Publications
The Well-Being of Black Children in New Mexico
Report Child poverty in New Mexico is among the worst in the nation and disparities exist within all indicators of child well-being for children of color. 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 some 20 indicators of child well-being. (A special KIDS COUNT report; state-, county-, and school-district-level data on indicators of child well-being)
Moving the Needle on Child Well-Being
Report 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; state-level data on indicators of child well-being)
Improving the best anti-poverty measure in New Mexico
Fact Sheet New Mexico's Working Families Tax Credit works with the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which has been hailed as one of the best anti-poverty, pro-job creation measures Congress has ever enacted. This fact sheet explains why this tax credit works so well and how New Mexico policymakers could make it even more effective. And it could all be paid for by ending an ineffective tax credit. (State-level data on the Working Families Tax Credit)
New Mexico Kids at the Crossroads
Policy Agenda With the highest rate of child poverty in the nation, New Mexico is not providing the opportunities our children need to succeed. But the good news is that we can improve opportunities for New Mexico’s kids through public policy. This children's agenda for candidates in the 2018 election provides 30 policy recommendations that will help improve child well-being in New Mexico.
2018 KIDS COUNT county profiles
County Data Sheets These KIDS COUNT profiles include data for the 16 indicators of child well-being -- such as child poverty, teen birth rate, etc. -- as well as demographic data -- such as population by race and ethnicity, median household income, etc. -- for several New Mexico counties. (A KIDS COUNT publication; county-level data on indicators of child well-being)
NM’s Lottery Scholarship is not targeted to the students who need it most
Fact Sheet The Lottery Scholarship - the state’s largest financial aid program - is not need-based even though New Mexico has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation. What's more, it's not distributed in a way that helps many low-income students. (State-level data on college affordability)
The Medicaid expansion has helped put New Mexico back to work
Fact Sheet New Mexico has had one of the slowest job growth rates in the nation. But one industry is leading the way with new hires--and we have the Affordable Care Act, and specifically the Medicaid expansion, to thank for much of that. This fact sheet illustrates how health care jobs are good for the whole state.
The Medicaid expansion has been a great deal for New Mexico
Fact Sheet Thanks to the Medicaid expansion, thousands more adults now have health care, but even though the number of people covered has increased significantly, the cost to cover them has not.
The Medicaid expansion has helped New Mexico’s bottom line
Fact Sheet The Medicaid expansion hasn't just provided health care to thousands of New Mexico adults -- it's also been good for the state's bottom line. This fact sheet follows the money to show how this program has helped New Mexico's cash flow.
A Blueprint for a Prosperous State
Policy Brief Prosperity requires investments. You can’t grow a garden without good soil, water, and some hard work. Same with a state - you can’t have prosperity without resources, infrastructure, and a skilled workforce. But New Mexico has tried to cut its way to prosperity and it hasn't worked. This brief offers several recommendations for raising revenue so lawmakers can invest in our state and its people.