New Mexico becomes first state to offer free childcare for all: ‘model for the nation’ | New Mexico
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will be the first state of New Mexico’s free universal child care this week, which is the expansion of an existing program that helps to remove tens of thousands of people from poverty.
As of November 1, the state will guarantee an uncompromising child care for all inhabitants, regardless of the income levels, which the governor’s office defines as “a new groundbreaking initiative”.
Lujan Grisham said in a statement, “Child care is necessary for family stability, labor participation and New Mexico’s future prosperity,” Lujan Grisham said. “By investing in universal child care, we support financial assistance to families, our economy and ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow and develop.”
In 2022, the state was the first person to offer children free of charge to most families, which was released for winners up to 400% of the federal poverty level, which is about $ 124,000 for a four -person family. Approximately half of the children in the state were qualified.
Development gave significant results in the state, one of the poorest in the USA, and the poverty rate began to decrease. Early childhood educators saw reduced poverty rates that New Mexico increased wages for child care employees and changes the real cost of maintenance of subsidy reimbursement rates. A researcher described it as “generation change ..
The governor said that the residents who received aid experienced more financial stability and spend more time with their children. A resident told The Guardian that he had allowed the state to finish the university, register at the nursing school and buy food for his family earlier this year.
According to the Governor’s Office, the expanded program will save an average of $ 12,000 per child per child for families. The state will also set up a credit fund of $ 12.7 million to create and renew children’s care facilities and start a campaign to hire household providers.
Neal Halfon, a Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health in Los Angeles at the University of California, said that the state’s data -oriented and community -oriented approach made it a model model for the nation ”.
“New Mexico creates conditions for better results in health, learning and prosperity,” said Halfon, a professor of public policy and healthy children of UCLA.
