Was a substance exposed baby not properly screened at birth by CYFD ?

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

On Aug. 25, police responded to the death of 8-month-old Reign Armijo at the 600 block of Aztec, where his parents, Shawna Sitz and Mark Armijo, were arrested on probation and parole violations after drugs were found in their home. They have not been chaerged in connection with their son’s death.

In the days following the incident, a spokesman for the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) revealed that a call had been made to the statewide central intake (SCI) on Jan. 29, reporting that Reign had been born substance-exposed.

KOAT obtained a copy of the CPS intake report referenced by CYFD. The call was made by a social worker at UNM Hospital, who expressed concerns about the child’s welfare after he tested positive for amphetamines and methadone. The report also noted that Sitz had prescriptions for methadone and Adderall.

CYFD corroborated this in their statement, saying,

“The source of the SCI report stated that the mother tested positive for two drugs she had prescriptions for, which were not covered under the 72-hour hold provision of the state’s 2025 CARA directive.”

As a result, the baby was allowed to go home. However, the social worker also raised additional concerns in the report, including the “parents’ ability to take care of the child,” “conditions in the home not suitable for a newborn baby,” and the limited number of parental visits to the hospital while the baby was hospitalized for a month after birth.

Maralyn Beck, founder of the New Mexico Child First Network, said the call from the social worker should have prompted action.

“This case should have been screened in,” Beck said.

“They did not answer this call, and eight months later, this happened,” she added.

“What I don’t understand is all the other red flags that were there,” said State Representative Gail Armstrong.

State Rep. Gail Armstrong, who has worked to introduce legislation to change CARA laws, said SCI call center workers should have screened in the report for state intervention using other assessment tools CYFD employs, such as structured decision-making (SDM).

CYFD stated that the case was screened out because the baby tested positive for two prescription drugs the mother had prescriptions for. Under the governor’s directive, methamphetamines, fentanyl, and fetal alcohol syndrome are the substances explicitly covered that would require a 72-hour hold to evaluate the safety of the home and further investigation. The substances in this case were not included in the directive.

Armstrong plans to introduce a bill in the 2027 legislative session that would make concerns from a hospital or caseworker to SCI sufficient to screen in a baby.

“And if one of them calls and they don’t get it screened in and they’re watching those babies go home with those parents, knowing something bad is going to happen,” Armstrong said.

Shawna Sitz’s brother Jesse Sitz released a statement to KOAT saying, “My nephew was deeply moved and meticulously cared for by fully capable parents who complied with every agency requirement while activley maintaining their recovery.”

The New Mexico Health Care Authority took over administration of the state’s CARA program released a statement saying,

“Tragedies like this case illustrate how important it is to provide services and health care programs to New Mexicans who are struggling with substance abuse disorder. We are saddened by this child’s death.”