Report shows where New Mexico is doing well and where it needs to improve in child welfare

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s a place usually bustling with kids learning about the sciences, but on Wednesday, policymakers gathered at Explora to discuss how to improve the well-being of those children and kids across the state.

Advocacy group New Mexico Voices for Children presented their Children’s Roadmap – detailing childcare, education, and welfare stats, including numbers showing that single parents in New Mexico make just over half of what they need to raise a family. The report also identified which possible state policies could help them, such as expanding general assistance and unemployment benefits.

One change already in place is New Mexico’s recent groundbreaking policy offering free universal childcare, which Voices for Children touts as a major victory. “Several thousand more families have access to childcare, more children are enrolled, and families are experiencing a huge boost in their pocketbook”

But as Chief Legislative Officer Jacob Vigil said, they need to work on actually implementing these policies consistently across the state. “We need to address the shortage in healthcare providers, both physical and behavioral, especially in rural areas is a significant place we need to work on.”