SENATE MEMORIAL 117

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE CHILDREN'S CABINET TO CREATE THE MEDICAID HOME VISITING PROGRAM ADVISORY COUNCIL TO OVERSEE THE PILOT OF THE CENTENNIAL HOME VISITING PROGRAM AND DEVELOP A PLAN FOR STATEWIDE EXPANSION.

     WHEREAS, early childhood is the most important developmental period in a person's lifetime; and

     WHEREAS, an infant's brain development is rapid, and the foundation for future success is shaped before children enter kindergarten; and

     WHEREAS, developing healthy relationships with parents and other caregivers affords children a greater opportunity to develop language, emotional and social skills, as well as preparing them for future learning and success; and

     WHEREAS, many parents and young families need the skills and support necessary to foster brain development and improve the skills necessary for child rearing; and

     WHEREAS, the Annie E. Casey foundation reports that New Mexico ranks fiftieth in the country in overall child well-being, which includes being ranked fiftieth in education; and

     WHEREAS, children at risk, especially those affected by prenatal health challenges, family trauma or disruption, parental depression or mental illness, poverty, abuse or exposure to violence, need a safety net of early childhood intervention; and

     WHEREAS, the centennial home visiting pilot program began serving families in counties designated by the human services department on January 1, 2019; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico currently invests in home visiting but could provide these services to more families by leveraging medicaid to capture federal matching funds to cover costs; and

     WHEREAS, the federal government will pay seven dollars ($7.00) out of every ten dollars ($10.00) if home visiting is funded through medicaid; and

     WHEREAS, the centennial home visiting pilot program affords the state an opportunity to assess the need for more health care workers to facilitate these services and provide more jobs in rural and remote locations; and

     WHEREAS, quality home visiting services must include a competent and well-compensated workforce, continuity of care and nurturing environments to support child development; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico currently lacks the workforce and infrastructure to offer such home visiting services to all parts of the state;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative health and human services committee be requested to explore the viability of expanding medicaid home visiting, including workforce and infrastructure development, and methods to ensure adequate outreach to eligible families; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department, the children, youth and families department, the department of health and the children's cabinet be requested to establish a medicaid home visiting program advisory council to consist of the following representatives:

          A. the secretary of human services or a designee;

          B. the secretary of children, youth and families or a designee;

          C. the secretary of health or a designee;

          D. the director of the children's cabinet;E. at least five home visiting providers, including at least one each from northern, central and southern New Mexico;

          F. at least one tribal home visiting expert from a provider in New Mexico; and

          G. at least one community-based advocacy group working on home visiting and other early childhood issues; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the medicaid home visiting program advisory council's duties shall include:

          A. monitoring the centennial home visiting pilot program and providing recommendations to strengthen collaboration among home visiting program providers;

          B. identifying home visiting workforce and infrastructure issues and making recommendations to ensure the growth of home visiting programs throughout the state;

          C. developing a community-oriented plan that includes outreach strategies to families prenatally or at birth;

          D. developing a plan that includes strategies to ensure that children and families at the highest risk are targeted and receive appropriate services; and

          E. providing recommendations to ensure that diverse cultural and linguistic practices in child rearing and family systems are acknowledged, respected and part of the training for home visiting providers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department, the children, youth and families department, the department of health and the children's cabinet be requested to coordinate and administer the medicaid home visiting program advisory council; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative finance committee be requested to perform a program evaluation of the centennial home visiting pilot program and the feasibility of statewide expansion of the program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the medicaid home visiting advisory council report its findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee, the legislative finance committee and tribal leaders by December 1, 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of human services, the secretary of children, youth and families, the secretary of health, the director of the children's cabinet and New Mexico's twenty-three Indian nations, tribes and pueblos.- 5 -