♪ MUSIC REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA F. NEW MEXICO HAS MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST STATE TO OFFER NO-COST UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE TO ALL FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF INCOME.

WE'RE THE VERY FIRST TO DO THIS, IT'S REALLY A LANDMARK EVENT AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE GOVERNOR, MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM, AND OUR GUEST TODAY, WHO IS ELIZABETH GROGINSKI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU ARE THE CABINET SECRETARY FOR... >>ELIZABETH: THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE DEPARTMENT.

>>LORENE: WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2019 AND LAUNCHED IN 2020.

YOU'VE DONE AMAZING THINGS, BUT FIRST, WHAT DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT DO AND HOW MANY BRANCHES, HOW MANY SERVICES DOES IT PROVIDE?

>>ELIZABETH: GREAT, THANK YOU, LORENE, AND A GREAT QUESTION.

OUR DEPARTMENT WAS ESTABLISHED REALLY TO BE PART OF THAT CRADLE-TO-CAREER EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM PUT IN PLACE IN 2019.

SO WE ARE THE PRENATAL TO AGE FIVE, THAT IS OUR FOCUS.

SO HOME VISITING, CHILDCARE.

>>LORENE: PRENATAL CARE.

>>ELIZABETH: PRENATAL, EARLY INTERVENTION, WHICH IS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS OR DISABILITIES OR AT RISK OF HAVING THEM, AND PRE-K, THE NEW MEXICO PRE-K PROGRAM.

WE ALSO HAVE THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM AND THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE, AND ALL THE WONDERFUL SUPPORTS THAT HELP OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE GROW AND DEVELOP THEIR CREDENTIALS AND THEIR SKILLS.

>>LORENE: YEAH, IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT, AND THEY'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU BECAUSE YOU COME AFTER DECADES OF EXPERIENCE, PARTICULARLY IN D.C. WHERE YOU WERE FOR FIVE YEARS THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF EARLY LEARNING AND YOU HAD A $160 MILLION BUDGET.

BE STILL OUR NEW MEXICO HEART, TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO QUALITY SERVICE FOR ALL THE D.C. CHILDREN, FROM THE POOREST TO THE AFFLUENT.

D.C. WAS THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY IN 2009 TO PURSUE UNIVERSAL PRE-K AND HAD THE HIGHEST U.S.

PARTICIPATION RATE, 85% OF ALL FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND 75% OF ALL THREE-YEAR-OLDS, THAT'S PHENOMENAL.

THANK YOU.

>>ELIZABETH: THAT IS PHENOMENAL, YES.

>>LORENE: AND SO, HOW DID YOU DO THAT, WELL, HAVING A BUDGET HELPED.

>>ELIZABETH: IT DID.

>>LORENE: WE CAN'T MATCH THAT HERE, BUT WE'VE GOT YOU AND YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>>ELIZABETH: YES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT 84% OF FOUR YEAR OLDS IN NEW MEXICO CURRENTLY HAVE ACCESS TO PRE-K. >>LORENE: THAT IS TERRIFIC!

>>ELIZABETH: EXACTLY, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE FULL DAY PRE-K LIKE D.C. HAD.

D.C.'S MODEL WAS DONE MORE THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THROUGH THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, BUT IT WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE STUDENT FUNDING FORMULA.

SO, IN ADDITION TO THE BUDGET THAT I HAD, WHICH FUNDED COMMUNITY-BASED PRE-K, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE IN NEW MEXICO TO HAVE ALMOST 60% OF OUR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND WITH OUR BUDGET NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BE AT THAT 72% FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS IN NEW MEXICO PRE-K.

BUT WE HAVE A VERY STRONG MIXED DELIVERY SYSTEM HERE IN NEW MEXICO, FAMILY CHILDCARE, COMMUNITY-BASED CENTERS AND SCHOOL-BASED AND OUR HEAD START AND OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS, ALL ARE PART OF OUR PRE-K PROGRAM.

>>LORENE: WOW, THAT'S PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE.

>>ELIZABETH: IT IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE.

>>LORENE: GOOD FOR YOU.

>>ELIZABETH: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAD STATED, I WILL READ IT WORD FOR WORD.

