A task force created to investigate the state’s legal framework that ensures a child’s care held an online meeting to hear from those who have first-hand experience in New Mexico’s foster care system.
One speaker, Alyssa Davis of Albuquerque, according to a KOB report, said she spent 14 years in the foster care system and expressed concern about overmedicating children. “Sometimes not everyone needs that mental facility help,” Davis, now a youth leader, said. “It was like my own personal prison. It was very terrifying.”
The New Mexico Supreme Court’s Children’s Court Improvement Commission created the task force to investigate the Children’s Code. The task force could ultimately recommend changes for the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department or CYFD.
The CYFD has been under scrutiny in recent years after a series of reports of abuse and neglect, prompting the task force to investigate its practices.
During the online meeting, the former foster child said she felt a lack of support and alleged adults who were caring for her mistreated her. “That followed me through every foster home and every placement,” she said.
Also discussed, per KOB, was whether foster kids are missing too much school due to appointments. “School was my sanctuary, so it was really hard for me,” she said.
Another speaker, Shaniah Gallegos, said there needs to be better communication between all parties involved. Also, as a former foster child, she said after a forced separation from her eight siblings, she went years without even communicating with them.
“That would be a great way to help other families and youth who do go into foster care, to make sure that there is a great line of communication,” Gallegos said. After spending 10 years in the foster care system and attending four different middle schools, Gallegos is now attending college.
The task force members said during the online meeting that many of the comments from the former foster children were “eye-opening.”