New Mexico Voices For Children

TO CHAMPION PUBLIC POLICIES THAT IMPROVE THE STATUS AND WELL-BEING OF NM'S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES RESEARCH AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY.

TAX FAIRNESS & BUDGET ADEQUACY- NMVC BELIEVES IN EQUITABLE, RESPONSIBLE, AND TRANSPARENT TAX & BUDGET POLICIES THAT GENERATE SUFFICIENT REVENUES & ADDRESS INCOME INEQUALITY. NMVC ALSO BELIEVES THAT CHILDREN & FAMILIES SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY IN FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL BUDGETS, AS SHOULD ESSENTIAL SERVICES & FUNCTIONS. THIS INCLUDES ENSURING ADEQUATE BUDGETS FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION, & PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES, AS WELL AS INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT; SUPPORTING PROGRESSIVE TAX POLICIES & ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME NEW MEXICANS & REDUCE POVERTY; PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABLITY IN TAX POLICY, TAX INCENTIVES, AND THROUGHOUT THE BUDGETING PROCESS; AND CLOSE TAX LOOPHOLES & REQUIRE THAT ALL CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES.

EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING/CARE - NMVC BELIEVES THAT INVESTING IN THE EARLY YEARS AND IN THE EDUCATION CONTINUUM IS THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE THAT NEW MEXICANS HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND THROUGHOUT LIFE. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: PROMOTING ACCESS TO QUALITY HOME VISITS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS; SUPPORTING FUNDING SOURCES THAT SUSTAIN EDUCATION PROGRAMS; SUPPORTING METHODS FOR CLOSING RACIAL/ETHNIC ACHEIVEMENT GAPS IN ALL STAGES OF EDUCATION; AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH. HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITIES - NMVC BELIEVES THAT IT IS AN ETHICAL AND MORAL IMPERATIVE THAT ALL NEW MEXICO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPREHENSIVE AND HIGH-QUALITY SYSTEM OF PHYSICAL, ORAL, MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, AS WELL AS PREVENTION AND WELLNESS RESOURCES. NMVC ALSO BELIEVES THAT ALL NEW MEXICANS SHOULD LIVE AND THRIVE IN SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES. THIS INCLUDES FULLY SUPPORTING AND COMPLETELY IMPLEMENTING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, INCLUDING THE "NO WRONG DOOR" POLICY; SIMPLIFYING AND INCREASING ENROLLMENT IN AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, PREVENTION, AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL, TRIBAL AND LOW-INCOME AREA; INCREASING INVESTMENTS IN SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CARE, TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION, OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT; SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC AND CHILD SAFETY, REDUCE INCIDENCE OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS SUCH AS CHILD ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PROMOTE EFFECTIVE GUN SAFETY MEASURES, AND ENACTING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVES TO BREAK THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE.

RACIAL/ETHNIC EQUITY AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION NMVC BELIEVES THAT OUR COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND VOICES SHOULD BE REPRESENTED IN PUBLIC POLICY AND THAT THE RECOGNITION OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS AND FAMILIES SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED BY RACE, ETHNICITY, RELIGION, ABILITY, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORTING JUST IMMIGRATION REFORM, SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT ENSURE ACCESS TO PUBLIC PROGRAMS FOR ALL NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF LANGUAGE OR IMMIGRATION STATUS, OPPOSING VOTER SUPPRESSION TACTICS, ENCOURAGING CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND OPEN AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES, ENSURING ALL NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS, SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT ADDRESS SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES, AND SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT IMPROVE RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY IN THE STATE.

ECONOMIC SECURITY & PROSPERITY - NMVC BELIEVES THAT LONG-TERM ECONOMIC PROSPERITY INVOLVES PROMOTING ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL NEW MEXICANS AND SUPPORTING ACCESS TO ADEQUATE WAGES, BENEFITS, PAID LEAVE, AND WORK SUPPORTS. THIS INCLUDES EXTENDING INCREASE ACCESS TO, AND FULLY FUNDING WAGE AND WORK SUPPORT PROGRAMS SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, ADULT EDUCATION, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES, FOOD AND SECURITY PROGRAMS, AND ECONOMIC RELIEF AND CASH ASSISTANCE; PROMOTING CONSUMER PROTECTION INITIATIVES, ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO FINANCIAL SERVICES; INCREASE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS SERVING HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES; AND SUPPORT EVIDENCE BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES THAT ARE COMMITTED TO JOB CREATION, EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT, AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS.