Agency offices are used to house foster children despite the state’s promise to provide them with appropriate homes
Ed Williams
Ed Williams, a Searchlight investigative reporter, covers child welfare, social justice and other issues. In 2022, he was selected for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network to produce stories about abuses in the foster care system and the devastating impacts on children. Before joining Searchlight, Ed was a reporter in both the United States and Latin America, working for print, digital and radio outlets, including seven years in public radio. His numerous journalism awards include a 2020 First Amendment award and 2019 local accountability reporting award from the News Leaders Association. He has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.
Text Ed securely using Signal encryption at (505) 699-6401.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
Child Welfare Experts Say New Mexico Can’t Put Kids in Homeless Shelters Just Because It Lacks Other Beds
An expert report found that New Mexico’s child welfare system has housed foster kids in homeless shelters and other inappropriate settings.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
These Foster Kids Need Mental Health Care. New Mexico Is Putting Them in Homeless Shelters.
Youth crisis shelters aren’t set up to deal with foster youth who need intensive mental health treatment. When teens try to harm themselves or others, staff resort to calling 911.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
New Mexico Struggles to Follow Through on Promises to Reform Child Welfare System
New Mexico Struggles With Reforming Child Welfare System
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
CYFD deputy secretary steps down
Terry Locke, deputy secretary of CYFD, has announced his retirement, the latest in a string of departures from the agency responsible for the well-being of the state’s most vulnerable children.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
New accusations in Farmington foster care abuse case
Suit says CYFD knew of abuse at Farmington foster home, failed to protect kids
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
Blalock steps down
CYFD Cabinet secretary Brian Blalock replaced by former New Mexico Supreme Court Justice amid growing transparency concerns
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
Questions of fairness
CYFD employees say they were sidelined or fired for voicing concerns about a ‘sacred cow’ software contract.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
Firing Back
High-level officials accuse the CYFD of retaliation against complaints about Signal and other concerns.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
Seeking shelter
After suffering one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the country, this New Mexico town on the edge of Navajo Nation is reaching a breaking point as the federal eviction moratorium is set to expire.