Updated: June 8, 2026
What’s Inside?
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Reminders/Announcements
Little Steps Pediatrics becomes New Mexico's first Breastfeeding-Friendly Clinic
A Las Cruces pediatric practice has become the first clinic in New Mexico to earn endorsement under the Breastfeeding Friendly Clinic Initiative (BFCI), a designation jointly recognized by the New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force (NMBTF) and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD).
What the endorsement means
The BFCI endorsement recognizes Little Steps Pediatrics for its commitment to supporting lactating families through:
- Evidence-based clinical practices that prioritize human milk feeding
- On-site lactation support integrated into patient care
- Comprehensive staff training in breastfeeding support and counseling
- A clinic environment that actively promotes and protects breastfeeding
About the Breastfeeding-Friendly Clinic Initiative
The BFCI is a statewide initiative focused on improving infant feeding support, education, and resources for families across New Mexico. Endorsement is granted only after a clinic demonstrates sustained commitment to evidence-based breastfeeding support — meaning the designation reflects practice, not aspiration.
Little Steps has been working with NMBTF and ECECD on this designation since 2025.
Why this matters
Breastfeeding support is one of the highest-leverage interventions in maternal and infant health — and access to clinical environments that actively support lactating families is uneven across the state. Little Steps becoming the first endorsed clinic establishes both a model and a benchmark: other clinics now have a concrete example of what BFCI endorsement looks like in practice.
For the providers and staff at Little Steps Pediatrics — and for the lactating families in the Las Cruces communities they serve — this is a meaningful recognition of work that’s been ongoing.
Summer Food Service Program: Free meals for New Mexico kids at 300+ sites starting June 1
When the school year ends, the steady rhythm of breakfast and lunch ends with it for many of New Mexico’s children. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) — administered by ECECD’s Family Nutrition Bureau — closes that gap.
The basics
- Who: Any child ages 1–18
- What: Free meals (no signup, no income verification, no paperwork)
- When: Beginning June 1, 2026, through the summer months
- Where: 300+ locations statewide — parks, libraries, recreation centers, schools, churches, community centers, and partner sites
For providers, educators, and home visitors
This is one of the highest-leverage resources you can hand directly to families this summer. A printed flyer, a screenshot of the locator, or a quick mention at a visit is often what makes the difference between a family using the program and never hearing about it.
If you are a person with a disability and would like to request accommodations, or a person with limited English proficiency and need interpretation, please email Debra Candelaria at Debra.Candelaria@ececd.nm.gov or phone 505-699-2596 between May 26, 2026, and July 31, 2026.
Find a site
Search by location and time of service at summerfoodnm.org.
New Mexico Early Learning Standards
New Mexico’s Early Learning Standards (ELS) are now available in English and Spanish. The ELS are a developmental framework describing what children from birth through age 5 know and are able to do. They replace the previous Early Learning Guidelines and were shaped by community input and the latest child development research.
To support a thoughtful transition, ECECD is releasing the ELS ahead of formal implementation. This gives practitioners, programs, and partners time to review the new developmental framework and begin exploring how it connects to their work.
ECECD is developing an implementation plan and practitioner resources. These will help you understand what the ELS mean for your setting and how to use them in your work. Practitioner engagement opportunities are being planned for the coming months, and your input will directly shape the tools that are developed.
Update to Planned Prospective Payments for Child Care Providers
This update provides clarification regarding the planned transition from paying child care providers on a reimbursement basis to paying prospectively at the beginning of the month before services are provided. Due to current state and federal requirements, payments for child care must continue to be issued on a reimbursement basis. This change is the result of the following:
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its Administration for Children and Families, rescinding a series of Biden-era child care rules including the rule that required states to pay providers prospectively.
- Without the federal requirement, there was no justification for a change to state law. Senate Bill 153, introduced during the 2026 New Mexico Legislative Session, which would have granted authority for prospective payments, did not pass.
ECECD remains committed to supporting child care providers and ensuring timely and accurate reimbursement for services rendered. Child care providers will receive a letter with more information and an updated payment calendar in the coming days. We will continue to monitor federal developments closely and will communicate any future changes that may affect payment methods.
New Mexico PreK Executive Function Assessments
New Mexico PreK has completed its first full year of Minnesota Executive Function Assessments, with more than 17,000 children successfully assessed. The results are now being used to inform lesson planning and individual learning paths in NM PreK classrooms statewide.
What Executive Function is
Sometimes called the “air traffic controller of the mind,” executive function (EF) is the cognitive science term for the brain skills involved in attention and decision-making. EF skills are typically grouped into three categories:
- Working memory — holding and using information over short periods
- Cognitive flexibility — shifting between tasks or perspectives
- Impulse control — inhibiting automatic responses to act with intention
Why EF matters for early childhood
Peer-reviewed research has consistently shown that EF skills are foundational to academic success and social-emotional learning — and that EF can be a better predictor of academic and social-emotional success than IQ.
