NM Kids Count
Predicated on the idea that advocacy is more powerful when it is backed by data and evidence, the KIDS COUNT program allows us to advocate for the unmet needs of our state’s children by giving us a clear picture of what those needs are. This is done by identifying and tracking indicators of child well-being. By calling attention to indicators like the percentages of children living in poverty and single-parent families, teen birth rates, and more, we hope to create public accountability and the political will to drive policies that address these issues.
Featured Content
2019 New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Book
We’re seeing good news and bad news in this annual publication of the latest data on child well-being in New Mexico. While the child poverty rate has improved, for example, New Mexico still ranks near the bottom of the nation on this indicator. While some progress toward enacting policies and appropriating adequate funding for improving child well-being was made in the 2019 legislative session, these investments need to be for the long term.
2019 National KIDS COUNT Data Book
New Mexico continues to place last in the nation in child well-being, as ranked by the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Book. Find out how the state does on each of the 16 indicators of child well-being on this profile. Link to the full data book here. Check out the new interactive map here.
The Well-Being of Black Children in New Mexico
Although our state’s Black children are generally faring better than Black children nationally, they still face significant obstacles to success. This report, created in partnership with the NM Office of African American Affairs, looks at how New Mexico’s Black children are doing on 20 indicators of child well-being. (A special KIDS COUNT report)
KIDS COUNT Data
KIDS COUNT Data Center
The Annie E. Casey Foundation houses extensive data on child well-being. The database can be searched and sorted by state, county, legislative districts, and other geographic areas. You may also search by topic, compare states or cities, create profiles, maps, rankings, line graphs, or download raw data.
NM KIDS COUNT Map Gallery
The NM Community Data Collaborative, with support from the New Mexico Early Learning Advisory Council, has created a special map gallery with NM KIDS COUNT data.
Recent Publications
2019 New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Book
Report We're seeing good news and bad news in this annual publication of the latest data on child well-being in New Mexico. While the child poverty rate has improved, for example, New Mexico still ranks near the bottom of the nation on this indicator. Besides data, policy recommendations are included so the state can take action to improve child well-being. (An annual KIDS COUNT report; state-, county-, tribal-, and school district-level data on indicators of child well-being; data by race and ethnicity where available)
New Mexico’s 2019 KIDS COUNT profile
State data sheet New Mexico ranks 50th in the nation in child well-being for the third time since 2013. This state profile shows how our children are faring on the 16 indicators of child well-being used in the national KIDS COUNT rankings. (State-level data on the 16 indicators of child well-being.)
Recent Blog Posts
Changing the course on child well-being
The past decade of austerity has been hard on New Mexico’s children. Still, we are optimistic about the future because we believe in the strength and resiliency of New Mexico’s families. We know we can build stronger communities and support more resilient families and children so that they can thrive. But we can only build a stronger New Mexico if our policymakers are willing to provide the revenue we need to make these investments.
Local conference will focus on childhood trauma
This year’s conference Childhood Trauma: From Symptoms to Systems Change, will take a hard look at ACEs – what causes them, what can be done to prevent them, and how we can promote resiliency. We will look at the importance of building trauma-informed practices throughout our agencies and organizations.
Recent News Coverage
Eye on New Mexico: Legislative Session 2020
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham outlined her legislative priorities last week. Among those top concerns are creating early childhood trust funds, increasing penalties for the use of firearms in non-capital felonies and legalizing recreational marijuana.
Voices for Children’s annual report finds state stagnant, urges sustained investment in youth
“Kids Count is right to point out the enormous challenges facing our state’s early childhood services system,” Groginsky said. “We know that high-quality health and educational programs for children deliver an astonishing return on investment,” she added, “including significant gains in nearly every area we care about: education, health, employment, and social and emotional behavior.”
KIDS COUNT Conferences & Workshops
2019 KIDS COUNT Conference Framing the Future for Families: The Road Ahead Held in Albuquerque on June 26 – just a week after New Mexico was once again ranked 50th in the nation for child well-being – this conference featured Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham as keynote speaker, as well as Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, and a dozen breakout learning sessions presented by community partners.
2018 Southern New Mexico KIDS COUNT Conference Childhood Trauma: From Symptoms to Systems Change Held on Nov. 14, 2018, in Las Cruces, this conference featured speakers Dr. Andrew Hsi, Bhanu Harrison, Dr. Dulcinea Lara, Amber Wallin, and Kasandra Gandara, along with more than a dozen breakout learning sessions.
2018 KIDS COUNT Conference Kids at the Crossroads: Charting the Course for Their Success Held on June 25, 2018, in Albuquerque, this conference featured speakers Leslie Boissiere, Dean Rudoy, and Frank Lopez, a gubernatorial candidate forum, and four breakout learning sessions.
2018 Turning Data into Action Workshops This series of four workshops, held in April and May of 2018, went over county-specific data on child well-being, policy proposals that can improve child well-being, and tips for advocating with legislators.
2018 Northern New Mexico KIDS COUNT Conference Improving Child Well-Being with Data, Policy & Advocacy Held on March 22, 2018, in Española, this conference featured speakers Alvin Warren, Nick Johnson, and Amber Wallin, two community panels, and a call-to-action session.
2017 Southern New Mexico KIDS COUNT Conference Opportunity Matters: Shaping Early Childhood Access to Care & Education in Southern New Mexico Held on Nov. 19, 2017, in Las Cruces, this conference featured speakers Nick Johnson, Amber Wallin, Erica Surova, and Frank Lopez, a screening of the documentary The Raising of America, and a panel of local city, county and state policymakers.
2017 KIDS COUNT Conference Opportunity Matters: Advancing the Well-Being of New Mexico’s Children, Women, and Families in a New Political Era Held on June 26, 2017, this conference featured speakers Nick Johnson, Dennis Campa, Ray Rivera, Sarah Ghiorse, and Lisa Cacari Stone, and panelists Alicia Edwards, Pamelya Herndon, Jessica Riggs, Diana Maze, Sen. Mimi Stewart, Rep. Christine Trujillo, and Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton.
2016 KIDS COUNT Conference Equity Matters: Impacts on Child Well-Being Held on June 27, 2016, this conference featured speakers Patrick McCarthy, Barbara Ferrer, and Jimmy Santiago Baca, and panelists Jozi DeLeon, Conroy Chino and Pamelya Herndon.
2015 KIDS COUNT Conference Child Well-Being: A 2-Generation Approach to Success Held on June 29, 2015, this conference featured Lisa Hamilton, Marjorie Sims, Richard Noriega, the Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, and Dr. Cathleen Willging as speakers, as well as a panel on preventing child abuse.
2014 KIDS COUNT Conference A Call to Action! Held on June 30, 2014, this conference featured Dr. Art Rolnick, Dennis Campa, and Dolores Huerta as speakers, as well as a candidate forum.
2013 KIDS COUNT Conference Third Grade Counts! The 2013 inaugural NM KIDS COUNT conference featured presentations by data and policy experts, as well as leaders in business and child advocacy.