SANTA FE—The Early Childhood Education and Care Department will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 1:00 p.m on proposed regulations that would expand access to New Mexico’s Child Care Assistance program. If the proposed regulations pass as written, many costly and burdensome requirements for families applying for child care would be eliminated.
The proposed regulations would remove the requirement that force single parents to assign their rights to enforce child support to the state in order to get assistance. Other important changes that will increase access include:
- Not counting certain income to determine if a family qualifies.
- Allowing families to apply online.
- Eliminating unnecessary mid-year phone calls with families.
- Allowing graduate students to qualify for assistance.
You can find the full text of the proposed rules here: http://164.64.110.134/nmac/nmregister/xxxi/ECECDnotice_xxxi22.html
WHAT:
Hearing on proposed changes to Child Care Assistance
WHEN:
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.
WHO:
Early Childhood Education and Care Department
Supporters for expanding access to the child care assistance program, including OLE members and New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty staff.
WHERE:
To access the hearing by telephone call: 1-346-248-7799 and enter access code 9743902 4249. To access the hearing via the internet go to https://zoom.us/j/97439024249 and enter meeting code 974 3902 4249#.
Media and people who submitted public comments ahead of time can live stream the meeting here: https://fb.me/e/hV6VIGqNo