Woman caught in sex trafficking sting had children in the car
It's never easy to admit that our home has a problem. Just look at the latest KIDS COUNT report released by New Mexico Voices for Children. New Mexico ranks dead last in overall child well-being. The factors in the report make kids in our state susceptible to becoming victims of sex trafficking.
New Mexico ranks last when it comes to child well-being
"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."
Keep NM kids in mind when you vote this year
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.
New Mexico ranks 50th in Kids Count report
Four factors determine the Kids Count rankings: education, health, economic well-being, and family and community. The non-profit organization NM Voices for Children says changes to the state’s health data played a major role in moving New Mexico from 49th to 50th.
NM Child Well-Being Slips, Isolated Bright Spots
"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."
New Mexico ranks last in survey of child well-being
“The data show we are at a crossroads,” James Jimenez, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children, said in a news release. “We can continue to disinvest in our children or we can insist upon a new direction, one in which we make a deep commitment to improving conditions for all New Mexicans.”