"CHILDCARE IS ESSENTIAL TO FAMILY STABILITY, WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION, AND NEW MEXICO'S FUTURE PROSPERITY.

BY INVESTING IN UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE, WE ARE GIVING FAMILIES FINANCIAL RELIEF, SUPPORTING OUR ECONOMY," AND THE PART I LOVE THE MOST, "ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND THRIVE."

THANK YOU.

>>ELIZABETH: YOU'RE WELCOME AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THE GOVERNOR AND TO OUR INCREDIBLE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE, WHO HAVE INVESTED, THEY'VE INVESTED IN OUR FAMILIES AND OUR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.

>>LORENE: WELL, IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE VISION, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MANIFEST IT.

AND THIS PROGRAM REPRESENTS AN AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS OF $12,000 PER YEAR, PER FAMILY, PER STUDENT IN EACH FAMILY.

>>ELIZABETH: PER CHILD.

>>LORENE: EXACTLY.

YEAH, PER CHILD.

SO THAT'S JUST AMAZING AND IT TAKES EFFECT ON NOVEMBER 1ST.

SO THIS IS RIGHT AWAY, I'M SO GLAD.

MEANWHILE, I THINK, AS THEY SAY, THE STATE IS SIMULTANEOUSLY TRYING TO INCREASE CHILDCARE CAPACITY.

>>ELIZABETH: CORRECT.

>>LORENE: HOW IS THAT COMING, NOVEMBER IS SOON.

>>ELIZABETH: IT IS SOON, IT IS SOON.

AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE, WHAT DO WE CALL IT, PROVIDER, I'M GOING TO CALL IT.

SOMETIMES WE CALL IT THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY, BUT I WANT TO JUST CALL IT AN INCREDIBLE EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY HERE IN NEW MEXICO AND I COULD NOT HAVE FELT MORE HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO COME AND WORK WITH THESE DEDICATED, MOSTLY WOMEN, MOSTLY WOMEN OF COLOR, RUNNING THESE PROGRAMS AND OPERATING THEM, BUT THEY STAND POISED AND READY.

WE'VE INCREASED, WHILE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, THEIR CHILDCARE SUPPLY AND THEIR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS ARE GOING DOWN, WE HAVE ONLY INCREASED BECAUSE OF THE VALUE THAT OUR GOVERNOR PUTS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.

SO WE HAVE A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH TO EXPANDING THE SUPPLY.

ONE IS TO HELP CHILDCARE PROGRAMS GET ACCESS TO CAPITAL, THE LOW INTEREST LOAN, ALMOST 13 MILLION IS IN THERE AND THAT APPLICATION IS GOING TO OPEN IN ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS CAPITAL.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS WHO WORK WITH FAMILY CHILDCARE AND HOPEFULLY SET UP A LOT OF NEW BUSINESSES AROUND FAMILY CHILDCARE.

THEY CAN SERVE UP TO SIX CHILDREN OR UP TO 12 CHILDREN IN A HOME.

THEN SOMETHING CALLED REGISTERED HOMES, THEY ARE WHAT WE CALL LICENSED EXEMPT, BUT WE USED TO HAVE THOUSANDS OF THEM ACROSS THE STATE AND OVER THE YEARS, THEY'VE DIMINISHED.

WE ARE GOING TO GO ON A FULL CAMPAIGN TO ATTRACT AND RECRUIT GRANDMAS, AUNTIES, UNCLES, WHO ARE CURRENTLY CARING FOR CHILDREN TO BECOME PART OF THIS SYSTEM BUILDING.

AND WE WANT TO HAVE 1,000 OF THOSE OVER THE NEXT YEAR WHO COME IN AND THEY CAN GET PAID TO CARE FOR THOSE CHILDREN THEY'RE CARING FOR AND THEY CAN CARE FOR UP TO FOUR CHILDREN IN THEIR HOME.

AGAIN, STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS, RURAL COMMUNITIES, OUR SOVEREIGN NATIONS, THESE ARE ALL PLACES WHERE WE KNOW CHILDREN ARE BEING CARED FOR AND WE WANT TO HELP SUPPORT THE CAREGIVERS.

>>LORENE: OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

BECAUSE THE STATE ESTIMATES IT NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL 5,000 EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS TO IMPLEMENT THE UNIVERSAL SYSTEM.

