New Mexico Pioneers State-Wide Childcare Initiative, Announces Governor

New Mexico to Launch Universal Child Care System Starting November 1

New Mexico is set to revolutionize its child care system, with the launch of a universal child care initiative starting November 1. This groundbreaking move, announced by the governor's administration, aims to provide no-cost child care for all families statewide.

The Early Childhood Education and Care Department, established by New Mexico lawmakers in recent years, will spearhead this initiative. The department currently spends about $463 million on child care assistance, a figure set to increase as the state expands its child care facilities.

The governor's administration passed legislation during this year's 60-day session, allowing the use of a loan program to help build new child care facilities and expand existing ones. An additional $20 million has been requested for the program in the coming budget year.

To accommodate the influx of additional families, the state plans to build 55 more licensed child care centers and register 1,000 new in-home day cares. These new facilities will prioritise areas with child care deserts, where parents have struggled to find child care slots.

The initiative removes an existing income threshold of 400% of the federal poverty level, allowing an additional 12,000 children to qualify for no-cost child care. However, concerns have been raised by some legislators, such as Rep. Rebecca Dow, about providing free child care for higher-income New Mexicans.

Dow suggests that investments should be targeted at children most at risk of child abuse and neglect, rather than providing free child care for all. This viewpoint was echoed by Rep. Rebecca Dow in a separate statement, where she questioned whether the state should provide free child care for higher-income New Mexicans.

Despite these concerns, the state's Early Childhood Education and Care Department remains committed to its universal child care initiative. The department plans to hold public rulemaking hearings in the coming months to gather feedback and ensure the initiative is implemented effectively.

The value of the early childhood trust fund, created by New Mexico lawmakers, has increased significantly, from $300 million to approximately $10 billion, due to robust tax collections on oil and natural gas production. At least some of the funding for the universal child care initiative will come from the early childhood trust fund.

The retirement of Children, Youth and Families Secretary Teresa Casados occurred recently, leaving a vacancy in the department's leadership. Despite this change, the department continues to move forward with its plans to transform New Mexico's child care system.

Several Democratic legislators, including Rep. Charlotte Little and Sen. Michael Padilla, have lauded the governor's announcement on universal child care. Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Sandoval, Lea, and Eddy are currently identified as counties with the highest need for additional child care slots in New Mexico.

The state also plans to launch a recruitment campaign for new licensed and registered home day care providers. This campaign is expected to play a crucial role in expanding the state's child care capacity and ensuring every family can access quality child care.