Stefani Lord, the state representative for New Mexico's 22nd district, said that Democratic obstruction has hindered meaningful child welfare reform, leaving children vulnerable and failing to address systemic issues within the state's child services agency. The statement was made on X.
"CYFD is a dumpster fire," said Lord, New Mexico State Representative for 22nd District (R). "Every single year, Democrats block my proposals. Children are still dying under CYFD care. If you keep voting the same way, you can expect the same failures."
In 2025, New Mexico lawmakers advanced several high-profile Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) reform bills amid growing concern over child welfare failures. Senate Bill 42, supported by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, proposes shifting the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act (CARA) program for substance-exposed infants to the Department of Health. Meanwhile, House Joint Resolution 5 seeks to restructure CYFD under a commission; however, experts warn it may disrupt federal funding. According to Source New Mexico, these efforts reflect a broader debate over how best to reform oversight of the state’s child protection system.
The New Mexico Department of Health reported 84 child deaths from 2018 to 2022 in its most recent Child Fatality Review, with 80% of these deaths deemed preventable. The leading causes were asphyxiation (30%) and trauma from bodily force or weapons (27%). According to the 2023 report, infants under one year old accounted for 35 of the deaths, highlighting persistent risks for the state's most vulnerable children.
Over the past decade, New Mexico lawmakers have proposed multiple CYFD reform bills, often drawing bipartisan support but facing administrative resistance. In 2025, three key reform bills, including a proposal to create an Office of the Child Advocate, passed the House unanimously. As reported by KOAT, despite legislative momentum, CYFD officials expressed concerns about redundancy and resource constraints, complicating efforts to implement the reforms effectively.
Lord has been a vocal critic of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) and a strong advocate for reform since she began representing New Mexico's House District 22 in 2021. In 2023, she sponsored House Memorial 75 urging the Attorney General to evaluate CYFD's use of structured decision-making tools.