>>ELIZABETH: THAT'S CORRECT.

AND WE JUST SAW SOME GREAT DATA, LORENE, I HATE TO INTERRUPT, BUT JUST TO SAY THAT CNM HAS 900 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD JUST THIS SEMESTER, 300 AT WESTERN.

WE HAVE SEEN THE GREATEST GROWTH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

SO WE SEE PEOPLE SAYING THIS IS A PROFESSION, THIS IS A CAREER, I WANT TO BE PART OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

WE'RE VERY PLEASED, WE KNOW IT'S WORK WE HAVE TO DO, BUT WE FOCUS ON WAGE SUPPLEMENT, OF COURSE FREE COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP HAS OPENED UP THE DOORS FOR US TO REDUCE THE BARRIER OF COLLEGE ACCESS.

WE ALSO PAY PEOPLE PARITY WHEN THEY DO ACHIEVE THESE HIGHER CREDENTIALS, THEY GET EXTRA PAY.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF INCENTIVES BUILT INTO THIS SYSTEM THAT WE'VE BUILT, THIS PRENATAL TO FIVE SYSTEM HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND EARLY EDUCATION IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD.

WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR YOUTH AND IN OUR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND EDUCATORS BECAUSE OTHERWISE, IT JUST ISN'T GOING TO WORK WITHOUT A FOUNDATION.

>>ELIZABETH: THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE DID WHAT THEY DID IN 2019, THEY SAW THE NUMBERS, THEY SAW OUR CHILDREN ARRIVING AT KINDERGARTEN NOT WITH ALL THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THEY NEEDED AND PREPARED AND THEY SAW THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING MUCH EARLIER.

SO THIS IS REALLY FULFILLING THAT PROMISE.

>>LORENE: AND ONE THING THAT HAS HELPED, IF I CAN PUT IN A LITTLE PLUG FOR PBS, ARE THINGS LIKE SESAME STREET AND READING RAINBOW AND ALL OF THOSE FREE PUBLIC TELEVISION PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE AN ENTICING, ENTERTAINING EARLY EDUCATION FOR KIDS.

>>ELIZABETH: CRITICAL!

CRITICAL!

THEIR BRAINS ARE DEVELOPING SO RAPIDLY, A MILLION NEURAL CONNECTIONS ARE BEING MADE EVERY SECOND IN A BABY'S BRAIN, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTS THAT THEY'RE IN ARE REALLY OPTIMIZING THAT DEVELOPMENT.

>>LORENE: I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT FAMILIES WHO ARE LISTENING TO THIS CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACCESSING UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE BENEFITS AT NMECECD.ORG/UNIVERSAL, WE WILL PUT IT THERE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO THAT WEBSITE AND FIND OUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE, HOW THEY CAN ACCESS THIS UNIVERSAL EARLY EDUCATION CARE.

NOVEMBER 1 IS WHEN PEOPLE CAN START APPLYING.

SO WE KNOW EVERYBODY'S ANXIOUS, AS WE ARE TOO, BUT WE HAVE PUT REGULATIONS IN PLACE.

WE RELEASED THEM JUST YESTERDAY, SO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE SAME RULES APPLY FOR CHILDCARE.

YOU HAVE TO NEED IT, YOU'RE WORKING, YOU'RE GOING TO SCHOOL, BUT WE HAVE MADE EXCEPTIONS FOR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY BE IN WHAT WE CALL, IN CHILDCARE WORLD, AN ALLOWABLE ACTIVITY.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN, BABIES BORN SUBSTANCE EXPOSED, THAT THEIR FAMILIES AND THE PEOPLE CARING FOR THEM HAVE ACCESS, BUT OTHER FAMILIES, WE HAVE MADE REALLY IMPORTANT CHANGES SO THAT IF A FAMILY IS GOING TO SCHOOL AND GOING TO COLLEGE, THEY MIGHT NEED FULL-TIME CARE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE GOING TO COLLEGE PART-TIME AND WE'RE GOING TO LET THEM HAVE THAT FULL-TIME CARE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BUILD IT ON PARENT PREFERENCE AND NOT ON HOW MANY HOURS THEY'RE DOING THINGS.

