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
2018 National KIDS COUNT Data Book
New Mexico has fallen to last in the nation in child well-being once again, 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.
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)
Moving the Needle on Child Well-Being
New Mexico has a long and proud history of cutting-edge innovation in many fields, so making progress on child well-being is within our reach if we fully commit to it. This report lays out the ways in which we can move the needle on child well-being by enacting smart public policies. (A special KIDS COUNT report)
2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book
New Mexico is at a crossroads. At the federal level we’re seeing unpredictability in how child-serving programs are funded and at the state level we’re poised to elect a new governor. This annual publication reports the latest data on child well-being in New Mexico to help us choose the path forward. (An annual KIDS COUNT report; Jan. 2018)
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
New Mexico’s 2018 KIDS COUNT profile
New Mexico has fallen to 50th in the nation in child well-being after ranking 49th for the past four years. 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 profile; state-level data on indicators of child well-being)
The Well-Being of Black Children in New Mexico
This presentation, given at the NM Office of African American Affairs' Black Child Wellness Summit, introduces our Well-Being of Black Children in New Mexico special KIDS COUNT report on how New Mexico's Black children are doing on some 20 indicators of child well-being. (Presentation)
Recent Blog Posts
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.
To make all kids count, we must count all kids
This is a perilous moment for New Mexico’s children. There’s no getting around it. Yet the future is not predetermined for kids in New Mexico. This state’s leaders can be inspired by this moment to do better by its children. They can choose to collaborate inclusively and act boldly and swiftly. That’s what it will take — both to position the state well for the 2020 census and to give children a better chance to thrive.
Recent News Coverage
Childhood Trauma Focus of Southern NM Conference
Many mental health experts think childhood trauma is one of the most urgent public health challenges in the country. Lori Martinez, executive director of Ngage New Mexico, said a recent lawsuit filed against the state's under-funded Children, Youth and Families Department demonstrates how dire the situation is for many children - and raising awareness is critical. "When we're talking about childhood trauma, we want to identify the ways that trauma affects us as individuals, and also as a society, on a daily basis,” Martinez said.
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.
KIDS COUNT Conferences & Workshops
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.