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A new U.S. Census Bureau report shows the rate of children without health insurance in New Mexico was 5.9% in 2023, compared to 5.4% nationwide. (FotoAndalucia/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

New census data show significant drop in NM's child poverty

A new federal report shows anti-poverty policies enacted by New Mexico are making a big difference. This month, the U.S. Census Bureau has released …

Monday, September 16, 2024

Orange glow in Albuquerque night sky lights up Hunger Action Month

New Mexico's Roadrunner Food Bank sent a "glowing" invitation to encourage food and financial contributions during September's Hunger Action Month…

The Sierra Club said a third of all Americans, including 28 million children, do not have a park or natural space within a 10-minute walk of their home. (milicanistoran/Adobe Stock)

Congress urged to protect outdoor program for 4th-graders

A national program to connect children and families with the outdoors is at risk of ending without help from Congress. The Every Kid Outdoors …

Diminishing snowpack in northern New Mexico due to climate change will shorten the season for skiing and other forms of winter tourism and recreation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (RaisaNastukova/AdobeStock)

Boosting ‘Hope’ about climate-change among NM's next generation

New Mexico teachers educating young people about climate change don't want them to feel hopeless - and they've developed an educational curriculum to …

Al igual que la candidata al Senado de Nuevo M�xico, Cindy Nava, casi uno de cada diez residentes de Nuevo M�xico es un inmigrante. (Foto cortes�a de Nava)

Nuevo México 'Dreamer' pone la mira en legislatura estatal

Una "Dreamer" que se postula para el Senado de Nuevo México dice que un plan de la administración Biden para crear vías que permitan a …

New Mexico's Save the Children organization has previously engaged kids on summer break from school to help create a 9-foot paint-by-numbers mural. (Photo courtesy of Save the Children)

Helping prevent the summer slide among NM's school-aged kids

Some New Mexico kids hope summer never ends, while others cannot wait to get back in the classroom and both groups are at risk of falling behind in …

The average college scholarship recipient in New Mexico is under 25 years old, female and Hispanic. (Julie/Adobe Stock)

New Mexico earns high marks, boosts enrollment with no-cost college

New Mexico consistently ranks low in childhood educational achievement, but its path to a college degree is being recognized at the highest levels…

Only 28% of Hispanic people and 37% of Black people have taken swimming lessons, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (cabq.gov)

'World's Largest Swimming Lesson' comes to Albuquerque pools

It is the first day of summer and time for a global event called the "World's Largest Swimming Lesson." Albuquerque's West Mesa Aquatic Center will o…

States ranked lowest in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation tend to have more children of color in their populations, highlighting institutionalized and systemic racism. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)

Children's advocates: NM 'cradle to career' investment pays off

Advocates for New Mexico's kids say at the heart of an annual report on child welfare is positive news for the state's families. The Annie E…

Emerson Elementary is one of Albuquerque's public schools where crossing guards keep kids safe. (City of Albuquerque)

ABQ school crossing guards host 'Seats and Feets' clothing drive

Crossing guards see a lot of kids who could use some new duds. But for the second year, the "Seats and Feets" Albuquerque clothing drive is …

The Kids Online Safety Act could necessitate that platforms verify users' ages. (momius/Adobe Stock)

NM LGBTQ group fears far-reaching effects of 'Kids Online Safety Act'

Legislation meant to protect minors on social media platforms could be voted on in Washington this week. But some in New Mexico's LGBTQ community …

A new study concludes that while anti-bullying protections in schools are effective, they are likely insufficient to address the mental health struggles of LGBTQ youth. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Study: NM's laws help reduce suicide among LGBTQ youth

A new study suggests laws in New Mexico and 22 other states to protect school-aged LGBTQ youth are having a positive impact. According to research …

Almost all of New Mexico's 2,000 school buses run on diesel fuel. (Thomas/AdobeStock)

Advocates for electric school buses want NM to follow Colorado's lead

Studies show the health of New Mexico children who ride school buses could improve if the buses were electric instead of diesel, and efforts are …

Black and Latino youths are more likely to experience a gun homicide closer to their home when compared with white youths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock/Bettencourt/peopleimages.com)

NM lawmakers move gun-control bills forward

Gun control legislation is making headway in the 2024 New Mexico legislative session. On Wednesday, the New Mexico Senate passed a bill to ban guns …

New Mexico is one of 10 states where 20% of school districts have funding below adequate levels, according to a new report. (exellentschools.org)<br />

Report: NM school funding suffers from lack of 'economic capacity'

A new report says state funding for public schools has fallen off a "fiscal cliff" in 39 states, and that New Mexico is one of 10 states where some 60…

The rate of New Mexico high school students not graduating on time was down from 33% a decade ago to 23% in 2019-2020. (Julie/Adobe Stock)

Report: New Mexico's child well-being slowly improving

Child well-being in New Mexico appears to be slowly improving with a marked decline in child poverty. Data from New Mexico Voices for Children found …

New Mexico aims for 'no hungry holidays' by doubling donations

Just a few days into December, food bank demand is high while some warehouse shelves are lean, and in New Mexico, a matching donation program this …

