NEW MEXICO HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO THE WELL-BEING OF ITS CHILDREN. THAT FROM VERONICA GARCIA WITH NEW MEXICO VOICES FOR CHILDREN AFTER THE 2014 KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK RANKED THE STATE 49TH IN THE NATION. THAT'S UP JUST ONE SPOT FROM BEING DEAD-LAST IN 2013.
NEW MEXICO KIDS COUNT DIRECTOR CHRIS HOLLIS TELLS 770 KKOB THE FOCUS NOW HAS TO BE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. SHE THE EARLIER THEY START IN A GOOD DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM, THE BETTER THEY TEND TO DO IN SCHOOL, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND GO TO COLLEGE, AND THE LESS LIKELY THEY ARE GET INVOLVED WITH CRIME OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
HOLLIS SAYS THE REASONS FOR THE STATE'S RISE FROM LAST PLACE TO SECOND LAST INCLUDE A SLIGHT DROP IN CHILD POVERTY, MORE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GRADUATING ON TIME, AND THE TEEN BIRTH RATE IS FALLING.
