THE MEAGER RISE FROM LAST PLACE TO SECOND LAST IN THE 2014 KIDS COUNT SURVEY HAS NEW MEXICO OFFICIALS LOOKING AT HOW TO FIX IT. NEW MEXICO KIDS COUNT DIRECTOR CHRIS HOLLIS SAYS THE STATE'S ADDRESSED ITS GRADUATION AND TEEN BIRTH RATES. SHE SAYS WE NOW NEED TO FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.
HOLLIS SAYS THE PERCEPTION IT THAT IT'S THE FAMILY'S RESPONSIBILITY. BUT HOLLIS TELLS US THEY'VE REVIEWED TRENDS DATING BACK TO 1990 THAT SHOW SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES PROVING IT'S A COMMUNITY ISSUE. SHE SAYS A KEY FACTOR IS THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THE WORK FORCE, ESPECIALLY SINGLE WOMEN WITH FAMILIES. SHE SAYS THE RECESSION IS STILL BEING FELT BY MANY OF THESE SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES.
HOLLIS SAYS THE NUMBER OF KIDS LIVING IN SINGLE-PARENT HOMES ROSE FROM 43 PERCENT TO 44 PERCENT SINCE 2013. SHE ALSO SAYS KIDS LIVING IN HIGH POVERTY AREAS WENT UP A POINT TO 22 PERCENT.