New Mexico is projected to face a glaring

NM Youth Protest Over Climate-Change Accountability

Today's young people will struggle most with the affects of climate change, and a New Mexico youth group brings its concerns to the streets of …

New Mexico's Healthy Foods Market, operated by Roadrunner Food Bank, distributes fresh produce and perishable food items monthly in nine urban, rural and tribal communities. (Photo courtesy RRFB)

New Mexico's Food Activists Shine Light on Hunger

The lines at hunger relief organizations are longer now as pandemic-related benefits have ended, but you can help your neighbors with grocery …

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has found trauma is present in almost every age, race, ability, and socioeconomic group. (MNStudios/Pixabay)

NM Teachers Have Tools to Ease 'Back to School' Transition

Since the pandemic, back-to-school season brings up a lot of emotions for parents and kids, and can be even harder for those affected by a school …

The average young person knows at least one other person who's been injured or killed by a gun, according to a survey by Everytown for Gun Safety and the Southern Poverty Law Center. (michelmond/Adobe Stock)

Report: Young Americans Feel Unsafe, Support Stricter Gun Laws

Some 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and almost 60% want to see stricter gun laws, according to a new report from …

Roughly 26% of teenagers and college students volunteer in their communities. (motortion/AdobeStock)<br />

NM Schools Use 'Real-life' Experiences to Ready Students for College, Career

A New Mexico program is offering high school students more real-world experiences to boost their interest in college and a career. Future Focused …

Santa Fe, New Mexico's capital city, will mark the 30th anniversary of Pride celebrations on Saturday, June 24, with a festival on the downtown plaza. (unm.org)

NM Touts Prominent Advances in LGBTQ Rights During 'Pride Month'

New laws offering greater protections for New Mexico's LGBTQ+ community are taking effect in the coming days as diversity is celebrated during June's …

New Mexico used federal pandemic funds to expand child care assistance, which was replaced by state funding during the 2023 legislative session to prevent a reversal. (nmvoices.org)

NM Kids' Well-Being Falls Short; Child Advocates Expect Turnaround

New Mexico ranks last in a new report on kids' overall well-being by state, but children's advocates said the two-year-old data does not tell the …

The phenomenon called summer learning loss is notable in countries with lengthy breaks, including the United States and Canada. (AdobeStock/peopleimages.com)

NM's Schoolchildren Get Help Through 'Make Summer Fair' Program

Summer, with its 90-day break from school, can be fun but also a challenge for New Mexico's rural kids who rely on school for companionship and meals…

The percentages of high-school students who say they often feel

NM Parents Encouraged to Know When Kids Need Mental Health Intervention

More behavioral-health providers may be enticed to move to New Mexico after a bill passed by the Legislature this year made treatment for behavioral h…

New Mexico's college or higher graduation rate is 28.1%, compared with 30.3% in neighboring Arizona, according to data from the World Population Review. (Sharkshock/AdobeStock)

$1.3M Grant Introduces NM Middle, High Schoolers to College Options

Research shows college graduates have 60% more job opportunities than non-graduates, and a New Mexico program will make sure kids - starting in …

The new Indian Youth Service Corps enlists Indigenous youths for paying jobs that include trail restoration, habitat surveys, climate mitigation, watershed restoration and other culturally important tasks. (Kristi Rugg/National Park Service)

Indian Youth Services Corps Offers Jobs in Conservation, Preservation

Indigenous youths have been enlisted in the Southwest, including New Mexico, to help conserve natural and cultural resources on tribal lands as part …

Only three states - Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin - continue to prosecute 17-year-olds in adult courts, according to The Sentencing Project. (AlexasFotos/Pixabay)

Report: Blaming Youth for COVID Crime Wave is False

Data from The Sentencing Project showed the share of crimes in the U.S. committed by young people has fallen by more than half in the past two …

The Journal of the American Medical Association says trans youths with access to gender-affirming care are 60% less likely to have moderate to severe depression and are 73% less suicidal. (MaryBettiniBlank/Pixabay)

States Form Coalition to Counter Anti-LGBTQ Bills

New Mexico and 18 other states have announced plans to introduce legislation they say will be needed to protect transgender kids from civil and crimin…

Two out of three drug-overdose deaths in New Mexico in 2019 involved an opioid, including prescription opioids, heroin, or fentanyl, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. (brown.edu)

NM Joins Other States in Decriminalizing Fentanyl Testing Strips

For the past two decades, New Mexico has had one of the highest rates of overdose deaths in the nation, increasingly linked to fentanyl. But until …

According to the Sentencing Project, 25 states and the District of Columbia have banned life sentences without the possibility of parole for people younger than 18. (GerdAltmann/Pixabay)

NM Misses Chance to Ban 'Life Without Parole' Sentences for Youths

With hours remaining in New Mexico's 2022 legislative session, a bill to disallow life sentences without the possibility of parole for juveniles was …

New Mexico is trying to buck the trend in at least 19 states, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, by expanding rather than limiting voter access. (unitedstatesofcare.org)

