New Mexico legislators are focused on child abuse underreporting. | Pixabay
New Mexico legislators are focused on child abuse underreporting. | Pixabay
Some New Mexico House Republicans are taking aim at the underreporting of child abuse by sending a letter to the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD).
The letter was signed by House GOP Legislative Education Study Committee members, Rep. Tim Lewis (R-Rio Rancho), Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences), Rep. Kelly Fajardo (R-Los Lunas), Rep. David Gallegos (R-Eunice), Rep. Alonzo Baldonado (R-Belen) and APS board of education member Peggy Muller-Aragon.
A recent report indicated that child abuse reporting has dropped from 42% in April to 33% in May while schools were closed during the pandemic.
“In a recent Albuquerque Journal article, yourself and other Lujan Grisham administrators highlighted concerns about these issues. What is confusing is that for the entirety of the COVID-19 crisis, these issues have seemed to have taken a backseat. While we are thankful that students will be allowed to return to the classroom in some communities, the fact remains that the decisions being made are continuing to expose many school-age children to increasingly stressful home environments and will result in greater hopelessness and other behavioral health problems," the letter reads. "Therefore, having the Children Youth and Families Department engaged and with a plan will help legislators, and other concerned officials to determine what resources and programs may be necessary now and in the future to address this problem.”
Alerts Sign-up