Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2022
CONTACT
Patrick Rodriguez
(505) 469-7264
Patrick.Rodriguez1@state.nm.us
1120 Paseo De Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
http://nmececd.org
ECECD Kicks Off 2022 Spring New Mexico State Tour
Secretary Groginsky and ECECD leadership to visit 20+ communities throughout NM, meeting with key stakeholders and local leaders
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky and other staff from the agency’s leadership team kicked off a statewide tour this past week with visits to Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Springer, Clayton, and Raton meeting with early childhood educators, child care providers, home visiting professionals, parents, elected officials, and other community members. ECECD leadership will visit more than 20 communities across the state over the next few months to hear directly from early childhood stakeholders.
“New Mexico is a diverse state, and local early childhood needs and strengths are going to be equally diverse,” said ECECD Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky. “That’s why we believe it is so important that we show up in these communities, learn from people’s lived experiences, and use that knowledge to build programs and policies that help all New Mexican children and families thrive.”
During the community visits, Groginsky and members of the ECECD leadership team will host roundtable discussions to learn how the agency can further support the diverse educational, developmental, health, and nutritional needs of young children in every region of the state.
Since ECECD’s inception in July 2020, the state has made significant investments across the early childhood system in New Mexico, specifically boosting PreK enrollment, broadening home visiting services, expanding child care assistance, increasing enrollment in the wage supplement and scholarship programs for early childhood professionals, and connecting with families through its award-winning Moments Together public education campaign.
“We would like to thank Secretary Groginsky and her staff for listening to and supporting our community and staff members, as well as exploring future growth in moving forward,” said Louise E. Hoogerhuis, program manager for First Born of Northern New Mexico, a home visiting program in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
“I’m excited to meet with providers, educators, parents, local leaders, and other stakeholders to share our vision for a world-class system of early childhood programs and services and learn how we can better support the needs of communities across New Mexico,” said Sec. Groginsky.
ECECD 2022 Spring Tour Schedule:
March
- Albuquerque – 11
- Las Vegas, Raton, Clayton, Springer – 14-15
- Clovis, Portales – 25
April
- Truth or Consequences, Silver City, Deming – 4-6
- Farmington, Bloomfield, Aztec – 11-13
May
- Ruidoso, Cloudcroft, Alamogordo – 10-12
- Roswell, Artesia, Carlsbad – 24-26
June
- Grants, Gallup, Window Rock – 8-9
- Las Cruces, Anthony, Santa Teresa, and Sunland Park – 15-17
ECECD Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky visits the PreK program at Luna Community College in Las Vegas, NM on March 14, 2022.
The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) launched in 2020, one of only four cabinet level agencies nationwide that consolidated all early childhood agencies under one roof. ECECD’s mission is to optimize the health, development, education, and well being of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers through a family-driven, equitable, community-based system of programs and services. Learn more about how ECECD supports children, families, and the early childhood professionals that serve our communities at nmececd.org. On Facebook and Twitter as @NewMexicoECECD.