FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Senator Howie Morales Pushes Creation of Early Childhood Services Department
Bill passes Education Committee, All Democrats Supporting
(Santa Fe, NM) – Pointing to the huge need to improve the lives of at-risk children in New Mexico, Democratic Senator Howie Morales (D-28-Catron, Grant and Socorro) today called for the creation a state agency solely focused on promoting and administering all early childhood services. Morales’ Senate Bill 106 passed the key Senate Education Committee, and if enacted, would consolidate the funding streams, programs and personnel of numerous early childhood services currently dispersed across the Departments of Education; Children Youth and Families; and Health.
“Research shows that an intense focus on children from birth to five can significantly improve life-long outcomes. By creating an Early Childhood Services Department, we can reduce the fragmentation, the uneven quality and the inequity in our programs and services. We spend close to $250 million annually on several agencies to serve between 50 – 70 thousand children and families. This legislation will go a long way to help us get it right. It is critical that we ensure every child in New Mexico is given the best opportunity at the earliest age for success in school, career and life,” said Sen. Morales.
The legislation represents the most comprehensive effort to coordinate and improve the full range of services necessary to support young children between the ages of 0 to 5 in their development to be introduced in the session. It would provide expectant parents and families needed resources and skills to raise children who are healthy and ready to learn; promote safe, stable and nurturing environments for all children and families; help families achieve their goals; deliver services to help children develop emotionally and socially, and get assistance for nutrition, education, child care and health care.
Sen. Morales called for urgent action on his bill, observing that New Mexico ranks 49th in children’s well-being, has the highest rate of children living in poverty in the nation, that 59% of 3 and 4 year olds are not enrolled in pre-school, that more than 70% of children are not proficient in reading by the 4th grade, and that 41% of children in our state are raised in single-parent families.
SB 106 is supported by advocates for public school classrooms and children including NM-AFT, NM-NEA, United Way of Santa Fe, and others.
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