THOSE ARE BIG, IMPORTANT CHANGES THAT SPEAK TO THE GOVERNOR'S PASSION ABOUT A FAMILY-DRIVEN SYSTEM, A FAMILY-CENTERED SYSTEM.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT'S FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED CARE.

>>LORENE: AND PROBABLY MOST FAMILIES DO NEED CARE.

>>ELIZABETH: DO, EXACTLY, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

>>LORENE: ALSO, IT'S JUST SUCH A RELIEF FOR SO MANY FAMILIES WITH ANOTHER SMALL CHILD AND ALREADY A LOT OF TODDLERS, I MEAN IT'S SUCH A GIFT.

>>ELIZABETH: THE COST IS MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE'S MORTGAGE OR RENT, FOR THEIR CHILDCARE.

I TALKED TO A MOM ON SATURDAY WHO SAID SHE DIDN'T QUALIFY UNDER OUR CURRENT LIMITS, HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT HAVING ANOTHER CHILD, BUT REALLY SAYING MAYBE I CAN'T, NOW SHE CAN, WE CAN.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BRING A REAL SENSE OF RELIEF TO FAMILIES AND HOPEFULLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE MORE CHILDREN, BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE MORE CHILDREN IN NEW MEXICO AND ALSO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE.

>>LORENE: SO WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THIS CRUCIAL NEED AND SET THIS IN, WAS IT OUR GOVERNOR, MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM?

>>ELIZABETH: IT WAS.

>>LORENE: AND EDUCATORS THEMSELVES, I'M SURE, REALIZE WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS SYSTEMICALLY, WE NEED TO LOOK, AS THEY SAY, CRADLE TO GRAVE, BUT REALLY, THE PRENATAL TO PRE.K.

>>ELIZABETH: EXACTLY.

>>LORENE: AND THERE'S A HUGE NEED, HUGE NEED.

>>ELIZABETH: AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR, I MEAN, WHEN SHE CAMPAIGNED, THIS WAS HER PROMISE.

OF COURSE, SHE DID THE MOONSHOT FOR EDUCATION, CRADLE TO CAREER, AND I THINK IT WAS HER WISDOM, HER VISION, NOT ONLY THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE CHAMBER, OUR PHILANTHROPY, AND OUR ADVOCATES, MOST IMPORTANTLY, FAMILIES AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS.

THEY WERE THE ONES WHO WENT DOOR TO DOOR TO GET THE LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND PASSED IN GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM'S THIRD YEAR.

THEN OF COURSE GETTING IT ON THE 70% OF NEW MEXICANS SAID ABSOLUTELY INVEST MORE IN EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE.

SO IT TAKES ALL OF US, IT REALLY DOES TAKE ALL OF US LEANING IN AND MAKING THIS HAPPEN FOR NEW MEXICO FAMILIES.

>>LORENE: SO SPEAKING OF LEANING IN, HOW CAN OUR AUDIENCE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT PARENTS, WE'VE GOT EDUCATORS, WE'VE PROBABLY GOT KIDS WATCHING TOO, WHAT CAN OUR AUDIENCE DO TO HELP?

>>ELIZABETH: I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST THEY CAN CALL THEIR LEGISLATORS AND THANK THEM, REALLY THANK THEM FOR MAKING THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT IN NEW MEXICO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

WE DO HAVE PUBLIC RULEMAKING OUT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM FAMILIES AND WE ALSO WANT TO HEAR THEIR STORIES.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE THIS IS GOING TO MAKE, THE GOVERNOR SHARED THE STORY ABOUT THE TWO EDUCATORS HERE IN SANTA FE WHO WERE CONTEMPLATING MAYBE HAVING TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE IT.

THEY HAD ONE CHILD, BUT THEY WERE PAYING $1,200 A MONTH AND ON THEIR SALARIES OF ONLY COMBINED 133 GROSS, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT, SO THEY NOW HAVE THAT KIND OF RELIEF.

WE HAVE EDUCATORS IN OUR CLASSROOM, AND WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE LESS STRESSED, MORE FINANCIALLY SOUND.

>>LORENE: WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH ELIZABETH GRUGINSKI, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU'RE THE CABINET SECRETARY FOR... >>ELIZABETH: THE NEW MEXICO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE DEPARTMENT.