Unlike IQ, executive function can be improved through reflective practice and targeted classroom activity. Preschool is the prime developmental window for building these skills, which makes NM PreK an unusually high-leverage point for the work.
What happens now
With the assessment year complete, teachers and programs will use the results to:
- Guide individual learning plans
- Inform lesson planning at the classroom level
- Identify program-level patterns and supports
Learn more at the links below:
Fresh ingredients. Supporting local growers. Healthy meals for young learners.
Fresh, scratch-cooked meals help nourish healthy children, families and communities — and now, families will have a new way to identify participating programs.
At our Scratch Cooking Showcase on May 21, 2026, ECECD and Southwest Child Care in Albuquerque welcomed local growers and elected officials to unveil the new Scratch Cooking badge, which will identify child care programs preparing fresh, nutritious meals from scratch.
The new Scratch Cooking badge will help identify programs that are preparing fresh, nutritious meals and, in the process, strengthening connections with New Mexico growers and producers.
Guests toured Southwest Child Care’s kitchen and newly built greenhouse, heard from school leaders and local producers, and joined children for a scratch-cooked lunch featuring green chile chicken enchiladas and a green salad made with New Mexico-grown and -raised ingredients from Agri-Cultura Network, Sweet Mercy Farms and Backyard Farms.
Thank you to Sweet Mercy Farms, Agri-Cultura Network and Senator Natalie Figueroa for joining us!
Apply now for New Mexico's Early Childhood Networks — 2026–2027
The New Mexico Early Childhood Networks provide professional development and peer support for early childhood educators across the state. Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 school year.
Networks accepting applications
- Mentor Network
- Infant Toddler Teacher Network
- Directors Network
- Home-based Providers Network
Also recruiting
ECECD is looking for Network Leads and Regional Connectors to help share information about Network programs across the state.
Stipends
All Network members receive stipends for their participation.
Apply
Find program information and application links at ecnetworks.org.
Contact
Email Rachel Droste Gwinn at rdrostegwinn@cnm.edu
Spotlight: Gov. Lujan Grisham brings Universal Child Care to the National Conversation
New Mexico’s Universal Child Care program is drawing national attention as a model for supporting families, strengthening the workforce and growing our economy. Over the past few weeks, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham highlighted how New Mexico removed cost barriers for families, invested in child care providers and built a sustainable approach that other states can learn from. Her appearances underscored a powerful message: when families can access reliable, affordable child care, parents can work, children can thrive and communities are stronger.
Watch and read the highlights:
- Marie Claire: Click here for Universal Child Care Was Considered a Political Long Shot — Until Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Took Office
- Morning Joe on MS NOW (formerly MSNBC): Click here for Marie Claire and Moms First announce Power Moms list celebrating women redefining motherhood, featuring the Governor live on-air
Events
July Early Childhood Community Call
You’re Invited to participate in July’s Early Childhood Community Call!
Join ECECD Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky and special guests on the first Tuesday of every month from 8–9 a.m., to discuss important issues pertaining to the New Mexico early childhood community.
The next Early Childhood Community Call will be Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
Did you miss the most recent Community Call?
Click here for the recording (Spanish translation is available under audio settings)
Presentations: Coming Soon!
Zoom Meeting Details (same link every meeting):
Click here to Join via Zoom
- Telephone: 669-900-9128 or 253-215-8782
- Webinar ID: 958 5783 9577
Individuals who require a disability-related accommodation or language access services to participate in this event are asked to contact ececd-access@ececd.nm.gov at least 10 days in advance of the scheduled meeting.
Eastern New Mexico University Child Development Certificate Bootcamp
Eastern New Mexico University: Nine-Week Intensive Bootcamp for the Child Development Certificate
Eastern New Mexico University–Ruidoso is offering a Nine-week intensive bootcamp for educators looking to earn a Child Development Certificate (CDC) — a concentrated, professional program designed for individuals serious about growing in the early childhood field.
What you earn
Graduates of the bootcamp leave with two credentials:
- The NM ECED Child Development Certificate (CDC) — the state-recognized credential issued by ECECD
- An official Certificate of Completion from ENMU-Ruidoso
What makes the format work
- Nine weeks — short enough to fit around a working educator’s life; long enough to build real depth
- Rigorous and high-quality — the bootcamp is a focused, intentional program, not a survey course
- Designed for real classroom application — the skills you learn are meant to be taken directly back into your classroom and used immediately
- Taught by experienced instructors with real-world expertise, practical strategies, and meaningful student support
Language and accessibility
- The bootcamp flyer and program materials are available in English and Spanish
- Accommodations are available; details are described during the application process
Apply
Students must complete the ENMU-Ruidoso application process first. To get started:
- Visit ruidoso.enmu.edu
- Check out the full bootcamp flyer (English and Spanish)
ENMU-Ruidoso 709 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, NM 575-315-1120
Bridging Early Childhood Education and Special Education: ENMU-Ruidoso's new online pathway
Eastern New Mexico University–Ruidoso has introduced a new academic pathway designed to address critical workforce shortages in New Mexico’s early childhood field — specifically, the need for professionals trained in both infant/toddler care and exceptionalities.
