Family Support and Early Intervention Division eNewsletter

The Family Support and Early Intervention (FSEI) team is pleased to release our first division newsletter that speaks to our interconnected division programs, acknowledges the strengths and accomplishments of the workforce, elevates bureaus priorities, and provides information on agency events and resources. This newsletter will help you stay informed about the latest division news and its bureaus — Families FIRST, Family Infant Toddler, and Home Visiting.

The creation of the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department brought a one-of-a-kind opportunity that positions our state for the alignment and improvement of early childhood services and programs housed under one roof, where quality, access, and equity have become the driving factors of how we engage with New Mexico families and children. The FSEI division consists of three statewide systems that focus on early childhood development, health, and school readiness outcomes, and oversees early intervention, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C services, home visiting, and perinatal case management services. These systems serve the youngest populations in our state and provide support to families statewide, targeting the prenatal to age five population.

The early intervention, home visiting, and nurse care coordinator workforce make it possible for families and children to grow healthy, achieve key development milestones, build confidence and security, and be part of the ecosystem that prepares our future leaders for their engagement in society. Each moment that you spent with children and families paved the way for new opportunities because you believed, respected, and honored their individualism, cultures, and languages, and provided them with tools to support family dynamics. Thank you for being those change agents that inspire and reveal that anything is possible when one is connected, aware, and is supported.

You have made a profound difference in the lives of many New Mexico families and children, and your work doesn’t stop there. Not only have you been an important partner for children and families in our state, you became a hero as our country dealt with a public health crisis that brought devastating, unperceived changes and challenges to our lives. Thank you for always being a critical, creative, benevolent agent that our communities can count on. In closing, we look forward to providing you with the most relevant division news and creating this communication platform alongside you.

Warmly,  

Division Director Family Support and Early Intervention
Mayra Gutierrez
Mayra.Gutierrez@state.nm.us

The Family Infant Toddler (FIT) program has been working diligently to improve relationships with families by becoming more aware of certain behaviors that may contribute to inequitable outcomes. The program started this process by inviting two experts on anti-racism to its annual meeting. The program is now continuing this important work by offering a series of sessions on equity through self-reflection.  

The following survey will help FIT better understand the interest and comfort level of providers to participate: 

• FIT Survey: Continuing our Equity Work 

In addition to equity work, the program is interested in supporting the relationships between FIT providers and their pediatric partners. The survey linked below is also available to gather more insight into the perspectives of FIT providers. A similar survey will be sent out to local pediatricians.  

• FIT Provider Relationships with Local Pediatricians 

Families FIRST adapted to the needs of New Mexico families by offering hybrid visiting options based on preference, including: in-office visits (subject to current public health order), televisits, visits to public venues with appropriate safety measures taken, and home visits.  

• Families FIRST is excited to announce the expansion of services to Farmington, Grants, Gallup, and surrounding areas, increasing availability to indigenous families in need throughout New Mexico.  

Families FIRST attempted to contact 4,307 families across New Mexico: 

• 1,223 familieswere unavailable
• 541 families refused services 
• 758 families enrolled in our program 
• 369 families completed the full program 

Families FIRST completed 626 perinatal assessments in FY21 (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021). Of the 194 newborns that were delivered during this time:  

• 93% were born after 37 weeks 

• 85% did not spend any time in NICU 
• 91% did not spend more than three days in the hospital  
• 90% weighed over 5½ pounds at birth 
• 81% had no major complications  
• 79% had a vaginal delivery 

• 79% left the hospital breast and bottle feeding 
• 45% left the hospital breast feeding only  

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Families FIRST partnered with numerous organizations to support and educate New Mexican families in need:  

• Safe Sleep to educate and promote safe sleep practices for newborns and infants.  
• The Early Childhood Resource Task Force to help our families acquire diapers, wipes, sanitizer, and other essentials.  

• Safer NM to distribute car seats to families in need in the Southwest Region.  
• Children Are Born into Healthy Homes to help distribute 10 full bags containing items needed by families, including a $50 gift card.  
• Women, Infant, and Children Program has continued to be one of Families FIRST’s biggest referral sources. We thank them for their continued support.  

Families FIRST nurses assisted the New Mexico Department of Health in reaching out to New Mexico families with more than 2,250 hours in support of the ongoing battle against COVID-19.These nurses helped educate and promote awareness of symptoms, as well as the need for testing and the vaccine. They also helped administer testing. 

• CONGRATULATIONS to our very own Jessica Altamirano on her recent graduation from her Nurse Practitioner Program! We are very proud of you, Jessica!   

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, we would like to share important education information regarding vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Below are the links to the English and Spanish educational flyers as well as the link on additional information from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html 

Did you know perinatal case management improves pregnancy and infancy outcomes in conjunction with FIT and Home Visiting partnerships? Here’s how Families First can help: 

• Families FIRST Program offers perinatal case management to expecting families and their children 0-3 years of age.   
• Families FIRST promotes and supports well child check–ups to increase children’s health and well-being. We can connect families with healthcare providers across the state.  

The Ninth Annual Home Visiting Outcomes data report will be completed in January 2022.  Program accomplishments in the data reflect the outcomes of services provided to families during the COVID-19 public health emergency when direct services were provided completely through virtual means. Preliminary data has identified that many measures are at an all-time high in improving health and wellbeing outcomes for families receiving services.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved New Mexico’s waiver request to expand on its four–county Centennial Home Visiting (CHV) pilot program, which would offer Medicaid-paid home visiting services to more families across the state. CHV served 135 families in FY21 and is on track to serve 853 families in FY22. 

Lou Ann Sanchez Lovato – ECECD HV

Bureau Chief –LouAnn.SanchezLovat@state.nm.us 

(505) 470-5321    

John Acuña – Home Visiting Manager/Monitor –

 John.Acuna2@state.nm.us – 

(575) 202-7140   

Angelica Vanchaik – Home Visiting Manager/Monitor – 

Angelica.Vanchaik@state.nm.us 

(505)-231-9583 

Josephine “Josie” Salas – Home Visiting Manager/Monitor 

– Josephine.Salas@state.nm.us

(505)-469-0874 

Connie Garcia – Home Visiting Manager/Monitor – 

Connie.Garcia1@state.nm.us – 

(505) 469-2618