Last week, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 252 into law, inaugurating a new pilot program to offer support to grandparents and other relatives who assume caregiving responsibilities for children when parents are unable to do so.
The Kinship Caregiver Support Pilot Program will be managed by the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD). It aims to provide eligible caregivers with access to crucial services such as case management, legal assistance, mental health support, and respite care.
"Too often kinship caregivers—especially grandparents—are left to navigate complex systems alone while providing childcare,” remarked Emily Kaltenbach, ALTSD Cabinet Secretary. “This pilot program will help us establish more resources to help keep families together and ensure caregivers have the support they need to provide the best care possible.”
In New Mexico, numerous grandparents and relatives have taken on the role of primary caregivers, often due to parental incarceration, substance use, or illness. This piece of legislation is a response to the appeals from families and community leaders for increased support.
“After working on this legislation for years, I am thrilled we’re finally launching a pilot program to help New Mexico families,” stated New Mexico state Representative Susan Herrera. “Being able to leverage public and private partnerships, we can deliver wraparound support to those doing the hard work of keeping kids safe, stable and with their loved ones.”
The pilot program will run for three years, beginning immediately. The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department will establish program rules, after which the Kinship Caregiver Support Pilot Program is expected to start serving families in five to seven counties across the state. This implementation will enable the assessment of the program's impact and provide a basis for possible future statewide expansion.
