Let’s not be too hard on CYFD

One would think after the just-concluded legislative session and the recent headline in The New Mexican that the Children, Youth and Families Department has no redeeming qualities and can’t possibly get its ship righted (“CYFD to pay $5.5M over 8-year-old’s brutal death,” Feb. 25). I think some of this criticism is unhelpful and misdirected. Our child welfare system isn’t anywhere near perfect, but I’ll wager few states have a perfect one.

First and foremost, the high rate of child abuse and neglect in our state is not the fault of CYFD. All of us bear responsibility to support children and families. The causes of child abuse and neglect are complicated: poverty, substance use, intergenerational trauma, stresses on families, and more. The Legislature and governor went a long way toward solutions several years ago when they created and generously funded the Early Childhood Education and Care Department. This is an upstream approach to supporting babies and families early, providing the resources and knowledge for dynamic child development and confident parenting.

Programs like home visiting, greater access to child care, support for child developmental issues, strengthening the early childhood workforce (and paying them a fair wage!) will make a huge difference for our youngest children and their families/caregivers. We need to be patient as these programs become part of the cultural patterns of what makes a strong New Mexico family. And we all need to play a part.

Should anyone be surprised that CYFD has vacancies in its Child Protective Services division? I cannot imagine being an investigator and having to become entangled with situations where child abuse has occurred. These people are heroic — they have to deal with children in trauma and then hope they don’t bring that trauma home with them to their own lives. Behavioral health and treatment foster care systems in the state have been gutted and will take time and money to rebuild. So let’s also be patient as CYFD works to build up a well-trained, compassionate workforce.

I disagree with the opinion shared by some that one needs a background in child welfare to run CYFD. I hope the skills that Secretary Teresa Casados brings are compassion for children and families; the ability to surround herself with, and seek advice from, knowledgeable people — along with the ability to listen; the kindness to work well with those in the department; the creativity to construct systems that work for children, youth and families, and for CYFD employees; the foresight to build and strengthen partnerships around the state, especially in tribal and rural communities; a sense of humor and joy; and lots of energy.

In a large department with complex pieces, she needs to be a competent, trusting administrator; she’s building the expertise as she goes along.

One shining light managed by CYFD is the New Mexico Children’s Trust Fund. Since being created by the Legislature in 1985, the trust fund has been making multi-year grants to support innovative community-based programs for preventing child abuse and neglect or to provide treatment services for children who have been maltreated. These four-year grants allow an organization to pilot a new prevention approach in their communities — to develop, implement, evaluate and, if successful, sustain this innovation. The trust fund is supported by the sale of the KID license plate, a portion of marriage license fees, an annual allocation from the Legislature and income from invested endowment funds. So buy a KID license plate, and get married in New Mexico.

Although the all-volunteer Children’s Trust Fund board is appointed by the governor and approved by the state Senate, CYFD provides the administrative support. I have served on the trust fund board for a total of 13 years under three administrations. In that time, we have always had outstanding support from dedicated CYFD staff members who help make our work more effective and rewarding. We are grateful for the time devoted to our efforts, knowing that these people have many other responsibilities.

Although I wish Casados would find time to meet with the leadership of the Children’s Trust Fund, I believe we all ought to give her and her team the support and opportunity to steer this unwieldy ship in the right direction. Our children and our families deserve to thrive. All of us working together can make that happen.

All of us bear responsibility to support children and families.