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Universal Child Care

Starting November 1, 2025, New Mexico will offer universal access to no-cost child care by removing income limits, waiving copays, and expanding eligibility for families facing special circumstances.

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Take the Universal Child Care Pledge

By taking the pledge, you show your pride in being part of this historic effort and your commitment to helping build a stronger, more equitable early childhood system for New Mexico families.

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Developing Futures

Jobs in early childhood have a big impact on the future. Professionals in this field change lives every day. For people who love babies and young children, these are meaningful, joyful jobs. And currently, opportunities in the field of early childhood are expanding fast. Whether you want to teach, help children with speech delays, or prepare healthy meals and snacks, there’s a profession in the early childhood field for you.

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The Early Show with Alax

The Early Show with Alax, a playful, informative online series for families with young children. The show’s host, Alax, is a live-action Galactic character from another solar system who wants to learn the important elements of caring for “little humans” without judgment or prior caregiving knowledge.

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Thriving families and young children in every New Mexico community!

The Latest

Stay in the Loop

Please visit our Newsroom page to subscribe to the newsletter. You’ll also find a full list of articles and a press release archive.

Visit The Newsroom

Child care is an expensive burden for us. In order to make ends meet for day care, we ended up having to take on extra jobs. Universal Child Care is going to provide us the opportunity to take the funds from what we would have spent on child care and use them on other things like a house or a car or even just groceries.

David Sweet

Educator/Parent, Aztec, NM

It’s so incredible what ECECD has done with respect to opportunities for teachers and the wage lattice. Our teachers, all of them have enrolled in classes and are taking full advantage of the scholarships, and then also being able to apply for the pay parity as they gain their degrees. That’s been really amazing, because 100% of our teachers have taken advantage of that.

Taylor Etchemendy

Child Care Center Owner, Taos, NM

We’re with you every step of the way!

Mother at Pre-Natal stage illustration

Programs for

Prenatal

Early Head Start / Head Start

The Head Start Collaboration Office at the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) supports Early Head Start and Head Start programs statewide. Early Head Start serves pregnant people and children up to age three in home-based or center-based settings, and Head Start serves preschool-aged children (3 to 4) in center-based programs.

LEARN MORE: New Mexico Head Start Collaboration Office 

Families FIRST Program

Families FIRST is a support program for Medicaid-eligible families in New Mexico during pregnancy, infancy, and the first three years of a child’s life. It connects families with a registered nurse Care Coordinator who provides personalized guidance, helps with health and parenting questions, and links families to community resources.

LEARN MORE: Families FIRST

Home Visiting

Home Visiting is a no-cost support program for families who are pregnant or have children under age five. Trained home visitors partner with families to support healthy child development, positive parenting, and connections to local resources, meeting in the home or virtually.

LEARN MORE: Home Visiting 

Mother at Pre-Natal stage illustration

Programs for

Infants

Universal Child Care (Child Care Assistance)

Universal Child Care, also known as Child Care Assistance, provides no-cost child care for all New Mexico families, regardless of income. The program pays licensed and registered child care providers directly so families can access quality child care without copays or fees, supporting family stability, workforce participation, and healthy child development.

LEARN MORE: Universal Child Care

Early Head Start / Head Start

The Head Start Collaboration Office at the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) supports Early Head Start and Head Start programs statewide. Early Head Start serves pregnant people and children up to age three in home-based or center-based settings, and Head Start serves preschool-aged children (3 to 4) in center-based programs.

LEARN MORE: New Mexico Head Start Collaboration Office 

Families FIRST Program

Families FIRST is a support program for Medicaid-eligible families in New Mexico during pregnancy, infancy, and the first three years of a child’s life. It connects families with a registered nurse Care Coordinator who provides personalized guidance, helps with health and parenting questions, and links families to community resources.

