Publications

Jan 30 2017

New Mexico’s Working Families Tax Credit

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T13:12:12-06:00Economic Security Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Report In New Mexico, the Working Families Tax Credit is one of the most sensible parts of our tax code: it encourages work, helps to raise hard-working families out of poverty, and benefits almost 300,000 children, while also pumping millions back into local communities. Increasing the credit is a smart investment in our businesses, working families, and future. (State-level data on recipiency; appendix contains county- and legislative-district-level data on recipiency)

Jan 17 2017

2016 KIDS COUNT in New Mexico

Alex McCausland2023-02-14T13:31:58-07:00Economic Security Publications, Education Publications, Health Publications, Kids Count Publications, Local Data, Publications|

NM KIDS COUNT Data Book In the past year, New Mexico has seen some improvements in child well-being—especially regarding health. We’ve also seen troubling increases in other indicators over the short- and long-term. This annual report on child well-being presents data on indicators such as child and teen death rates, preschool enrollment, teen births, and more. (State-, county-, tribal-, and school-district-level data on indicators of child well-being)

Jan 12 2017

Raising the State Minimum Wage

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T13:15:19-06:00Economic Security Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Report Raising the minimum wage is an effective strategy for reducing poverty in New Mexico, particularly given the erosion of its purchasing power since it was last raised in 2009. This report looks at the demographics of the state’s minimum wage earners, as well as makes the case for indexing the wage to inflation. (State-level data on minimum wage workforce)

Dec 24 2016

Why we shouldn’t tax food in New Mexico

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T13:18:32-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Fact Sheet Reinstatement on the tax on food is likely to come up in the 2017 legislative session even though New Mexico has the second highest rate of children who don't always have enough to eat. This infographic looks at food insecurity in New Mexico and which other states in the nation tax food. (State-level data on food insecurity, SNAP usage)

Dec 20 2016

New Mexico Kids are Counting on Us

Alex McCausland2021-08-30T14:50:43-06:00Kids Count Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Presentation Looks at some of the data on child well-being in New Mexico as well as the public policies that cause and could alleviate many of our state’s problems. Presented to the Native American Professional Parent Resources staff. (A KIDS COUNT presentation; state-level data on indicators of child well-being)

Dec 19 2016

Turning Assistance into Opportunity

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T13:26:12-06:00Economic Security Publications, Kids Count Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Report The TANF program provides some cash assistance to eligible families with children so they can better afford basic necessities. Unfortunately, TANF in New Mexico does not sufficiently address one of the reasons families fall into or remain in poverty: the lack of education credentials and job skills, which present barriers to employment and to getting jobs that pay family-sustaining wages. (A KIDS COUNT Special Report; state-level data on TANF recipiency)

Dec 10 2016

A Health Impact Assessment of a Tax on Food Purchases in NM

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T13:28:53-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Presentation Looks at how reinstating the tax on groceries would impact the health of New Mexico’s already-food-insecure families. Presented at the NM Public Health Association’s Health Policy Legislative Forum. (State- and county-level data on food insecurity; state-level data on economic security)

Sep 20 2016

Child Welfare Matters

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T13:31:23-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Kids Count Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Presentation On the status of child well-being in New Mexico, with a focus on child abuse, looking at policies that have negatively impacted child well-being and policy solutions that would improve it. Presented to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee. (State-level data on indicators of child well-being)

Sep 18 2016

Hunger 101

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T13:37:09-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Kids Count Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Presentation Looks are some of the reasons child hunger is so pervasive in New Mexico as well as policy solutions from our NM KIDS are COUNTing on Us campaign that would help. Presented at the Interfaith Hunger Coalition's Hunger 101 Workshop in Albuquerque. (State-level data on indicators of child well-being, food insecurity, and economic security)

Aug 31 2016

New Mexico Public School Funding through the Great Recession and Beyond

Alex McCausland2021-08-25T16:49:37-06:00Education Publications, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Report A lawsuit currently working its way thought the New Mexico court system asserts that the state has failed to provide school funding sufficient for the education of all school-age children in the state, as required by the New Mexico constitution. This report supports those arguments.