>>LORENE: AND YOU'RE THE FIRST CABINET SECRETARY FOR THIS DEPARTMENT, >>ELIZABETH: I AM.

>>LORENE: WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.

>>ELIZABETH: THANK YOU, I'M LUCKY TO BE HERE.

>>LORENE: SO I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HEAR THIS AND THEY SAY WHAT CAN WE DO?

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THANK AND TO ALSO TELL OTHER PARENTS.

>>ELIZABETH: EXACTLY.

>>LORENE: AND TELL, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS IS AVAILABLE NOW.

>>ELIZABETH: THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

YEAH, WORD OF MOUTH IS SO IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, TELLING PEOPLE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY DON'T SEE IT, AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE IT.

THEY CAN'T BELIEVE THEIR EARS.

>>LORENE: I KNOW, I KNOW.

WHAT, SOMEBODY'S HELPING US.

>>ELIZABETH: RIGHT, RIGHT, WHERE'S THE CATCH.

I THINK THE THING IS THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD THE SUPPLY AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY, LIKE THE PARENTS THAT THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT, THEY'RE CURRENTLY PAYING FOR CHILDCARE.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO GET RELIEF, AND AS WE BUILD MORE SUPPLY FOR ALL FAMILIES IN NEW MEXICO WHO NEED IT.

>>LORENE: SO I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LISTEN TO THIS AND SAY, WHAT'S THE CATCH, ARE OUR TAXES GOING TO GO UP.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE PAID FOR?

>>ELIZABETH: YES, SUCH A GOOD QUESTION.

WELL, AGAIN, THE WISE LEADERSHIP OF OUR GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE, THEY CREATED THE EARLY CHILDHOOD TRUST FUND IN 2020.

AND YOU KNOW, IT JUST STARTED WITH THAT 300 MILLION AND WE WERE ALL HOPEFUL IT WOULD GROW TO A BILLION IN FIVE YEARS, AND IT IS NOW AT $10 BILLION.

>>LORENE: AND SO, ARE YOU DRAWING FROM JUST THE INTEREST OR FROM THE CORPUS.

>>ELIZABETH: YES, FROM THE INTEREST.

>>LORENE: THAT'S BRILLIANT.

>>ELIZABETH: EXACTLY, AND ALSO THE VOTERS PASSED THE LAND GRANT, WE HAVE FEDERAL MONEY, AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE GENERAL FUND.

SO THOSE ARE THE SOURCES OF FUNDING, BUT YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD TRUST FUND, THE MONEY THAT WE GET FROM IT IS PURELY INTEREST ON WHAT THEY CALL THE CORPUS OF THAT FUND.

>>LORENE: YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I THINK THE LEADERSHIP, BOTH FROM THE GOVERNOR, THE EDUCATORS AND FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT, IS SO VISIONARY.

IT'S FOUNDATIONAL FOR OUR SUCCESS AS A STATE, FOR OUR FUTURE AND THAT STATEMENT THAT I READ FROM THE GOVERNOR, EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THIS FOUNDATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND LAUNCHING KIDS PREPARED.

>>ELIZABETH: PREPARED, RIGHT.

HAVING THEM ENTER KINDERGARTEN JUST ON TRACK.

>>LORENE: ALPHABET, NUMBERS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, ABILITY TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS.

>>ELIZABETH: EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

STRONG EXECUTIVE FUNCTION.

>>LORENE: SOCIALIZED SKILLS.

>>ELIZABETH: EXACTLY, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

>>LORENE: IT'S JUST A BLESSING FOR US, SO THANK YOU.

>>ELIZABETH: I LIKED WHAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID IN HIS CLOSING REMARKS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

"THIS ISN'T EXPENDITURES, THIS IS AN INVESTMENT."

>>LORENE: EXACTLY.

>>ELIZABETH: AND WHEN WE KNOW THE RETURN ANYWHERE FROM 7 TO 13%, OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO JUST DELIVER AMAZING DIVIDENDS TO NEW MEXICO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND OUR STATE AS A WHOLE.

>>LORENE: LET'S LOOK AT THE NATIONAL PICTURE AND WHERE WE STAND, BECAUSE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM DOESN'T RANK HIGHLY, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT OUR RANKING AND WHAT THEY'RE MISSING IN THAT RANKING.