Landmark 'New Mexico Voting Rights Act' Stalls in Senate

Amid support and criticism, a marathon public hearing and debate over a bill to bolster voting access ended in the New Mexico Roundhouse Friday …

In 2021, bills prohibiting health care for trans youth were introduced in more than 20 states according to a tally from the American Civil Liberties Union. (Flimbetrachter/Pixabay)

LGBTQ Leaders to NM Governor: Prioritize Anti-Discrimination Laws

New Mexico's short, 30-day legislative session starts today with a focus on budget issues. Nonetheless, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer …

The Grassroots Law Project is collecting signatures on a petition asking New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to call up a juvenile justice

NM Juvenile Justice Advocates Press Governor for Action

New Mexico's 30 day legislative session, held in even-numbered years, typically focuses on budget issues, but juvenile justice advocates are hopeful …

Nearly 2,000 children in New Mexico's foster care system will be recipients of new EcoCare Kits to help them connect to nature and their court-appointed advocates. (3330852/Pixabay)

NM Nature Kits Connect Foster Children with Court Advocates

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The 800 children living in foster care near Albuquerque are some of the first to receive a new therapeutic kit designed to help …

Violence and maltreatment remain widespread in juvenile corrections and detention facilities nationwide, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (johnhain/Pixabay)

Debate Over Youth Prison Sentences Continues in New Mexico

SANTA FE, N.M. -- A New Mexico legislator is optimistic a bill will pass in the 2022 session to prohibit life sentences for juveniles convicted of …

Experts say regular outdoor learning opportunities promote greater physical well-being and improved brain function in children. (isakarakus/Pixabay)

Advocates to Congress: Kids Need More Outdoor Learning

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- As Congress considers making significant investments in the nation's child-care system, children's advocates argued now is the …

As schools prepare to kick off fall semester, there are many unknowns as new waves of COVID-19 outbreaks could emerge. (educadormarcossv/Pixabay)

NM Schools Resume In-Person Learning with Mask Protocols

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The youngest students, along with faculty and staff, will need to mask up in the Rio Rancho schools when classes begin next …

New Mexico had a 45% improvement in children without health insurance in 2019, compared with the previous year, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (darkside-550/Pixabay)

NM Notes Marked Improvements in Child Well-Being Report

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A New Mexico child-advocate group is expressing cautious optimism about incremental improvements in the latest Kids Count report…

Monthly oil and gas royalties from New Mexico lands hit an all-time high at $110 million in April. (news.unm.edu)

NM Youth Activists Deliver Signatures to Governor on Fracking Permits

SANTA FE, N.M. - A group of youth activists in New Mexico heads to the Roundhouse today to deliver more than 1,000 signatures. They're calling on Gov…

Nearly three million people have died worldwide from COVID-19 since last March, and the pandemic has triggered significant emotional issues for people of all ages. (jhu.edu)

Will Spring Relieve Post-COVID Stress Disorder?

SANTA FE, N.M. -- As New Mexicans welcome spring temperatures, many hope to put the coronavirus pandemic in the rear-view mirror. At the same time…

In 2019, 8.4% of New Mexico youths in grades 9-12 slept away from their homes because they were kicked out, ran away or were abandoned, according to the New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey. (sdyouthservices.org)

Northern New Mexico Makes Inroads to Solve Generational Homelessness

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Family and economic problems combined with residential instability are often the cause of homelessness among youths. But in …

New Mexico's Early Childhood Education Trust Fund will help provide a long-term funding source to invest in New Mexico's youngest children, according to New Mexico Voices for Children.(Victoria_Borodinova/Pixabay)

Pluses Outweigh Minuses in NM Kids Count Data Despite Pandemic

SANTA FE, N.M. -- A report on New Mexico's children and families showed steady improvement in child poverty since 2016, declining from nearly 31% to 2…

New Mexico State University is open and operational this fall, but efforts to get students registered to vote is largely virtual. (nmsu.edu)

College Campuses Capitalize on National Voter Registration Day

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- The youth vote in American elections always has been elusive, but this year, 63% of Americans age 18-29 say they will "definitely …

In 1906, Albuquerque schools preemptively closed for a week's vacation because so many students had skipped school in previous years to attend the annual New Mexico State Fair. (SofiLayla/Pixabay)

Real Livestock, Virtual Cotton Candy: 2020 New Mexico State Fair

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Kids and parents looking for remote-learning activities this week can stroll through the livestock barns at the virtual New …

New Mexico youth aging out the the state's juvenile justice system during the pandemic have found many offices closed, so it's harder to get the documents needed for a job or driver's license. (GoranH/Pixabay)

Will COVID-19 Hasten Juvenile Justice Reform in New Mexico?

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- As in the prison population in general, young people of color are disproportionately represented in the U.S. juvenile justice …

Children under age five are by far the largest of any age group consistently missed in the decennial census count. (shawn1/Pixabay)

Accurate Census Count Can Boost NM Children's Success in Life

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The number of young children missed in the census count has grown steadily in the past 40 years, and advocates for New Mexico …

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