Amid a worsening crisis in New Mexico of children sleeping in state offices for lack of adequate foster homes and a bleeding child welfare workforce, the light at the end of the tunnel can seem far away. But the state is not alone in its woes, a national expert reminded lawmakers on Tuesday. New Mexico’s […]
Child & Family Welfare
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
Another life lost in New Mexico’s foster care system
Makamy Anderson’s death is the most recent tragedy to come to light amid a string of deaths of children in the state’s care.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
A teenager takes his life in foster care
Sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning, 16-year-old Jaydun Garcia took his own life at a makeshift home for youth who lack foster placements. Jaydun’s family included four brothers and a baby sister. He was very close to his siblings, those who knew him said, and a close friend to many kids in foster care. […]
Posted inNew Mexico's Children
Why so many Catholic churches file for bankruptcy
As sex abuse scandals continue to haunt the Catholic Church, many dioceses are turning to Chapter 11 as a way to settle hundreds of claims at once.
Posted inFeatured
Undercount: why the Catholic church won’t list many New Mexico priests who’ve been linked to sexual abuse
Critics say that the Archdiocese of Santa Fe’s roster of “credibly accused” priests should be longer — by 59 names — but the church currently has no intention of adding them.
Posted inNew Mexico's Children
Darkness visible: the University of New Mexico’s archive on the sexual abuse of children by priests
A collection of documents about clergy abuse in this state — housed at UNM’s special collections library — is a major step forward for victims, but there’s more to be done.
Posted inFeatured
Christmas behind bars
One year ago, all eyes focused on living conditions at New Mexico’s largest juvenile jail. We haven’t looked away.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
Threatened and Restrained
In CYFD office buildings, foster youth are monitored by private security. Altercations between kids and guards have injured children.
Posted inFeatured
Protect the innocent: the public health promise of Kayden’s Law
A new bill modeled on the federal Violence Against Women Act could safeguard New Mexico’s children from the traumatic and sometimes dangerous consequences of divorce
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
‘A beautiful thing’: Former foster teen celebrates success and adulthood, against the odds
Jaidryon Platero’s 21st birthday sparks a party at a CYFD office, where happy endings are worth celebrating