>>ELIZABETH: I THINK THEY'RE MISSING, AGAIN, SOME OF THE VISIONARY AND BOLD MOVES THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE HAVE DONE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AROUND IMPROVING HOW WE TEACH LITERACY, HOW WE TEACH READING, AND BRINGING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING THROUGH STRUCTURED LITERACY.

SO I DO THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO HELP PROPEL, AND IT ALREADY HAS, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING PROMISING RESULTS.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S THE INVESTMENT IN THE EARLY YEARS THAT WE SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL MORE PREPARED AND WE'RE NOW ABLE TO MEASURE THAT BECAUSE WE'RE USING A MEASURE EVERY FEW YEARS HERE IN NEW MEXICO TO SEE HOW HAVE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INVESTMENTS, COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY, CHANGED THE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN ENTERING KINDERGARTEN.

WE'RE GETTING THAT BOTH FROM THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, BUT WE'RE ALSO GETTING IT FROM THE PARENTS OF THEIR INCOMING KINDERGARTNERS TO HEAR, WHAT WAS YOUR CHILD'S EXPOSURE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD OPPORTUNITIES?

HOW OFTEN DID YOU READ WITH YOUR CHILD, HOW OFTEN DID YOUR CHILD HAVE TIME TO BE OUTDOORS.

>>LORENE: AND HOW MUCH TIME IS YOUR CHILD ON SCREENS?

>>ELIZABETH: THAT'S A QUESTION WE ASK.

>>LORENE: IT'S OVERDONE, YOU JUST PUT THE LAPTOP IN FRONT OF THE KID AND WATCH A MOVIE OR SOMETHING, AND THAT'S NOT ACTIVE LEARNING.

YOU ALWAYS WANT AN ADULT, AND I THINK THE RECOMMENDATION IS NO SCREEN TIME AT ALL BEFORE TWO, AND THEN VERY LIMITED, AND ALWAYS WITH AN ADULT.

>>LORENE: RIGHT?

>>ELIZABETH: NEVER LETTING A CHILD... >>LORENE: DID I HEAR ONCE THE STATISTIC, AN HOUR A DAY?

>>ELIZABETH: I DON'T HAVE THAT, BUT I MEAN, I'M SURE YOU DO A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS TOPIC BECAUSE PBS.

>>LORENE: I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT RECOMMENDED.

>>ELIZABETH: YOU ALL HAVE BEEN STRONG LEADERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND PARTNERS WITH US I KNOW ON MANY INITIATIVES.

I THINK IT'S SUCH AN EXCITING DAY, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO DIGEST IT, BUT IT'S BEEN VERY UPLIFTING TO READ THE COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU READ COMMENTS IN NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, THEY'RE ALL VERY POSITIVE.

I THINK PEOPLE FEEL THAT THIS IS THE DIRECTION THE WHOLE COUNTRY SHOULD BE GOING.

>>LORENE: EXACTLY.

>>ELIZABETH: AND OUR GOVERNOR REALLY HAD THAT VISION AND THE LEGISLATURE SUPPORTED THAT VISION.

>>LORENE: THERE'S ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT THAT IS ALSO FOUNDATIONAL, AND THAT'S FEEDING HUNGRY CHILDREN.

A CHILD CANNOT LEARN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH, SO TALK TO ME ABOUT THE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAMS AND THAT IT WAS FOR EVERYONE.

THERE WEREN'T BROWN BAG KIDS WHO BROUGHT THEIR LUNCH, THEN IT WAS A DISCRIMINATORY SEPARATION THAT FED CHILDREN WHO COULDN'T AFFORD IT AND THEN CHILDREN WHO COULD.

THEY SAID WE'RE FEEDING EVERYBODY, NO DISCRIMINATION.

HOW IS THAT WORKING OUT AND WHO DECIDED TO STEP UP AND DO THAT?

>>ELIZABETH: OUR GOVERNOR.

>>LORENE: YAY, THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM.

>>ELIZABETH: YES, AND AGAIN, HUGE INVESTMENTS FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

AND I KNOW SENATOR PADILLA, WHO WAS WITH US ON MONDAY, ALSO I THINK CARRIED THAT BILL.

I THINK THE FOCUS ON QUALITY FOOD, TOO, IS SO IMPORTANT.

