Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2022
CONTACT
Patrick Rodriguez
Web and Media Outreach
Ph: (505) 469-7264
Email: Patrick.Rodriguez1@state.nm.us
In collaboration with
Jodi McGinnis Porter
Communications Director
New Mexico Department of Health Human Services
Email: jodi.mcginnis-porter@state.nm.us
SANTA FE – New Mexico state agencies are collaborating to provide parents and caregivers of infants statewide easy access to information necessary to find infant formula supplies and during the ongoing national formula supply shortage.
A new webpage, NMformula.com, has been created to connect families to community resources for the public and families eligible for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. The resource page provides New Mexicans for information, in addition to the crowdsourcing Facebook page, NM Infant Formula Support Network, created last week by the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD).
“This website provides medically reliable information for families with questions about how to ensure their children receive proper nutrition,” said acting Department of Health Secretary, David R. Scrase, M.D. “We are committed to assist families in New Mexico during this national formula shortage until it is resolved and want to remind anyone caring for an infant to understand the necessity of assuring formula is used in ways that are both accurate and safe for the child.”
The New Mexico WIC program continues to provide individualized guidance for WIC-eligible families to obtain infant formula.
“We understand the importance of adequate nutrition that supports the healthy development of babies and the frustration and anxiety being experienced by moms and families around the country. This new web resource makes it easier for parents and caregivers to find information on how to increase their supply of infant formula safely and responsibly,” said Dr. Janis Gonzales, ECECD’s Chief Health Officer. “For instance, diluting formula with extra water is not recommended and can be dangerous. If you are having difficulty accessing your child’s regular formula, please check with your child’s healthcare provider or your local WIC office to find out what comparable formula can be used.”
New Mexicans can also help others who are in need by donating through Human Milk Repository of New Mexico. At the federal level, President Biden directed the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use the Department of Defense commercial aircrafts to pick up infant formula from overseas – bypassing regular air freighting routes in an effort to speed up distribution. This effort provides immediate support as manufacturers continue to ramp up production.
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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham launched the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) in 2020, making New Mexico among the first states to consolidate all early childhood programs and services under a single cabinet-level agency. Under this administration, ECECD has led the nation by expanding access to free New Mexico PreK, overseeing the largest investment in early childhood infrastructure in state history, and implementing cost-free child care for a majority of New Mexico families. Learn more about how ECECD supports children, families, and the early childhood professionals that serve our communities at nmececd.org. On Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as @NewMexicoECECD