Protesters see at-risk children’s deaths as cause for alarm
Organizers cite failings in state Dept. of Justice lawsuit against Children, Youth & Families Dept.
CHECK ITS WEBSITES FOR NEXT STEPS. THERE ARE NEW CHANGES TO OUR STATE’S SNAP PROGRAM. ALIYAH CHAVEZ REPORTS ON WHAT THESE UPDATES COULD MEAN FOR YOU. NEW FRIDAY THE STATE IS CHANGING HOW CERTAIN HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES ARE VERIFIED WHEN FAMILIES APPLY FOR SNAP OR REPORT CHANGES. AS OF MAY 1ST, NEW MEXICO WILL REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION FOR HOUSING, UTILITY AND DEPENDENT CARE EXPENSES, ALL TO HELP ENSURE SNAP BENEFITS ARE CALCULATED ACCURATELY, STATE OFFICIALS SAY. IF THOSE EXPENSES AREN’T VERIFIED, THEY MAY NOT BE COUNTED, WHICH COULD MEAN SOME FAMILIES RECEIVE LESS ASSISTANCE THAN THEY QUALIFY FOR. HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN USE TO VERIFY HOUSING COSTS A LEASE, MORTGAGE STATEMENTS, HOUSING AGREEMENTS, OR A LETTER FROM YOUR LANDLORD. YOU ALSO NEED TO SHOW UTILITY BILLS AND OTHER RECORDS, LIKE DAYCARE PROVIDER LETTERS. IF YOU’RE ALREADY RECEIVING SNAP, YOU LIKELY WON’T SEE ANY IMMEDIATE CHANGES. MANY OF THESE EXPENSE VERIFICATIONS ARE REVIEWED DURING YOUR RENEWAL PERIOD, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR INFORMATION HAS CHANGED. PEOPLE REALLY SHOULD KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS WELCOME. THE NEW MEXICO FARMERS MARKETING ASSOCIATION IS ALSO OFFERING INCENTIVES TO HELP SNAP CUSTOMERS BUYING LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT FARMERS MARKETS. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS AT THE FARMERS MARKET. SNAP CUSTOMERS SHOULD FIRST STOP AT THE INFORMATION BOOTH. THERE, THEY’LL BE ASKED HOW MUCH THEY’D LIKE TO USE FROM THEIR SNAP CARD, AND IN RETURN, THEY’LL RECEIVE SPECIAL TOKENS TO SPEND AT THE MARKET. IT BASICALLY GIVES SNAP SHOPPERS 50% OFF THEIR PURCHASE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES YEAR ROUND. SNAP CUSTOMERS GET THEIR BENEFITS DOUBLED, BUT FROM NOW THROUGH AUGUST 31ST, YOU’LL GET YOUR BENEFIT TRIPLED. IF THEY’RE TAKING $10 OFF THEIR SNAP EBT CARD, THEY WILL GET $30 WORTH OF TOKENS TO SPEND AT THE MARKET, MILLER SAYS. THERE ARE 51 OUTLETS ACROSS NEW MEXICO OFFERING THIS SERVICE, SO JUST GIVE IT A TRY AND AND YOU’LL PROBABLY FALL IN LOVE. ALIYAH CHAVEZ. KOAT. ACTION 7 NEWS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SNAP RECIPIENTS CAN CONTACT THEIR LOCAL INCOME SUPPORT DIVISION OFFICE OR THEY CAN VISIT YES.NM.GOV. AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IS RETURNING TO SANTA FE AS CITY LEADERS LOOK TO CRACK DOWN ON SPEEDING AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. THE CITY IS BRINGING BACK ITS TRAFFIC OPERATIONS PROGRAM TO TRACK BOTH SPEED AND NOISE LEVELS. DRIVERS WHO WHO VIOLATE THE RULES WILL RECEIVE CITATIONS IN THE MAIL, INCLUDING FINES UP TO $500 FOR EXCESSIVE NOISE. CREWS WILL CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS ON THE HUMMINGBIRD FIRE IN THE GILA WILDERNESS THAT’S NOW 12% CONTAINED, UP FROM 7%. FIREFIGHTERS ARE MOPPING UP HOT SPOTS NEAR THE WILLOW CREEK SUBDIVISION, WHICH REMAINS UNDER EVACUATION. MORE THAN 5600 ACRES HAVE BURNED. CRISTIANA. ALL RIGHT, WE WAIT THREE HOURS FOR OUR FAVORITE TIME OF THE MORNING AS PETS OF THE WEEK. THIS IS HENRY. HE IS A FOUR YEAR OLD AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG. MIX. LOVES HIS DAILY WALKS IN HUMAN ATTENTION. SO PERFECT FOR HIKING IF YOU WANT TO TAKE HIM OUT. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A LOYAL, LOVING, SLIGHTLY DRAMATIC BEST FRIEND, HENRY IS READY TO MEET YOU AT THE EAST SIDE SHELTER. NEXT UP, WE HAVE JADA, A TEN MONTH OLD DOBERMAN PINSCHER MIX STOP. SHE’S SUPER SWEET AND HAS TONS OF ENERGY, AND SHE WOULD ALSO MAKE A GREAT HIKING COMPANION. YOU CAN MEET HER AT EAST SIDE. I LOVE DOBERMANS, I THINK THEY’RE ACTUALLY THE SWEETEST. THEY ARE. I KNOW, I LOVE THEM. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS SATURDAY MORNING. ACTION 7 NEWS IS GOING TO BE BACK AT FIVE. AND REMEMBER YOU CAN GET THE LATEST NEWSCAST ANYTIME ON THE FREE VER