LEARN MORE: Families FIRST

Family Infant Toddler (FIT)

The Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program is New Mexico’s early intervention program for children from birth to age three who have or may be at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. The program connects families with local experts for a free developmental evaluation and supports such as therapy and coaching to help children thrive. FIT services are family-centered and provided at no cost, often in the child’s home or natural environment. 

LEARN MORE: Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) connects families with free, nutritious meals for children and teens (ages 1–18) during the summer months when school is out. There is no cost, no registration, and no proof of income required.

LEARN MORE: Free Meals for Children

Child and the Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal nutrition program. CACFP reimburses participating child care centers, Head Start programs, family child care homes, before- and after-school programs, and adult day care centers for serving healthy, nutritious meals and snacks that meet USDA nutrition standards. Meals and snacks offered through CACFP are provided at no cost to families at participating sites to support good nutrition, healthy growth, and development.

LEARN MORE: Family Nutrition Bureau

Home Visiting

Home Visiting is a no-cost support program for families who are pregnant or have children under age five. Trained home visitors partner with families to support healthy child development, positive parenting, and connections to local resources, meeting in the home or virtually.

LEARN MORE: Home Visiting 

Family Connects New Mexico

Family Connects New Mexico is a no-cost, nurse-led home visiting program for families with newborns. A registered nurse visits families in their home shortly after birth to support newborn health, caregiver well-being, answer questions, and connect families to local resources. The program is available to all families, regardless of income or background, and helps parents feel supported and confident during the early weeks of a child’s life.

LEARN MORE: Family Connects New Mexico 

Mother at Pre-Natal stage illustration

Programs for

Toddlers

Early Childhood Special Education

Students with developmental delays or disabilities deserve access to high-quality supports and services that help them succeed in school and in life. ECECD administers two critical programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that ensures young children with disabilities receive appropriate early education and developmental support.

LEARN MORE: Early Childhood Special Education

Universal Child Care (Child Care Assistance)

Universal Child Care, also known as Child Care Assistance, provides no-cost child care for all New Mexico families, regardless of income. The program pays licensed and registered child care providers directly so families can access quality child care without copays or fees, supporting family stability, workforce participation, and healthy child development.

LEARN MORE: Universal Child Care

Early Head Start / Head Start

The Head Start Collaboration Office at the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) supports Early Head Start and Head Start programs statewide. Early Head Start serves pregnant people and children up to age three in home-based or center-based settings, and Head Start serves preschool-aged children (3 to 4) in center-based programs.

LEARN MORE: New Mexico Head Start Collaboration Office 

Families FIRST Program

Families FIRST is a support program for Medicaid-eligible families in New Mexico during pregnancy, infancy, and the first three years of a child’s life. It connects families with a registered nurse Care Coordinator who provides personalized guidance, helps with health and parenting questions, and links families to community resources.

LEARN MORE: Families FIRST

Family Infant Toddler (FIT)

The Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program is New Mexico’s early intervention program for children from birth to age three who have or may be at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. The program connects families with local experts for a free developmental evaluation and supports such as therapy and coaching to help children thrive. FIT services are family-centered and provided at no cost, often in the child’s home or natural environment.

LEARN MORE: Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) connects families with free, nutritious meals for children and teens (ages 1–18) during the summer months when school is out. There is no cost, no registration, and no proof of income required.

LEARN MORE: Free Meals for Children

Child and the Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal nutrition program. CACFP reimburses participating child care centers, Head Start programs, family child care homes, before- and after-school programs, and adult day care centers for serving healthy, nutritious meals and snacks that meet USDA nutrition standards. Meals and snacks offered through CACFP are provided at no cost to families at participating sites to support good nutrition, healthy growth, and development.

LEARN MORE: Family Nutrition Bureau

Home Visiting

Home Visiting is a no-cost support program for families who are pregnant or have children under age five. Trained home visitors partner with families to support healthy child development, positive parenting, and connections to local resources, meeting in the home or virtually.

