Contact: Andrew Skobinsky, Director of Communications
andrew.skobinsky@cyfd.nm.gov
(505) 500-9436
Jessica Preston
Jessica.preston@cyfd.nm.gov
(505) 699-2262
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 09, 2024
2026 budget reflects 6% increase over 2025 to support planned enhancements
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department’s (CYFD) proposed FY2026 budget of $412.7 million aims to enhance delivery of high-quality programs and services across the agency with a core mission of improving the lives of New Mexico’s most vulnerable children and youth.
The plan calls for a 6.1 % increase of $23.5 million over the current year operating budget.
“CYFD is dedicated to securing the safety and well-being of the children and youth of New Mexico and early intervention and preventative actions are essential to this mission,” said CYFD Secretary Teresa Casados. “The proposed budget will allow us to make targeted program and service enhancements and improve our public interactions by upgrading facilities, adding staff, and enacting a more robust and effective employee training curriculum.”
The budget request proposes new funding for essential positions within the Protective Services Division to meet the caseload standards. In addition, the request includes money for additional staff at CYFD’s 24-hour facilities including the receiving center, which will help reduce overnight office stays for children in CYFD’s care. Improved staff training is an additional CYFD priority reflected in the budget, with an additional $3 million investment proposed to enhance the training curriculum and improve the quality of training provided to CYFD’s employees.
Another focus is enhanced prevention and intervention services, including Community-Based Prevention, Intervention and Reunification, Keeping Families Together, Family Outreach, In-Home Services, and Family Resource Centers. This will enable CYFD to work more efficiently and to more consistently achieve prevention and early intervention goals. Providing prevention services to families across New Mexico is crucial to keeping families together and children out of CYFD care.
CYFD remains committed to transparency and efficiency in its financial management.
“The fiscally responsible FY 2026 budget request will enable the department to better meet service and delivery goals and support families and children,” Casados said. “I look forward to working with the legislature to get this budget approved and sent to Gov. Lujan Grisham so we can continue to build upon improvement we’ve already made at CYFD in support of New Mexico children and youth.
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