Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2023
Parents and caregivers of children encouraged to participate to provide insight and feedback on state programs
Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) seeks parents and caretakers of children aged 0-5 to participate in the annual New Mexico Early Childhood Family Engagement and Satisfaction Survey at NextStepsNM.org. ECECD hopes to gain valuable insights from the survey findings regarding service effectiveness, accessibility, and community needs. The state will use the survey results to improve early childhood programs and better support families in New Mexico.
“ECECD’s top priority is ensuring that our programs and services meet the needs of New Mexico families and young children,” said ECECD Cabinet Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky. “Parent and caregiver input is critical to improving our outreach, communication, and services. We want to hear from families about the good, the bad, and the barriers people face so we can continue building a high-quality, family-centered prenatal to five system New Mexico deserves.”
Participant feedback will inform childhood programs and resources that address:
- Language accessibility, culturally diverse materials, and financial support
- Program availability in communities
- Access to programs for children with developmental delays and/or disabilities
- Overall awareness of programs
The survey is confidential, takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Community-based organizations will aid the state in diversifying participation outreach and provide one-on-one assistance with the survey.
For the survey and more information, visit https://nextstepsnm.org/
Project ECHO, a program of the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, administers the survey in partnership with the state. Through professional education and learning, Project ECHO supports local community providers, so they have the knowledge and resources to improve the well-being of families in New Mexico and beyond.
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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.