NM Voices in the News
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New Mexico Ranked Worst in the Nation for Child Poverty
New Mexico News Port--Child poverty affects New Mexico more than any other state. While the share of children living in poverty in the U.S. decreased one percent from 2015 to 2016, New Mexico experienced a one percent increase from 2016 to 2017, putting the state’s child poverty at 30 percent — an increase of over 4,000 children. The report released this September by the U.S. Census officially ranks New Mexico as the worst state in the nation for child poverty, beating out Mississippi which improved, falling to 29.7 percent.
State of children’s well-being called ‘dire’
Las Cruces Bulletin--“We should see early childhood education as economic development,” state Rep. Nathan Small, D-Doña Ana, said at the Nov. 10 Southern New Mexico Kids Count conference. The day-long conference was sponsored by Ngage New Mexico and focused on child wellbeing, including early childhood care and education, in the southern part of the state. New Mexico needs a “responsible, fair revenue system to fund priorities,” Small said. Small was part of a panel discussion of local elected officials about policy solutions for child wellbeing given the political climate.
Kids Count goes on the road to southern NM
New Mexico In Depth--Amber Wallin, Kids Count director for New Mexico Voices for Children, flashed up a photo on a screen during her presentation to childhood advocates and elected leaders in Las Cruces for the first Southern New Mexico Kids Count conference on Thursday. Anyone of a certain age would recognize the black and white photo of a motley bunch of kids in baseball uniforms: The Bad News Bears.
Inaugural Las Cruces event tackles NM’s high child poverty
Las Cruces Sun-News--The nonprofit New Mexico Voices for Children is probably best known for the annual reports showing that the well-being of the state's children is near-last in the United States. But the Albuquerque-based group is also looking for possible solutions to the problems — the focus of an inaugural conference it hosted along with another nonprofit Thursday in Las Cruces.
Conference to tackle child well-being in southern New Mexico
Las Cruces Sun-News--NM Voices for Children and Ngage NM will host a KIDS COUNT Conference in Las Cruces this week to focus on child well-being in the southern part of New Mexico. The conference will offer a deep dive into child well-being data sets, will address public policies and encourage discussion about the impact the changing political landscape might have on children, a news release stated.
NM Kids Struggle for Equal Chance to Succeed
Public News Service--A new report out today says the vast majority of children in New Mexico lag behind other kids across the nation when it comes to achieving their future potential. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's second Race for Results report in three years measured key milestones in child development across racial and ethnic groups. The foundation tracks progress on education, health and economic success at national and state levels.
New Mexico health clinics fret over federal funding delays
Associated Press--Operators of community health centers in New Mexico watched warily on Wednesday as congressional committees in Washington wrestled with proposals to extend crucial funding for clinics that are a mainstay of rural health care in the state. Federal funding expired at the end of September for federally qualified health centers, along with a popular health insurance program for children from low-income families.
Without sick leave, public’s health at risk
Albuquerque Journal--The Healthy Workforce Ordinance that Albuquerque voters will soon decide will give our businesses an edge in attracting the best workers from cities and states that do not have similar provisions to help their workforce – and their communities – stay healthy. Albuquerque voters should pass it. Read more
Youth Organizations Oppose the Administration Ending DACA
Youth Today--The future of nearly 800,000 young people is under threat as President Donald Trump phases out the program giving work permits and deportation relief to Dreamers, young immigrants brought to the United States as children. No new applications will be accepted, the administration announced today. Young people will lose their DACA status as soon as their permits, which are granted for two years, expire. Some youth-led organizations shifted into high gear to protest, and some youth-serving organizations have rallied to the defense of young immigrants
Santa Fe Dreamers stand united after Trump’s decision
Santa Fe New Mexican--Several hundred people, many of them high school and college students, rallied Tuesday in Santa Fe to send a message to President Donald Trump on behalf of young immigrants who now might be deported. The Dreamers, they said, are here to stay. But exactly how they will make their words come true was anybody’s guess.