SENATE MEMORIAL 13

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO AND MEMBERS OF THE 2020 J. PAUL TAYLOR EARLY CHILDHOOD TASK FORCE AND REQUESTING THEM TO RECONVENE THE J. PAUL TAYLOR EARLY CHILDHOOD TASK FORCE IN 2021.

     WHEREAS, since 2013, the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force has been made up of experts in child well-being, early childhood development, health care, social work, education, government, public benefits, law and administration as well as other areas of expertise; and

     WHEREAS, the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force has met at the legislature's request to analyze matters relating to the prevention of adverse childhood experiences and support of the education and health of children and families, and to make recommendations on improving the prevention of adverse childhood experiences, specifically child neglect, and improving the early education of children and their families by advising the legislature and other policymakers; and

     WHEREAS, in recent years, the university of New Mexico has volunteered to convene and provide administrative support for the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force; and

     WHEREAS, the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force is named for former long-time member of the New Mexico house of representatives, J. Paul Taylor, of Mesilla, New Mexico, who has contributed greatly to the field of children's rights and well-being during his long and distinguished career in public service; and

     WHEREAS, the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force has done much in recent years to educate the legislature and other policymakers on critical aspects of childhood development and the role that policymakers play in supporting the health and well-being of children and their families; and

     WHEREAS, in 2018, the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force recommended changes to state law that would clarify the role of hospitals and birthing centers in referring abuse and neglect cases to the children, youth and families department based solely on the finding of a pregnant woman's positive toxicology screen; and

     WHEREAS, the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force engaged with various stakeholders, including the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act task force at the children, youth and families department, to incorporate into its recommendations various federal requirements for the safe care of infants born with substance use disorders or showing withdrawal symptoms; and

     WHEREAS, in 2019 and 2020, the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force presented its findings to the legislative health and human services committee about best practices for implementing treatment-focused plans of care for substance-exposed newborns and their families; and

     WHEREAS, the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force plans to continue its work on recommendations to address the effect of substance use on pregnant women and children in the first three years of life, specifically to study and build upon the recommendations of the task force for a pathway to comprehensive care for children and families throughout childhood that incorporates the concepts of developmental assets created by a national nonprofit organization; and

     WHEREAS, such a model identifies a number of research- based, external experiences and internal qualities that support children's development, helping them create and maintain resilience to become caring, responsible and productive adults;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the dedicated members of the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force and the university of New Mexico be recognized for their work on behalf of the youngest New Mexicans; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university of New Mexico be requested to reconvene the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force in 2021 to continue its work in investigating the effects of parental mental illness, substance use disorders and family violence on young children and its work in making recommendations to address these issues; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force be requested to report its findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2021; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president of the university of New Mexico, the 2020 chair of the J. Paul Taylor early childhood task force and the chair and vice chair of the legislative health and human services committee.

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