44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

REQUESTING THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PUT A SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER EMPHASIS ON PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION EFFORTS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

WHEREAS, our state has a rate of uninsured citizens fifty percent higher than the national norm; and

WHEREAS, the mortality rate for New Mexicans under thirty-five years of age is forty-four percent higher than the national average; and

WHEREAS, the suicide and DWI rates of New Mexicans are unacceptably high in the national rankings in these categories; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico is the national leader in the percentage of uninsured children, thereby depriving many, if not most of them, of sufficient and appropriate health care; and

WHEREAS, one of the many results of this situation is an embarrassing school dropout rate, resulting in a population undereducated and unprepared to earn an income sufficient to adequately care for its family members; and

WHEREAS, these statistics are the result of insufficient health attention to New Mexico's minor population; and

WHEREAS, the state's fiscal resources are certainly limited; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico spends millions of taxpayer dollars on acute care for the sick and indigent; and

WHEREAS, it is very reasonable to believe, based on study after study, that dollars invested in prevention programs pay huge dividends in terms of reducing later acute care expenses, inflated law enforcement, judicial and corrections budgets and sharply higher social welfare costs;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the children, youth and families department and the department of health be urged to review their policies and budgetary emphasis and to shift to the more humane and fiscally efficient programs of prevention and early intervention; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these departments develop a coherent and coordinated stream of prevention services, starting with teen education about pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse and the value of increased education, continuing with infant testing and immunization and including an effective statewide early education program, particularly as needed by welfare-to-work clients; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that investments be made in healthy activities programs, encouraging coordination and expansion of private sector efforts such as big brothers and big sisters, 4-H, church, community and other programs that offer youth a positive attitude about personal, family and community responsibility; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these reevaluation efforts by these two primary state service departments pay close attention to effecting changes in the state's juvenile corrections programs oriented to seeing that those youth in its care leave that jurisdiction with a positive attitude about themselves and their community and a willingness to contribute to society rather than be a burden to it; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that both departments present a special report on these efforts to the interim legislative health and human services committee by September 15, 1999; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent to the secretaries of children, youth and families and health.