children are not necessarily a topic of conversation when it comes to elections. People talk about jobs and the economy, which are all very important to child well-being, but there are other issues and we wanted to get some of those out there,” said Sharon Kayne, communications director for NM Voices.

Aug 03 2018

Underfunded, undercounted: New Mexico at risk in the 2020 census

Alex McCausland2024-04-04T15:47:17-06:00Economic Security News Coverage, Health News Coverage, Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity News Coverage|

Searchlight NM--“That means that New Mexico will receive fewer Medicaid dollars, fewer SNAP dollars, fewer Title 1 grants for schools, less money for our school lunch program, and less funding for Head Start,” said Amber Wallin, deputy director of New Mexico Voices for Children.

Jul 10 2018

New Mexico ranks last when it comes to child well-being

Alex McCausland2024-04-04T15:48:21-06:00News Coverage|

KOAT TV--"We've tried to tax cut and budget cut our way to prosperity. This data shows that clearly didn't work, we need a change of direction,” Jimenez said. “It's clear that our elected officials are not doing enough to invest in children."

Jun 30 2018

Keep NM kids in mind when you vote this year

Alex McCausland2024-04-04T15:49:25-06:00Economic Security News Coverage, Education News Coverage, Health News Coverage, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage|

Las Cruces Sun-News--Officials with New Mexico Voices for Children, which partners on the survey, point to a decline in state funding as the cause for many of these problems. Deputy Director Amber Wallin said the state has passed 37 tax cuts since 2008; has reduced per-pupil funding for schools and money for higher education; and has cut back on the number of school-based health centers.

Jun 27 2018

NM Child Well-Being Slips, Isolated Bright Spots

Alex McCausland2024-04-04T15:50:08-06:00Economic Security News Coverage, Education News Coverage, Health News Coverage, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage|

Public News Service--"It's time for citizens to really push these candidates on what they're going to do to improve child well-being," he insisted. "There are a lot of solutions out there if we really believe children are our most important asset."

Jun 27 2018

Report: New Mexico ranks last in child well-being

Alex McCausland2024-04-04T15:50:51-06:00Economic Security News Coverage, Education News Coverage, Health News Coverage, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage|

Santa Fe New Mexican--“The data says to me that the policy approach that we have taken over the last eight to 10 years has not been working,” said James Jimenez, executive director of the Albuquerque-based advocacy group New Mexico Voices for Children, which works closely with the Casey Foundation. “It says that we really don’t have much of a commitment to improving the lives of children,” Jimenez added.