Stefani Lord, a House Representative from New Mexico, has accused the state's Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD) of misusing $20 million intended for children's mental health care. She has called for reform in the department. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"CYFD BLEW $20 MILLION MEANT FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH CARE," said Lord, New Mexico State Representative for 22nd District (R). "CYFD is a dumpster fire — and every time we throw more money into it without reform, we just fuel the flames."
Recent efforts to fund and reform the CYFD have concentrated on expanding mental health services for children in response to increasing youth behavioral health crises, as reported by the Santa Fe New Mexican. In 2024 and 2025, state lawmakers approved significant budget increases, and CYFD initiated new mobile crisis teams, telehealth programs, and community partnerships to address gaps exposed by the pandemic and federal investigations. Despite increased funding, challenges such as provider shortages and delays in accessing care persist.
According to the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, state funding for children's mental health through CYFD in fiscal year 2025 amounts to $98.4 million, marking a 14% increase over the previous year. This includes $27 million allocated for community-based mental health programs and $15 million for crisis response initiatives. Additional federal grants support early intervention and telehealth expansion.
A report by Mental Health America in 2025 finds that New Mexico ranks 45th among U.S. states for overall youth mental health outcomes. The state experiences higher rates of adolescent depression and lower access to care compared to national averages. Only 32% of youth with major depression in New Mexico receive consistent mental health treatment, compared to 42% nationally, underscoring persistent disparities in service availability and outcomes.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, Lord is a Republican member of the New Mexico House of Representatives known for prioritizing child welfare and CYFD reform. Elected in 2021 to represent District 22, she has sponsored legislation aimed at improving accountability at CYFD and expanding access to children's mental health and protective services. Lord frequently advocates for increased transparency and oversight in state child welfare spending and service delivery.
