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New Mexico lawmakers express frustration over CYFD struggles, turnover rate

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New Mexico lawmakers express frustration over CYFD struggles, turnover rate


SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) –  A department that is “drowning,” that is how one lawmaker described the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department on Wednesday after getting briefed on the embattled agency’s struggle to recruit and retain staff and increased repeat maltreatment rates from FY24.


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At the Legislative Finance Committee meeting, lawmakers acknowledged CYFD Secretary Teresa Casados and staff have a tough job but are still at a loss at why the agency is still struggling.

“When are we going to start making a difference? When? I’ve been in here ten years…I’m looking at others who have been here much longer than me, it’s still an issue,” said Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena), “Fix it, please.”

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Secretary Casados said the agency continues to have challenges recruiting and retaining staff. The agency has a 28.6% vacancy rate and a 34% turnover rate. “We start to see that things are getting better and we’re hiring and then we have six or seven investigators quit,” said Secretary Casados. “Replacing those investigators is not just a matter of hiring someone new and handing them a caseload. It takes at least six months of training and getting them up to speed.”

She told lawmakers the high turnover leads to other issues and prevents them from stabilizing the agency. Currently, it has 20 kids still sleeping in offices and investigators have higher caseloads than required by the Kevin S. Settlement.

To try and turn things around, CYFD has been to 62 career fairs this year, did outreach at community events like Zozobra and the New Mexico State Fair, and is partnering with Presbyterian to create a wellness program for employee mental health.

“Right now, all they have is their coworkers and families to really talk that through. So, I believe establishing a strong workforce support program for them will really help in retention,” said Secretary Casados.

Amid expressing their frustrations on the lack of progress in the agency, a number of lawmakers brought up the possibility of outside oversight over the agency. “As I travel the country, I talk about how in New Mexico we are rebuilding the village it takes to raise a child, but unfortunately I feel like we’re failing the most vulnerable,” said House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque).

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He warned the secretary he would bring back bills that died in previous sessions including ones that would bring outside oversight to CYFD. Secretary Casados said she is not opposed to outside oversight but isn’t sure it’s the right move since the agency already has a number of councils and entities that oversee it.

“I believe in oversight, I do. I think there is quite a bit of oversight right now. I think if we can enhance what advisory council does…that could play that role,” she said.

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New Mexico

Measles case discovered in New Mexico

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Measles case discovered in New Mexico





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New Mexico

Deb Haaland to run for New Mexico governor

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Deb Haaland to run for New Mexico governor


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Deb Haaland has formally launched her campaign to run for governor in New Mexico.

Haaland made the announcement Tuesday in a launch video focused on the cost of living, public safety and emphasizing what the campaign describes as “the importance of listening to communities in New Mexico.”

Haaland served as Secretary of the Interior under former President Joe Biden after she was confirmed in 2021. Before that, voters in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District elected her to two terms to represent them in Congress.

A member of the Laguna Pueblo and a graduate of the University of New Mexico and Highland High School in Albuquerque, Haaland also served as chair of the state’s Democratic Party.

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Haaland stated last month she expected to run for governor.

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Mountain West men’s basketball update: Surging New Mexico takes command of conference race

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Mountain West men’s basketball update: Surging New Mexico takes command of conference race


New Mexico may be the hottest men’s basketball team in the country.

The Mountain West Conference-leading Lobos (20-4, 12-1) have won six straight games and 13 of their last 14 overall. New Mexico’s only blemish in two months was a 71-70 road loss at San Jose State on Jan. 14 that came on a last-second shot. 

“I’ll enjoy it for a couple of hours when I fly home tonight,” head coach Richard Pitino said of the Lobos’ recent success following Saturday’s 88-53 drubbing of Air Force (3-21, 0-13). “But it’s stressful, man. All of these programs are really good. They are tough to go against.”

The Lobos, who are up to No. 36 in the NCAA NET Rankings, host reeling Wyoming (11-13, 4-9) Wednesday night before a big Sunday matchup with Utah State (21-3, 11-2) at The Pit. Earlier this month, New Mexico put together a dominant second-half performance in an 82-63 win at Utah State. 

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“I think we’re playing a high level right now,” Pitino said. “I love our approach. They don’t seem to be complacent in any way, which is good to see.”

Utah State bounced back from the New Mexico loss with road wins at Wyoming and Fresno State (5-19, 1-12). The Aggies, who host Colorado State (15-8, 9-3) at 9 p.m. Mountain time Tuesday night, hold a 9-1 record in single-digit games in MWC play. 

“You’ve just got to figure out how to win,” Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun said after Friday’s 89-81 victory at Fresno State. “You can never be comfortable in this business. You can never be comfortable as a team. You’re two bad weeks from being eliminated, one bad week from really putting yourself behind. … So you have to be on edge. Everybody says ‘Oh, you’ve got to relax.’ There is no time to relax.”

Colorado State regrouped from a blowout loss to New Mexico with an impressive 68-63 home victory over San Diego State (15-6, 8-4) last weekend. The big win gave the Rams sole possession of third place in the MWC standings with a half-game cushion on Boise State (17-7, 9-4). 

The Broncos have won four straight games entering Saturday’s 8 p.m. showdown with San Diego State at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs won the first meeting between the teams in Boise, 76-68.

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Boise State, which routed San Jose State (12-13, 5-8) 79-52 at home last weekend, is 0-4 against the top half of the MWC and 9-0 against everyone else.

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