I CAME FROM HEAD START, I STARTED EARLY IN MY CAREER AND THAT IS WHERE CHILDREN SOMETIMES LEARN TO EAT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND THINGS THAT THEY NEVER HAD EXPOSURE TO.

IT SOMETIMES TAKES A CHILD FIVE TO SEVEN TIMES TO BE EXPOSED TO BROCCOLI OR SOMETHING BEFORE THEY DECIDE THAT YES I LIKE THIS AND IT'S GOOD FOR ME.

AND SO I THINK WE CAN'T FOCUS ENOUGH ON FOOD AND NUTRITION AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT I MEAN WE OF COURSE HAVE THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM IN OUR DEPARTMENT.

ALL OF OUR NEW MEXICO PRE K PROGRAMS ARE REQUIRED TO USE IT SO THAT WE KNOW CHILDREN ARE GETTING HEALTHY FOOD, WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE IT WITH ALL OUR CHILDCARE CENTERS AND OUR FAMILY CHILDCARE HOMES TO USE THAT PROGRAM.

I THINK IT IS THE NEW MEXICO GROWN AND GETTING SCRATCH COOKING AND GETTING ACCESS TO THE INCREDIBLE MEAT AND PRODUCE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE STATE AND EXPOSING OUR PROGRAMS TO THAT.

SO THERE ARE VERY GOOD OUTCOMES I THINK COMING FROM THAT PROGRAM.

WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING THAT BIG AND NEW, IT TAKES A WHILE FOR EVERYBODY TO KIND OF GET ON BOARD AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WITH THIS UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE ANNOUNCEMENT.

>>LORENE: WELL, LOCALLY GROWN IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND ELEMENTS OF NEW MEXICO'S FOODS, LIKE CHILE, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE IT NOT JUST WHAT ALL OF AMERICA EATS, BUT WHAT NEW MEXICANS LOVE TO EAT.

>>ELIZABETH: EXACTLY.

SUCH GOOD FOOD HERE.

ALL MY FRIENDS WHO VISIT JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THE WEALTH THAT WE HAVE HERE OF CULTURE, FOOD, AND LANGUAGE.

AND I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE WORK THAT WE DO AT ECECD IS WHAT WE CALL OUR ACRONYM, IS FOCUSED ON CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND TRADITIONS, AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE EARLY EXPERIENCES REALLY ARE INFUSED AND REPRESENT THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES THAT WE'RE SERVING.

>>LORENE: NOW, ONE THING THAT YOU DO THAT I THINK IS WONDERFUL IS YOU FEED THEM IN SCHOOL AND THEN COME SUMMER AND YOU DO SOME WONDERFUL THINGS WITH KIDS IN SUMMER.

SO, TELL US WHAT ARRANGEMENTS YOU MAKE SO THE KIDS DON'T GO HUNGRY DURING SUMMER.

>>ELIZABETH: EXACTLY.

OUR FOOD AND NUTRITION BUREAU HAS THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM, WHICH IS OF COURSE SUPPORTED BY THE USDA.

I WISH I HAD THE NUMBER IN MY HEAD, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY SPONSORS ALL OVER THE STATE AND WE MAKE SURE THAT NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, DO NOT GO HUNGRY.

THIS IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE WE PARTNER HEAVILY WITH OUR SOVEREIGN NATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE GREAT PARTNERS IN HELPING OFFER THE SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM.

AND WE SERVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE HUNGRY IN THIS STATE.

>>LORENE: AS I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A DRIVE-UP, SOMETIMES A DRIVE-UP SITUATION AND HOWEVER MANY LITTLE HEADS ARE IN THE CAR, HOWEVER, MANY KIDS THERE ARE, EVERYBODY GETS FREE FOOD.

>>ELIZABETH: CORRECT, THERE'S NO LIMIT.

>>LORENE: YEAH, THERE'S NO LIMIT.

A HUNGRY KID'S A HUNGRY KID, AND WE'RE FEEDING THEM.