Protesters see at-risk children’s deaths as cause for alarm
Organizers cite failings in state Dept. of Justice lawsuit against Children, Youth & Families Dept.
A small group of community members, who gathered outside the Metropolitan Courthouse Saturday, were there to draw attention to a lawsuit brought against the state agency tasked with protecting young children and juveniles. The New Mexico Department of Justice’s lawsuit and accompanying report were a scorching condemnation of the Children, Youth & Families Department, under whose care 14 children died over a two-year period. (In response, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and CYFD’s director have said the lawsuit wasn’t fair because it did not mention reforms instituted this year.) Morgan Ash, organizer of the demonstration, said there is an urgency to affect change at the agency, given the specifics detailed in the lawsuit. “I think it’s so important because this is a system that’s supposed to protect the most vulnerable kids of our state, and it’s not,” Ash said. “It’s failing our kids, and I think everyone needs to be aware of what this lawsuit entails, and speak out for accountability and reform in the system.”Ash said the lawsuit’s deep dive into seven cases in which children died appeared to show that the blame did not rest solely on CYFD’s employees. “I think the biggest thing is it’s not CYFD workers at all. It’s the overall system,” Ash said. “They’re overworked, underpaid, and truly a whole-system reform needs to happen to protect these kids.”According to the NMDOJ website, “New Mexico law protects the personal identifying information of children and families in abuse and neglect proceedings. CYFD has stretched that protection into a blanket shield against accountability, withholding information from the NMDOJ, the State Police, the Office of the State Auditor, independent court monitors, and the courts themselves.”
A small group of community members, who gathered outside the Metropolitan Courthouse Saturday, were there to draw attention to a lawsuit brought against the state agency tasked with protecting young children and juveniles.
The New Mexico Department of Justice’s lawsuit and accompanying report were a scorching condemnation of the Children, Youth & Families Department, under whose care 14 children died over a two-year period. (In response, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and CYFD’s director have said the lawsuit wasn’t fair because it did not mention reforms instituted this year.)
Morgan Ash, organizer of the demonstration, said there is an urgency to affect change at the agency, given the specifics detailed in the lawsuit.
“I think it’s so important because this is a system that’s supposed to protect the most vulnerable kids of our state, and it’s not,” Ash said. “It’s failing our kids, and I think everyone needs to be aware of what this lawsuit entails, and speak out for accountability and reform in the system.”
Ash said the lawsuit’s deep dive into seven cases in which children died appeared to show that the blame did not rest solely on CYFD’s employees.
“I think the biggest thing is it’s not CYFD workers at all. It’s the overall system,” Ash said. “They’re overworked, underpaid, and truly a whole-system reform needs to happen to protect these kids.”
According to the NMDOJ website, “New Mexico law protects the personal identifying information of children and families in abuse and neglect proceedings. CYFD has stretched that protection into a blanket shield against accountability, withholding information from the NMDOJ, the State Police, the Office of the State Auditor, independent court monitors, and the courts themselves.”
