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. KIDS COUNT is a program of the Annie E. Casey Foundation with branches in each of the 50 states, D.C., and several territories.
Featured Content
National 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book
This annual report, 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. New Mexico placed 50th in 2025. See New Mexico’s profile here (pdf).
2024 New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Book: How We Measure Poverty Counts
Child well-being is slowly improving in New Mexico, thanks to investments by our lawmakers. This annual report provides data on numerous child well-being indicators related to economic security, education, health, and family and community, and includes policy solutions.
KIDS COUNT County Fact Sheets
Some New Mexico counties have access to a greater variety of economic opportunities for families as well as support services and programs to help them thrive. By highlighting data by county, we can discover varying needs for improvement in our systems and policies to reach every community and to improve child and family well-being. (State- and county-level data on child population by race, ethnicity and age group, and 18 indicators of child well-being.)
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
2024 New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Book
NM KIDS COUNT Data Book Child well-being continues improving in New Mexico, thanks to investments by our lawmakers. This annual report provides data on numerous child well-being indicators related to economic security, education, health, and family and community, and includes policy solutions. (State-, county-, tribal- and school district-level data on child well-being.)
New Mexico KIDS COUNT County Fact Sheets
County Fact Sheets Some counties have access to a greater variety of economic opportunities and support services. By highlighting data by county, we can discover varying needs for improvement in our systems and policies. (State- and county-level data on child population by race, ethnicity and age group, and 18 indicators of child well-being.)
Recent Blog Posts
Once again, N.M. ranks 50th for kids; this must change
Santa Fe New Mexican--New Mexicans are a people of strength, resilience and deep-rooted pride — shaped by our commitment to community and our dedication to the well-being of families. That’s why it’s painful to reconcile our values with the news in this week’s release of state rankings on child well-being from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count Data Book. Once again, New Mexico is ranked 50th. Two things are true: Progress takes time — and our children can’t afford to wait.
New Mexico Voices for Children Releases 2024 New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Book
January 21, 2025 As child advocates, we strive for [...]
Recent News Coverage
Advocacy group talks report ranking New Mexico last for child wellbeing
KOB--The 2025 National Kids Count is in, putting New Mexico at the bottom for child well-being. “A reminder that these numbers are from 2023, so we hadn’t fully implemented our almost universally free childcare and access to pre-K yet in 2023, it was just starting to roll out. That number we expect it to rise in coming years,” she said. Graduation rates are still trending upward, but stats that do raise some eyebrows are math and reading scores.
Report: NM’s child well-being shows mixed momentum
Public News Service--A traditional marker used to measure child well-being in the U.S. shows New Mexico notched both improvements and declines in several areas. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book historically shows New Mexico at or near the bottom of its report, which puts it at 50th in the nation. Emily Wildau, senior research and policy analyst at New Mexico Voices for Children, said it is important to remember the data was collected in 2023, when kids and families were experiencing severe inflation from the pandemic.
Conferences & Workshops
Find conference and workshop materials here
2022 KIDS COUNT Virtual Conference Kids at the Heart of Public Policy: Centering Children, Youth, and Families for Transformational Change Held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this conference featured an opening message by Lt. Governor Howie Morales, keynote by Anne Price, President, The Insight Center, a presentation by Emily Wildau, NMVC Research & Policy Analyst/KIDS COUNT Coordinator, and a presentation by the NMVC Policy Team.
2021 KIDS COUNT Virtual Conference A Just, Equitable & Sustainable Future for New Mexico Families: Centering Children & Women of Color in Recovery Held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this conference featured an opening message by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Taifa Smith Butler, President of Demos, as keynote speaker, a presentation by NMVC Deputy Director Amber Wallin, and a community panel of women of color from across the state working to improve outcomes for New Mexico’s kids and families.
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.
Turning Data into Action 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.
Transforming Education: From Birth to Success Convened in December 2010 to improve the educational status and well-being of New Mexico’s children by aligning early childhood care and education programs with the curricula of kindergarten through third grade, this 2-day conference was attended by about 100 policymakers, ECE professionals, advocates, and other stakeholders. Speakers and panelists from across the country shared the strategies they successfully employed to fund quality ECE programs in their areas. Participants shared their expertise, best practices, and ideas for moving forward.