>>ELIZABETH: AND LORENE, ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT IS WHEN THE LEGISLATURE CREATED IT, THEY CREATED AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR NATIVE AMERICAN EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE, AND DR. JOANNIE SUINA IS OUR CURRENT ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

AND WE DO AMAZING PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALL OF OUR 23 SOVEREIGN NATIONS, WE HAVE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS, WE FOCUS ON PARENT ENGAGEMENT, EARLY INTERVENTION, HOME VISITING, WHATEVER THE PRIORITIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND PRESIDENTS OF THOSE SOVEREIGN NATIONS ARE, AND I THINK THAT'S WE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR NATIVE AMERICAN EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE.

>>LORENE: AND THEY HAVE INPUT INTO THE KIND OF FOOD, CULTURALLY DELICIOUS FOOD.

>>ELIZABETH: EXACTLY, SO I'M JUST REALLY HONORED AND ALWAYS JUST AMAZED AT WHAT I LEARN EVERY TIME I'M ENGAGED WITH ONE OF OUR GOVERNORS OR PRESIDENTS, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GO AND DO A SACRED BEGINNINGS TOUR, A LEARNING TOUR.

LEARN HOW IS EARLY CHILDHOOD BEING DELIVERED, WHAT CAN WE LEARN TO HELP IMPROVE OURS AND WHAT CAN WE PARTNER?

SO DR. JOANNIE SUINA CAME UP WITH THAT WITH HER TEAM, AND WE COULD NOT BE MORE THRILLED TO START THAT PROCESS.

>>LORENE: HOW DO YOU SPELL HER LAST NAME?

>>ELIZABETH: S U I N A.

>>LORENE: THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE JUST HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT, AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU CAN TELL OUR PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW AND HOW MUCH IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>>ELIZABETH: YES, YES, EXACTLY.

SO IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO'S CURRENTLY USING CHILDCARE ON NOVEMBER 1ST, WHICH IS A WEEKEND, YOU COULD START GETTING YOUR APPLICATION READY.

IT IS ONLINE, SO YOU CAN START SEEING WHAT KIND OF THINGS YOU HAVE TO BRING.

WE DO NEED PROOF OF RESIDENCY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BORDER STATES AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WE'RE SERVING ARE NEW MEXICANS.

WE DO NEED TO KNOW THAT THE CHILD HAS CITIZENSHIP, BUT THAT'S FOR THE CHILD, WE WILL STILL NEED YOUR INCOME AND THAT IS BECAUSE OUR FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCE ONLY ALLOWS US TO FUND CHILDCARE FOR PEOPLE AT CERTAIN INCOME LEVELS.

SO IT'S NOT TO BE DISTRACTED TO SAY, WELL, I THOUGHT THERE WAS NO INCOME LIMIT, THERE ISN'T AN INCOME LIMIT, BUT WE HAVE TO BE USING THE RIGHT FUNDING SOURCE FOR PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT INCOME LEVELS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES.

I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR TEAM INSIDE ECECD, JUST AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS FROM THE LICENSING REGULATORY TO THE POLICY TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM.

REALLY THINKING AS FAST AS WE CAN ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THIS EASIER, REMOVE BARRIERS WHERE WE CAN, BOTH FOR PROVIDERS AND FOR FAMILIES, AND FOR OUR STAFF, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR GOVERNOR DOES NOT WANT TO SEE A BUNCH OF ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN BEING PLACED ON PEOPLE, THAT IS OUR GOAL.

WE WILL NEED PEOPLE TO JUST LOOK TO OUR WEBSITE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THAT UP THERE.

>>LORENE: WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT UP AGAIN.

>>ELIZABETH: GOOD.

THERE'LL BE MORE INFORMATION COMING, USE THE AVENUES YOU HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ECECD COMMUNICATIONS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO REFINE AND IMPROVE OUR MESSAGING SO THAT WE CAN REACH EVERYBODY OUT THERE NOT THROUGH TV, BUT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US A CHANCE TO TALK TO NEW MEXICANS.

>>LORENE: I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR GUEST WHO IS ELIZABETH GROGINSKI.

YOU'RE THE CABINET SECRETARY FOR THE NEW MEXICO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE DEPARTMENT, AND YOU'RE DOING SO MUCH FOR OUR STATE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>>ELIZABETH: THANK YOU LORENE.

>>LORENE: AND I'M LORENE MILLS, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU OUR AUDIENCE FOR LISTENING TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT EDITION OF REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

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