Lawmakers and law enforcement officials in recent months have pitched the idea of splitting New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department into two distinct state agencies as a way to address systemic issues and manage caseloads. However, the proposal has drawn mixed reactions.
Nicole O’Daniel won’t be able to give birth to her second child — due in early August — in the town where she lives after Los Alamos Medical Center announced it is discontinuing its labor and delivery services. Parents like O'Daniel say an open hospital in their community should provide the care.
New Mexico’s state-subsidized childcare program has the better part of $1 billion over the next several years to fund an expansion to free, universal access. But overspending just weeks into the launch of the expansion has legislative analysts concerned about the program's sustainability.
The change is the latest in a series of shrinkages in obstetric care for New Mexico patients, particularly those who live in rural areas.
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CYFD touted its recent successes in juvenile justice, and warned that dividing the agency would require rigorous planning.
Analysts say the state will likely need to revise its future budgeting for universal childcare, due to a higher than expected surge in enrollment.
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Searchlight New Mexico
Searchlight New Mexico
Searchlight New Mexico
Sunshine can’t solve everything, it seems. A new report from researchers with Tulane University’s State of the Nation Project paints a troubling portrait of hopelessness, depression and grief in the sunny Land of Enchantment.
The site of a former state history museum in Socorro is set to be demolished after 10 years of vacancy. Demolition was initially scheduled to start in June but advocates argue the state should reconsider and repurpose the space to provide services to foster and at-risk youth.
The New Mexico Supreme Court has denied a request filed by the ACLU of New Mexico and two Democratic state lawmakers that asked for CYFD to stop its controversial policy of taking drug-exposed infants into protective custody.
New Mexico’s controversial new strategy of immediately taking drug-exposed newborns into custody faces a state Supreme Court challenge. The ACLU of New Mexico, joined by two Democratic state lawmakers, claim the practice violates parents’ rights.
Parents across New Mexico like Cecilia Sharbutt in Las Cruces have faced barriers in identifying their children’s mental/behavioral health conditions. But trying to get them the services they need has been just as challenging as the rollout of a statewide system of care falls behind.
Memorial Medical Center has been repeatedly accused of denying cancer care to low-income patients. A patient advocate is suing Doña Ana County for allegedly refusing to provide documents about the hospital's cancer program.
A union representing workers at the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department says the state agency retaliated and harassed employees who shed light in recent news reports on the toxic work environments at county offices. CYFD officials are denying the allegations.
The state says it has tried everything and that repurposing the facility would require millions and a monumental effort.
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The justices rejected a petition filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico and two Democratic state lawmakers to halt the program.
