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A MEMORIAL

CREATING THE YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CONTINUUM WORK GROUP.

WHEREAS, thriving children and families make New Mexico

strong, and supporting their well-being is key; and

WHEREAS, a robust economy requires an educated workforce

and investing in New Mexico's children is investing in New

Mexico; and

WHEREAS, school success means higher levels of

education, employment and home ownership and further

translates to lower incidence of crime, drug abuse,

unemployment and poverty; and

WHEREAS, school readiness of young children is a key

strategy for ensuring school success and closing the

achievement gap to make sure that children start school fully

developed, healthy and prepared; and

WHEREAS, the most significant period of a person's brain

growth and development occurs in the first five years with

major "windows of opportunity" through age six; and

WHEREAS, developmental conditions identified early in

life are easier and less costly to address; and

WHEREAS, economists at the federal reserve bank of

Minneapolis have determined through research that investment

in early childhood programs produces an annual rate of return

of sixteen percent;

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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that a young

children and families continuum work group be appointed to

develop recommendations to improve access to services for

families, improve the lives of their children and set a

foundation for school and personal success; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the group be appointed

equally by the chair of the children's cabinet and the chair

and vice chair of the legislative health and human services

committee, with the consent of the speaker of the house of

representatives, and include a diverse group of no more than

sixteen persons representing the early childhood action

network; child health and development, mental health, early

care, education and human services community providers;

advocates, businesses and faith communities; the media;

academia; and child development research fields; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the group include family

representatives and members representing the cultural, ethnic,

economic and geographic diversity of the state and have

knowledge and experience of the health, mental health,

education and social needs of young children birth to age

eight and their families; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the group make priorities

for investment over the next three years to strengthen a

comprehensive statewide early childhood system to address the

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following areas: family involvement and family support;

physical and mental health; early learning; child safety; and

transition from early childhood to school; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the group make

recommendations on a continuum of services to better

coordinate and link components of a comprehensive system; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the group report its

recommendations to the legislative health and human services

committee by the November 2007 meeting of the committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be

transmitted to the children's cabinet.