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.”

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).

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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