2020
New Mexico Unveils App for Behavioral Health Support
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 04.14.2020 SANTA FE — The state of New Mexico has launched NMConnect, a new phone app that provides free 24-hour crisis and non-crisis support and access to behavioral health professionals who can text or talk via phone with individuals needing a...
Secretary of CYFD Weighs in on Challenges Facing Foster Care in the Age of COVID-19
By MK Mendoza, Santa Fe Public Radio 04.13.2020 State Secretary of Children, Youth and Families Brian Blalock weighs in on the difficulties foster children face during the pandemic of COVID-19. Take a listen here.
New Mexico Early Childhood Funders Group Launches Emergency Response Grants Program
For Immediate Release: Matt Bieber, Director of CommunicationsEarly Childhood Education Care Department 04.10.2020 SANTA FE - Today, Early Childhood Education and Care Department Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky announced the launch of a new grant program designed to...
New Mexico Supreme Court Suspends In-Person CYFD Family Visits for 30 Days in Response To COVID-19 Outbreak
For Immediate Release: Melody Wells, Public Information Officer 03.27.2020SANTA FE -- The Children, Youth & Families Department announced Friday that it will begin facilitating court-ordered family visits for children who are in foster care through video and...
State of New Mexico reaches innovative settlement agreement with foster youth and child advocates
03.26.2020 N.M. to develop a trauma-responsive system for children in state custody and expand their commitment to Native youth ALBUQUERQUE — The State of New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) and Human Services Department (HSD) have reached an...
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fact Sheet
By Charlie Moore-Pabst, Deputy Public Information Officer 03.20.2020 CYFD has worked with DOH to develop a fact sheet that is meant to be distributed to our clients, partners—anyone you work with who needs information specific to the coronavirus outbreak as it...
New Mexico Expands Child Care Eligibility, Guarantees Payments for Child Care Providers During Public Health Emergency
For Immediate Release: Matt Bieber, Director of CommunicationsEarly Childhood Education Care Department 03.16.2020 SANTA FE – In response to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s March 11 declaration of a public health emergency, the Children, Youth, and Families...
Governor signs three child welfare bills
For Immediate Release: Nora Meyers Sackett, Press Secretary,Office of the Governor 03.06.2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Nora Meyers SackettPress Secretary, Office of the Governornora.sackett@state.nm.us(505) 690-7313 March 6, 2020 SANTA FE – Gov....
Joint Statement from Concerned Legislators and CYFD Regarding Open Meetings Act and CYFD Task Force
By Rep. Gallegos, et. al. 02.06.2020 All involved parties thank the Attorney General for providing quick clarification that the Child Protective Services Task Force is not subject to the state’s Open Meetings Act because of its advisory-only nature. Leadership with...