New Mexico legislature is considering a bill to create a pilot program to assist kinship caregivers, focusing on grandparents or relatives raising children. The bill has already passed the House and is currently in the Senate Judiciary committee. The program aims to provide resources such as public assistance, economic support, and legal services to caregivers in Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Taos, McKinley, and Doña Ana Counties. The rising trend of kinship care in New Mexico, driven in part by parents struggling with substance use disorders, is highlighted by statistics showing that 9% of children in the state were in kinship care in 2024, compared to the national average of 3%. The bill initially had a $4.5 million appropriation but was amended to $4 million from the general fund. Co-sponsors Rep. Susan Herrera and Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta are advocating for the bill, citing the need to empower families navigating the often challenging and costly legal system. Abeyta, who is also a kinship caregiver herself, emphasized the importance of supporting families seeking legal custody or guardianship. The legislative session is set to end on March 22nd at noon, and support for this legislation comes from the Thornburg Foundation.
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