Congratulations, New Mexico — making history just made you history! It is the first state in the country to provide all families with universal child care. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham dropped the most thrilling of all climate news bombs. With income eligibility requirements lifted, all families in New Mexico can start receiving free child care for infants and toddlers beginning Nov. 1.
This historic program aims to provide meaningful economic support to families. Indeed, the typical New Mexico family is going to save more than $12,000 per child annually. This program is a big step towards meeting the critical need for affordable child care. It’s intended to spark similar initiatives across the country.
As Governor Lujan Grisham announced on September 8, this represents something much bigger than just this policy. She stated, “By investing in universal child care, we are giving families financial relief, supporting our economy, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.”
Governor Lujan Grisham is asking for another $120 million for NextGen. She plans to fight for this ambitious program again in the next legislative session. This new monetary support will allow the state to build on and protect the universal child care program.
Besides funding, New Mexico is currently in a full-blown recruitment race, trying to strengthen its child care workforce. The state is providing up to $2,500 in incentives to licensed child care centers to raise compensation for workers. To improve recruitment and retention, all entry-level child care staff will make a minimum of $18 an hour. This step would help recruit well-trained providers into the profession so that our nation’s children benefit from high-quality care.
While many applaud the initiative as a significant step forward, some state Republicans have raised concerns about providing free child care to higher-income families. Critics of the program have called these employees “nannies for millionaires.” They don’t take issue with the existence of such provisions—they just ask whether they should go to people who wouldn’t benefit from it.
New Mexico plans to begin its universal child care program on November 1. If successful, this new initiative could become a robust example for other states to go and do likewise in creating their own grant programs. The state’s commitment to supporting families and fostering early childhood development could pave the way for nationwide changes in child care accessibility.
