New Mexico Voices for Children Policy Advocacy Publications
Note: For policy reports on tax, budget and economic issues, see our Fiscal Policy Project publications page. Link to our research and policy publications organized by subject.
Our policy publications are organized by date 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 2000-2006 Policy Brief Series 2010 (back to top) Updated! A New Mexico Citizen's Guide to Children's Issues Just in time for the November 2010 election, this guide offers concise descriptions of many children's issues. Made possible by funding from First Focus and Voices for America's Children. • Download the Citizen Guide (Updated June 2010; 16 pages; pdf) 2009 (back to top) Citizen's Guide to Legislative Advocacy in New Mexico Learn the ins and outs of working with your legislators to promote an important policy or cause. Download the Citizen Guide (Updated Nov. 2009; 20 pages; pdf) Download the companion PowerPoint (27 slides; pdf)	Our Publications Policy Advocacy Fiscal Policy Project NM KIDS COUNT National Publications

Early Childhood Supports in New Mexico: Challenges and Opportunities A concise look at the challenges New Mexico's youngest residents face, as well as some of the support programs already in place. Includes some demographic and budgetary data. Download the report (April 2009; 4 pages; pdf)
2008 (back to top) Policy Brief: Covering All Kids: A Good First Step Toward Universal Health Care This policy brief shows what it would cost to cover all eligible kids under Medicaid (it's less than you might think), and what the economic benefits would be. Download the policy brief (Aug. 2008; 2 pages; pdf) Download the companion PowerPoint (Sept. 2008; 12 slides; pdf)

PowerPoint: The Foundation for a Thriving New Mexico Economy: Success Begins at Birth Why early care and education are necessary investments that more than pay off in the long run. • Download the PowerPoint (May 2008; 22 slides; pdf)

Maximizing Medicaid: Reaching and Retaining All Eligible Children By enrolling all kids who are eligible in Medicaid, we could extend health care to nearly 50,00 more children. • Download the report (Jan. 2008; 4 pages; pdf)

2007 (back to top)

PowerPoint: Challenges and Opportunities:Strategic Collaboration forEffective Change Overview of the two approaches to governing—You're On Your Own versus We're In This together—and how each affects the well being of children. • Download the PowerPoint (Nov. 2007; 22 slides; pdf) 2006 (back to top) The Crisis in Health Care and the Reauthorization of S-CHIP in the 2007 Congress Created for our S-CHIP Town Hall, this publications looks at re-authorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program—a task undertaken by the 110th Congress in 2007. Download the report (Nov. 2006; 4 pages; pdf) Download the PowerPoint (Nov. 2006; 20 slides; pdf) Listen to KUNM FM news coverage Download Albuquerque Journal news coverage (pdf

Improving Infant and Toddler Care and Education in New Mexico Although the vast majority of a child's brain development occurs before the age of four, the vast majority of our public investment in education doesn't begin until the age of five. Children who don't get quality early care and education in environments that are safe, stimulating and nurturing are less likely to succeed in school. • Download the report (June 2006; 32 pages; pdf) The Path to a High Road Economy: Investing in People, Creating Opportunity A report of the Working Poor Families Project, it looks at everything from work supports (from adult basic education to health care for all) to economic development incentives. Download the report (Jan. 2006; 39 pages; pdf) Download the companion PowerPoint (Dec. 2005; 36 slides; pdf) 2005 (back to top) Quick Facts: Spending by Child Age on Education and Development Illustrates that even though the vast majority of a child's brian development occurs before the age of four, the vast majority of our public investment in child education doesn't begin until age five. • Download the fact sheet (April 2005; 2 pages; pdf) PowerPoint: New Mexico Medicaid A primer on the Medicaid system. • Download the PowerPoint (Jan. 2005; 20 slides; pdf) 2003 (back to top) PowerPoint: Child Poverty in New Mexico Facts and myths about poverty in New Mexico. • Download the Powerpoint (Aug. 2003; 18 slides; pdf) A Public Health Response to Youth Gun Violence Every day in America, eight children and adolescents die from gunfire. With firearms both prevalent and accessible in American households, gun safety locks are the best and most effective way to keep children safe. Download the report (Jan. 2003; 8 pages; pdf) Download the PowerPoint (Oct. 2001; 42 slides; pdf) Bare Bones Budgets The federal poverty level, which is used to determine eligibility for many assistance programs, is based on an antiquated formula. This report calculates the earnings a family needs to get by at a bare minimum in 52 New Mexico communities. Download the full report (2003; 84 pages; pdf) Download the summary (8 pages; pdf) Link to the Bare Bones Budget page for the county summaries Download the PowerPoint (24 pages; pdf) Download Ned Cantwell's commentary (pdf) PowerPoint: How SocioEconomic Policies Affect Children What child advocates need to know about state fiscal policy and taxes. • Download the PowerPoint (2003; 42 slides; pdf) 2002 (back to top) The State of Public Education in Northern New Mexico Presents socioeconomic and public education data for the seven counties of northern New Mexico that are most impacted by the presence of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and seeks to characterize the learning environments encountered both inside and outside the classroom by public school students in these counties. • Download the report (Sept. 2002; 37 pages; pdf) 2001 (back to top) Special Focus: Child Poverty in New Mexico New Mexico continues to have one of the nation's highest rates of child poverty. This paper discusses the public costs of child poverty and some poverty reduction policies. • Download the report (May 2001; 4 pages; pdf) PowerPoint: Kids and Guns New Mexico’s data collection system for tracking children's firearm injury deaths. • Download the PowerPoint (Oct. 2001; 42 slides; pdf) 2000-2006 Policy Brief Series These eleven briefs, covering issues from economic justice to health care, were released between 2000-2006. (pdf) The Importance of Early Childhood Education: A Promising Way Forward for New Mexico • Download Policy Brief #11 (Spring 2006; 8 pages; pdf) The Invisible Caretaker: Grandparents as Parents in New Mexico • Download Policy Brief #10 (Winter 2004; 8 pages; pdf) The Impact of Medicaid on New Mexico's Economy • Download Policy Brief #9 (Spring 2003; 6 pages; pdf) • Download Sources for this Policy Brief Strengthening the New Mexico Economy Through Unemployment Insurance Reform • Download Policy Brief #8 (Nov. 2002; 8 pages; pdf) Taxation of Low-Income Families in New Mexico • Download Policy Brief #7 (Spring 2002; 6 pages; pdf) Investing in Early Childhood Education • Download Policy Brief #6 (Dec. 2001; 5 pages; pdf) Insuring Parents Improves Health Outcomes for Children • Download Policy Brief #5 (Sept. 2001; 5 pages; pdf) Progress Report on Policies Outlined in Briefs 1 Through 4 • Download Progress Report (September 2001; 4 pages; pdf) Medicaid Look-Back Periods are Barriers to Health Insurance for Children • Download Policy Brief #4 (Nov. 2000; 4 pages; pdf) Enhancing the Benefits of Tax Rebates and Credits • Download Policy Brief #3 (Oct. 2000; 4 pages; pdf) Mail-In Medicaid Enrollment: Reducing Barriers to Health Insurance for New Mexico's Low-Income Children • Download Policy Brief #2 (Aug. 2000; 4 pages; pdf) Expanding the Low-Income Comprehensive Tax Rebate (LICTR):  A Cost-Effective Strategy to Lift Children Out of Poverty in New Mexico • Download Policy Brief #1 (June 2000; 4 pages; pdf) (back to top)