‘Frustrating’ lack of CYFD reforms turns criticism toward governor

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Kevin S. Settlement was a resolution to a class action lawsuit meant to improve deficiencies within New Mexico’s Children Youth and Families Department.

Five years after the settlement, a lack of progress is weighing on those monitoring progress.

“This has been kind of a frustrating five years. We would have hoped by this point the system would be in a better place than it is right now,” said Judith Meltzer one of the two ‘co-neutrals’ appointed to oversee the court settlement.

During a three hour hearing, an arbitrator heard from CYFD officials, Health Care Authority officials and attorneys for both sides of the lawsuit.

The other co-neutral monitoring the case, Kevin Ryan, highlighted how other states have been able to turn around troubled child protective services departments.

“There was a very committed governor, in all of these instances. There was an executive who was very focused on implementation and making sure the executive branch was working full throttle,” Ryan said.

The plaintiffs asked for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to attend the next settlement hearing.

KOB 4 reached out to the Lujan Grisham’s office and did not receive a response before our deadline.

“Where there’s a will there’s a way. So when the executive branch makes a decision that it’s a priority to achieve its commitment… then all the other barriers fall,” Ryan said. “Of course, CYFD can’t do this on its own. It really requires other agencies, come to the table and say, ‘Yea, we’re going to prioritize this.’ And it is just very unclear to me that, that has happened here.”