Publications
New Mexico’s Working Families Tax Credit
Report In New Mexico, the Working Families Tax Credit is one of the most sensible parts of our tax code: it encourages work, helps to raise hard-working families out of poverty, and benefits almost 300,000 children, while also pumping millions back into local communities. Increasing the credit is a smart investment in our businesses, working families, and future. (State-level data on recipiency; appendix contains county- and legislative-district-level data on recipiency)
2016 KIDS COUNT in New Mexico
NM KIDS COUNT Data Book In the past year, New Mexico has seen some improvements in child well-being—especially regarding health. We’ve also seen troubling increases in other indicators over the short- and long-term. This annual report on child well-being presents data on indicators such as child and teen death rates, preschool enrollment, teen births, and more. (State-, county-, tribal-, and school-district-level data on indicators of child well-being)
Raising the State Minimum Wage
Report Raising the minimum wage is an effective strategy for reducing poverty in New Mexico, particularly given the erosion of its purchasing power since it was last raised in 2009. This report looks at the demographics of the state’s minimum wage earners, as well as makes the case for indexing the wage to inflation. (State-level data on minimum wage workforce)
Why we shouldn’t tax food in New Mexico
Fact Sheet Reinstatement on the tax on food is likely to come up in the 2017 legislative session even though New Mexico has the second highest rate of children who don't always have enough to eat. This infographic looks at food insecurity in New Mexico and which other states in the nation tax food. (State-level data on food insecurity, SNAP usage)
New Mexico Kids are Counting on Us
Presentation Looks at some of the data on child well-being in New Mexico as well as the public policies that cause and could alleviate many of our state’s problems. Presented to the Native American Professional Parent Resources staff. (A KIDS COUNT presentation; state-level data on indicators of child well-being)
Turning Assistance into Opportunity
Report The TANF program provides some cash assistance to eligible families with children so they can better afford basic necessities. Unfortunately, TANF in New Mexico does not sufficiently address one of the reasons families fall into or remain in poverty: the lack of education credentials and job skills, which present barriers to employment and to getting jobs that pay family-sustaining wages. (A KIDS COUNT Special Report; state-level data on TANF recipiency)
A Health Impact Assessment of a Tax on Food Purchases in NM
Presentation Looks at how reinstating the tax on groceries would impact the health of New Mexico’s already-food-insecure families. Presented at the NM Public Health Association’s Health Policy Legislative Forum. (State- and county-level data on food insecurity; state-level data on economic security)
Child Welfare Matters
Presentation On the status of child well-being in New Mexico, with a focus on child abuse, looking at policies that have negatively impacted child well-being and policy solutions that would improve it. Presented to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee. (State-level data on indicators of child well-being)
Hunger 101
Presentation Looks are some of the reasons child hunger is so pervasive in New Mexico as well as policy solutions from our NM KIDS are COUNTing on Us campaign that would help. Presented at the Interfaith Hunger Coalition's Hunger 101 Workshop in Albuquerque. (State-level data on indicators of child well-being, food insecurity, and economic security)
New Mexico Public School Funding through the Great Recession and Beyond
Report A lawsuit currently working its way thought the New Mexico court system asserts that the state has failed to provide school funding sufficient for the education of all school-age children in the state, as required by the New Mexico constitution. This report supports those arguments.