The Kevin S. remedial order highlights CYFD’s progress in addressing issues identified in the arbitration outcome while providing a clear roadmap for continued improvement. Our ongoing priority is to ensure we fully support the children, youth, and families of New Mexico through both proactive and responsive measures. This starts with an adequately funded and staffed CYFD. We had nearly 400 job seekers attend our rapid hire event this week. As we enter our budget hearings, we will ask the Legislature to support our budget needs as outlined in the Governor’s budget recommendation so we can continue our progress while also meeting the standards and accountability benchmarks outlined in the Kevin S. remedial order.
Hiring:
- To meet the mandate to fill open roles within the Department, CYFD held a statewide rapid hire recruitment event on Thursday, January 23, at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque. 280 job seekers attended the recruitment event in person with an additional 111 attending ‘virtually’ via Workforce Connections/America’s Job Center New Mexico offices. The number of offers extended and accepted will be forthcoming in the next weeks.
- CYFD is advertising children’s courtroom counselor and social worker positions within New Mexico and in neighboring states and conducting campus recruitment missions to expand the pool of qualified applicants.
Training:
- CYFD is partnering with Highlands University to create a comprehensive training program designed to improve staff performance and retention.
- Training of the first cohorts of CYFD’s Advanced Foster Care program is underway.
Attracting and retaining Resource Foster Parents:
- CYFD is launching a robust awareness/recruitment ad campaign to expand the pipeline of families receiving training and certification to become resource foster parents.
- Radio, Outdoor, paid social media,
- CYFD is also focusing on adding ‘respite’ resource/foster parents who can accept short-term/urgent placements and/or provide needed support to foster families who need ‘fill-in/substitute care’ support.
CYFD will continue to hold itself to the highest standard and will use the Kevin S. remedial order to target and prioritize improvements that best help children and youth in its care. While the report contends CYFD is not meeting its deadline for deliverables, it also notes progress in addressing problems highlighted in the arbitration’s outcome. We are optimistic that the governor’s proposal to boost compensation for resource/foster families and eliminate their personal state income tax will enhance recruitment efforts and encourage would-be foster parents to begin the training and certification process.