ALBUQUERQUE, N. M. – New Mexico children's advocates are highlighting a reduction in the teen birth rate and a boost in kids attending preschool, despite the state being ranked dead last in the nation for child well-being.

After capturing the 49th position for child well-being last year, the 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book, the annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, drops New Mexico to 50th place this year.

At New Mexico Voices for Children, Executive Director James Jimenez acknowledged there's no way to sugarcoat the state's dismal ranking. He hopes it's a wakeup call.

"If we don't do something quickly and in a sustained way, our children will not be thriving and reaching their full potential," Jimenez said.

The KIDS COUNT Data Book uses 16 indicators to rate the economy, education, health and community conditions that affect children. Among its findings: The number of young children not attending preschool improved slightly in New Mexico in 2017; and the state's teen birth rate dropped from 35 to 30 births per 1,000 female teens.

However, it also shows New Mexico's child poverty rate increased from 29 percent in 2016 to 30 percent in 2017, meaning an additional 4,000 children are living below the 2016 federal poverty line. The national rate is 19 percent.

Jimenez believes voters going to the polls in November should keep kids in mind when electing new representatives.

"It's time for citizens to really push these candidates on what they're going to do to improve child well-being," he insisted. "There are a lot of solutions out there if we really believe children are our most important asset."

As the 2020 Census approaches, Laura Speer, associate director for policy reform and advocacy with the Casey Foundation, said more emphasis should be placed on accurately counting children.

Speer pointed out that federal programs use census-derived data to allocate more than $800 billion a year, but the problem of under-counting young children grows worse with each census.

"About 4.5 million young children live in neighborhoods where there's a high risk of missing kids in the count," Speer explained. "And it's important because the census will inform federal spending for the next decade. We really just have one shot to do this right."

New Mexico Voices for Children held its sixth annual KIDS COUNT Conference this week, with a theme of charting a new course for the state's children.




get more stories like this via email

Everybody loves to get something free and right now, kids aged 12-17 can get a fishing and hunting license at no cost from the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

The license is good for one year and normally sells for $15.

Bobby Jones, outdoor connection coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said the free licenses are funded by donations to the Nevada Youth License Fund.

"This is actually the third year that the program's been active," Jones explained. "We keep it open as much as possible. We're just limited by the amount of donations that we have. Right now, we have almost 2,000 available and they go fast."

Youth can get a free license on the Nevada Department of Wildlife website or wherever the licenses are sold. Children under age 12 do not need a fishing license. The state said almost two-thirds of the kids who have taken advantage of the program in the past have never had a hunting or fishing license before.

Jones emphasized the program is designed to tempt kids to leave the digital world behind for a short time and enjoy some time outdoors. It could lead them to even consider a nature-based career like wildlife biology, forest management or outdoor education.

"Essentially what we're up against is a lot of kids are engaged in their phones and social media, TV," Jones pointed out. "They're constantly bombarded with things. We're trying to make it a little bit easier for them to enjoy the outdoors."

Some of the most popular fishing spots include Lahontan in the Fallon area, Wild Horse and South Fork in Eastern Nevada, and Lake Mead down south.


get more stories like this via email

The University of Nebraska is addressing a shortage of lawyers who represent the state's most vulnerable children, especially in rural areas.

The attorneys are being equipped to work with kids who have suffered through physical, emotional, or financial trauma - and are often living in poverty.

Of Nebraska's 5,500 licensed attorneys, only 7% of them practice in rural areas.

Michelle Paxton, director of the Nebraska Children's Justice and Legal Advocacy Center, said two thirds of child neglect and abuse cases originate outside the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas, in what she calls "rural legal deserts."

"We have twelve counties in Nebraska with zero attorneys living in those counties," said Paxton. "We have 22 with less than three."

Paxton said that there are too few qualified rural child justice attorneys, which means lawyers may drive hundreds of miles for juvenile cases, creating delays and court backlogs.

The University of Nebraska program will add lawyers trained to handle issues unique to children in low-income families.

Attorneys who work on juvenile court cases are getting the tailored knowledge they need, but Paxton added that the program is also creating an opportunity for those attorneys to network and get support from other lawyers in the field - who are often isolated.

"And so they don't often have another attorney doing this type of work that they can rely on for support and mentorship," said Paxton, "and our program provides that support and mentorship so that they are not only willing to continue working in juvenile court, increase their hours in juvenile court and increase their commitment. "

The advocacy center will also develop a case-tracking tool, enabling people to find an attorney online.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.



get more stories like this via email

Statistics show one in five children in Texas struggles with hunger.

Approximately 10,000 students a day are getting a nutritious meal through the Summer Food Service Program offered by the Houston Food Bank. The meals are distributed across the food bank's 18-county region.

Jourdan Stansberry, senior manager of education programs for Houston Food Bank, said they partner with summer camps, churches and other nonprofit organizations to serve the students. She added anyone who is not near a meal site can take advantage of their non-congregate option.

"Sites that are considered rural by the Texas Department of Agriculture," Stansberry explained. "It's a grab-and-go model where families can pick up the meals, It's like a five-day bundle of frozen meals, breakfast and snacks, so 10 meals all together. They're able to pick it up and take it home."

Locations of the meal sites in the Houston area and across Texas are available at the Department of Agriculture's Summer Meal Site Map. The meals are available to anyone 18 years old or younger or students with a disability, up to 21 years old.

The meals are distributed at more than 250 sites around the Houston area. Students do not have to register to take advantage of the meals. Stansbury emphasized it is a great way to ensure kids have access to fresh fruits and vegetables during the summer. She added the menus consist of more than just a sandwich and chips.

"One thing that I know has been pretty popular is our orange chicken with rice, and we also have broccoli, vegetable-medley side that goes along with that. We saw also chicken tikka masala," Stansbury outlined. "We try to expose them to different meals, not only healthwise but also culturally."

The Houston Food Bank expects to distribute around 800,000 meals this summer. The meal program runs through Aug. 8.


get more stories like this via email