Administration Initiatives
As part of the 2020-2024 Child and Family Service Plan, New Mexico has worked across the state’s child welfare system to support the prevention of child and youth maltreatment and work toward better outcomes for children and families. CYFD continues to work with key stakeholders in creating an equitable child welfare system, with a diverse group of individuals to better understand the impact of system involvement to improve services and outcomes statewide.
Executive Order 2023-020 issued by Governor Lujan Grisham focuses on systemic improvements to CYFD’s organizational structure, policies and procedures, requiring immediate changes in how the department operates and sets out a long-term vision for how the department will strengthen its practices. This EO increases transparency, empowers staff, fosters collaboration, and enhances constituent services.
Family Resource Centers
In 2024, four Family Resource Centers (FRCs) were established in Chaves, Doña Ana, Rio Arriba, and Valencia counties by CYFD. These community hubs have been created to serve as a “one stop shop” for services. As the lead agency, CYFD led the RFP process and provides funding and contract oversight, with community-based nonprofit providers operating the centers and partner agencies co-locating services. In addition, CYFD’s Family Services Division supports programming within FRCs so that clients can get multiple, overlapping needs met. The Aging & Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD), DOH, DWS, ECECD, and HCA have established partnerships to co-locate within these resource hubs to help families more seamlessly navigate systems.
Gun Violence
The recent spate of gun-related tragedies in New Mexico, including the deaths of young children and the discovery of firearms in a high school, has brought to light the severe and escalating crisis of gun violence in the state. New Mexico faces one of the highest rates of firearms-related deaths among children in the U.S., underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue head-on. Addressing this public health emergency necessitates a multifaceted approach, akin to strategies employed during disease outbreaks, including preventative measures, treatment for those affected, and ongoing support for families. Initiatives in New Mexico to combat gun violence include gun buyback programs, distribution of free trigger locks, prioritized treatment for substance use disorders, and enforcing timely behavioral health treatment. However, the state faces significant challenges, particularly in the realm of behavioral healthcare, necessitating innovative solutions and community unity to protect the lives of young people and halt the spread of this violent epidemic.
Learn more at the Gun Violence Dashboard.
The Safe Storage New Mexico program, which offers free cable gun locks, distributed over 11,000 locks to New Mexicans in 2025, resulting in safer gun storage for thousands of households. On January 6, 2024, the NM State Police held gun buyback programs in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Espanola, and Farmington, resulting in 1,289 guns collected and an additional 33 donated.
Child Maltreatment
New Mexico’s rate of child maltreatment has been in steady decline since peaking in 2020, when rates of maltreatment reached 6,953 children. In 2023, 5,599 children were victims of
maltreatment, down from 5,747 in 2022 and 5,903 in 2021.