A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CONVENE AS A MULTI-AGENCY TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL PLAN TO ASSESS THE NEEDS OF GRANDCHILDREN AND GRANDPARENTS WHO LIVE TOGETHER IN GRANDPARENT-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS.

     WHEREAS, the 2000 United States census found that there are approximately twenty-four thousand five hundred grandparents in New Mexico who are primarily responsible for raising their grandchildren; and

     WHEREAS, since many of these households include two or more grandchildren, estimates are that at least forty thousand children are being raised by their grandparents in this state; and

     WHEREAS, by raising their grandchildren, these grandparents save the state millions of dollars annually in foster-care costs, provide some family stability for these children and help preserve the relationship of the children to their families, communities and cultures; and

     WHEREAS, children raised by grandparents are more likely to live in poverty and to have suffered trauma, abuse or neglect, due to separation from their parents; and

     WHEREAS, children being raised by grandparents often have parents who suffer from substance abuse, mental illness or incarceration, putting the children at high risk to follow their parents' example; and

       WHEREAS, children raised by grandparents often experience a history of significant disruptions in their education and may not have a legal guardian to enroll them in school; and

     WHEREAS, grandparents raising their grandchildren may lack the energy, good health and financial ability of other relatives who could be potential caregivers; and

     WHEREAS, many grandparents receive little or no help from the state as well as confusing and erroneous information about the social services and benefits to which they may be entitled;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the human services department, the aging and long-term services department, the children, youth and families department, the department of health and the public education department be requested to convene a

multi-agency task force to develop an interdepartmental plan to assess the needs of grandchildren and grandparents living in grandparent-headed households; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include representatives of state and local law enforcement agencies, the statewide association of district court judges, the state bar of New Mexico and caregivers and advocates for families and children; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force identify the number of children living with their grandparents and their demographics and needs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force develop a plan to ensure that grandchildren and grandparents living in grandparent-headed households have access to the educational, social, medical and mental health services to which they are entitled; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force study how other states address the challenge of providing support to grandparents who are in this situation; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its progress and legislative recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee at its October 2005 meeting; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of human services, the secretary of aging and long-term services, the secretary of children, youth and families, the secretary of health and the secretary of public education.