The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count report has again ranked New Mexico last among the 50 states in child well being. The Foundation found that: 30 percent of our kids live in poverty whereas 22 percent of the nation’s children live in poverty; 12 percent are born to teenage mothers, compared with a US average of 7 percent; and 2 percent are confirmed as victims of child abuse, twice as high nationwide average of 1 percent. Even more disheartening, our child abuse rate actually increased in 2018.
What can be done? Host Stephen Spitz will put this question to Allen Sanchez, President and CEO of CHI St Joseph’s Children and the 2019 recipient of the Alice King “Spirit of Hope Award” in recognition of his leadership on behalf of the children of New Mexico.
Produced with the assistance of Roman Garcia, Marino Spencer, and Lynn Schibeci
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