LEARN MORE: Home Visiting 

Family Connects New Mexico

Family Connects New Mexico is a no-cost, nurse-led home visiting program for families with newborns. A registered nurse visits families in their home shortly after birth to support newborn health, caregiver well-being, answer questions, and connect families to local resources. The program is available to all families, regardless of income or background, and helps parents feel supported and confident during the early weeks of a child’s life.

LEARN MORE: Family Connects New Mexico 

Mother at Pre-Natal stage illustration

Programs for

PreK

New Mexico PreK

New Mexico PreK is a no-cost, voluntary early childhood education program for three- and four-year-old children during the school year. It provides high-quality, play-based learning in community-based and school-based settings to support children’s physical, cognitive, language, and social-emotional development and help prepare them for kindergarten.

LEARN MORE: New Mexico PreK 

Early Childhood Special Education

Students with developmental delays or disabilities deserve access to high-quality supports and services that help them succeed in school and in life. ECECD administers two critical programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that ensures young children with disabilities receive appropriate early education and developmental support.

LEARN MORE: Early Childhood Special Education

Family Connects New Mexico

Family Connects New Mexico is a no-cost, nurse-led home visiting program for families with newborns. A registered nurse visits families in their home shortly after birth to support newborn health, caregiver well-being, answer questions, and connect families to local resources. The program is available to all families, regardless of income or background, and helps parents feel supported and confident during the early weeks of a child’s life.

LEARN MORE: Family Connects New Mexico 

Universal Child Care (Child Care Assistance)

Universal Child Care, also known as Child Care Assistance, provides no-cost child care for all New Mexico families, regardless of income. The program pays licensed and registered child care providers directly so families can access quality child care without copays or fees, supporting family stability, workforce participation, and healthy child development.

LEARN MORE: Universal Child Care

Early Head Start / Head Start

The Head Start Collaboration Office at the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) supports Early Head Start and Head Start programs statewide. Early Head Start serves pregnant people and children up to age three in home-based or center-based settings, and Head Start serves preschool-aged children (3 to 4) in center-based programs.

LEARN MORE: New Mexico Head Start Collaboration Office 

Families FIRST Program

Families FIRST is a support program for Medicaid-eligible families in New Mexico during pregnancy, infancy, and the first three years of a child’s life. It connects families with a registered nurse Care Coordinator who provides personalized guidance, helps with health and parenting questions, and links families to community resources.

LEARN MORE: Families FIRST

Family Infant Toddler (FIT)

The Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program is New Mexico’s early intervention program for children from birth to age three who have or may be at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. The program connects families with local experts for a free developmental evaluation and supports such as therapy and coaching to help children thrive. FIT services are family-centered and provided at no cost, often in the child’s home or natural environment.

LEARN MORE: Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) connects families with free, nutritious meals for children and teens (ages 1–18) during the summer months when school is out. There is no cost, no registration, and no proof of income required.

LEARN MORE: Free Meals for Children

Child and the Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal nutrition program. CACFP reimburses participating child care centers, Head Start programs, family child care homes, before- and after-school programs, and adult day care centers for serving healthy, nutritious meals and snacks that meet USDA nutrition standards. Meals and snacks offered through CACFP are provided at no cost to families at participating sites to support good nutrition, healthy growth, and development.

LEARN MORE: Family Nutrition Bureau

Home Visiting

Home Visiting is a no-cost support program for families who are pregnant or have children under age five. Trained home visitors partner with families to support healthy child development, positive parenting, and connections to local resources, meeting in the home or virtually.

LEARN MORE: Home Visiting 

Family Connects New Mexico

Family Connects New Mexico is a no-cost, nurse-led home visiting program for families with newborns. A registered nurse visits families in their home shortly after birth to support newborn health, caregiver well-being, answer questions, and connect families to local resources. The program is available to all families, regardless of income or background, and helps parents feel supported and confident during the early weeks of a child’s life.

LEARN MORE: Family Connects New MexicoÂ