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
2021 National KIDS COUNT Data Book
Prior to the pandemic, New Mexico was making progress on child well-being and now is ranked 49th in the nation in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Book. Find out how the state fares on each of the 16 indicators of child well-being by downloading this state data profile (pdf). Download the state data profile in Spanish (pdf). Link to pandemic-era data. Download state KIDS COUNT data going back to 1990 on this profile (pdf). Link to the full data book.
2020 New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Book
Data show that child well-being in New Mexico was improving. But then the COVID-19 pandemic and recession struck. This annual report provides data on numerous child well-being indicators housed under four domains (economic security, education, health, and family and security). While we don’t know the full extent of the harm COVID-19 has caused our kids, some pandemic-specific data from the fall of 2020 are included.
Kids, Families and COVID-19: Pandemic Pain Points and the Urgent Need to Respond
A new KIDS COUNT report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, examines how households with children are faring in all 50 states during the pandemic and offers recommendations for leaders on how to prioritize kids and families in response efforts.
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 KIDS COUNT profile: 2021 pandemic indicators
Fact Sheet The national 2021 National KIDS COUNT Data Book uses the most recent data available for its 16 indicators of child well-being. Since this year's report is based mostly on data from 2019, some limited pandemic-era data have been added, including some dsiaggregated by race and ethnicity. (State-level data on six pandemic-related indicators)
New Mexico 2021 KIDS COUNT profile
State Data Sheet The national 2021 KIDS COUNT Data Book, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, assesses and ranks the 50 states on 16 indicators of child well-being, which are categorized into four domains - economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. After three years of ranking in last place, New Mexico moved up to 49th in 2021. (State-level data on indicators of child well-being)
Recent Blog Posts
Pre-pandemic improvement in child well-being a glimpse at what investments can do
Incremental improvements show us both that progress is possible and also that creating the nurturing environments our kids deserve and need to thrive will require bold and sustained actions and investments.
Still at 50th, New Mexico must continue to invest in our kids in hard times
New Mexico’s 50th ranking in child well-being is the result of a decade of austerity due to choices lawmakers made during the last recession. In 2019 and early 2020, Lawmakers began to put the state on the right path for our kids. The pandemic and current recession do not need to derail us.
Recent News Coverage
When inspiration isn’t enough
New Mexico ranked 49th in child well-being based on data gathered before the coronavirus pandemic. The year before, our state was 50th. New Mexico Voices for Children partners with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to release the annual Kids Count report that tracks 16 metrics of children's access to education, health and economic and social stability at home.
Pre-pandemic improvement in child well-being a glimpse at what investments can do
Incremental improvements show us both that progress is possible and also that creating the nurturing environments our kids deserve and need to thrive will require bold and sustained actions and investments.
KIDS COUNT Conferences & Workshops
2020 KIDS COUNT Conference Virtual Series Session One: Status of Child Well-Being in New Mexico & KIDS COUNT Data Book Release Held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this first of three sessions featured Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham as keynote speaker, as well as Karina Jimenez Lewis and Amber Wallin. Session Two: Family Economic Security & State Economic Stability and Recovery featured Erica Williams and NM Taxation & Revenue Department Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke. Session Three: Cradle-to-Career Education in the time of COVID-19 and Recession featured Lt. Governor Howie Morales, NM Early Childhood Education & Care Department Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky, and a panel of education experts.
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.