Why this pathway exists
The pathway is built around three workforce realities:
- Growing demand for special education instructors and inclusive early childhood educators
- A shortage of professionals with skills in both Early Childhood Education Development (ECED) and special education (, which forces too many programs to choose between strong early childhood practice and strong inclusion practice
- The need to support diverse learners from infancy through early childhood — a continuum that’s often broken at the transition between settings
Program structure
- Format: Completely online
- Duration: Certified in one year
- Course sequence: Two integrated tracks
Special Education courses:
- SPED 2110 — Introduction to Students with Exceptionalities
- SPED 2120 — Introduction to Special Education
- SPED 2130 — Cultural Learning and Academic Achievement in a Diverse Society
- SPED 2210 — Education of the Exceptional Person
- SPED 2258 — Class Behavior Management for SPED
Infant/Toddler & Early Childhood courses:
- ECED 2240 — Infant Toddler Growth & Development
- ECED 2241 — Practicum: Infant Toddler Growth & Development
- ECED 2245 — Effective Principles & Practices in Infant Family Studies
Apply
Students must complete the ENMU-Ruidoso application process first. Visit ruidoso.enmu.edu to start, or contact:
ENMU-Ruidoso 709 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, NM 575-315-1120
Review the full ENMU-Ruidoso ECE / Special Education Pathway flyer for the full program overview
Professional Development
Coalition Spotlight: Chaves County Early Childhood Coalition: A unified voice for early childhood in Roswell
ECECD supports 18 Local Early Childhood System Building Coalitions across 14 New Mexico counties, each working to strengthen its community’s ability to deliver quality programs and services for children from birth to age 5. These coalitions advance the New Mexico Early Childhood Strategic Plan (2021–2024) and ECECD’s five-year plan, Florecer (2022–2027), through local–state partnerships and community-driven solutions.
In each issue of the ECECD Briefing, we spotlight one of those coalitions. This issue: the Chaves County Early Childhood Coalition (CCECC) in Roswell.
A unified voice for equity
CCECC’s mission is to build a unified voice that advocates for equitable, high-quality early childhood education and care for every child in Chaves County. The coalition frames its work as building “a cohesive early childhood ecosystem where no family or child is left behind.”
Recent work
Over the past several months, the coalition has advanced that mission through partnerships and direct community engagement:
- Early literacy training with Roswell Independent School District (RISD). In collaboration with RISD, CCECC hosted a well-attended professional development training focused on early literacy and the science of reading, featuring guest Jake Daggett.
- Provider morale and engagement. Additional trainings — including “Morale Will Manifest”, supported early childhood providers in strengthening workplace engagement.
- Family-centered events. A successful Literacy Night brought families together around reading; a Healthy Cooking event was co-hosted with the Department of Health and Tobosa Home Visiting; and CCECC participated in Children’s Day at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe.
What’s coming
- Summer Safety Pool Party — community safety event
- First aid training for providers
- Continued coalition meetings focused on data, planning, and strengthening local early childhood systems
Contact
- Email Lorrina Segovia — wingsforliferoswell@gmail.com
- Email Sally Green — SGreen@risd.k12.nm.us
- Website: Wings For Life | Roswell After School Programs
Live: New Mexico’s Professional Development Information System
New Mexico’s Professional Development Information System (PDIS) is now live. This free online platform centralizes education tracking, credentials, required trainings, and wages for all early childhood professionals.
Enrollment Deadlines
- Wednesday, July 1, 2026: Home Visiting and FIT programs.
Create Your PDIS Profile by clicking this link for the PDIS page on NMECECD’s website.
Support and Accessibility
- Technical Support: Email PDIS-Support@ececd.nm.gov
- Accommodations: To request an accommodation or ASL or spoken language interpretation, contact Maria Spray by phone at 505-670-8993 or click here to email at least five business days before your planned session.
FOCUS Professional Development substitution: Two college courses now substitute for three FOCUS trainings
New Mexico educators now have the option to substitute certain college courses for three FOCUS training requirements. The substitution provides a path toward higher education while protecting educator time in the classroom.
The substitution
Either of the following college courses may be substituted for three FOCUS trainings:
- Guiding Young Children
- Family and Community Collaboration
Why it matters
The change credits prior coursework that already covers the content of three FOCUS modules — reducing duplicative training time for educators who’ve already learned this material in a college setting and reinforcing the higher-education pathway as a credential-building option.
Next steps
The full FOCUS training substitution flyer lists the eligible courses, the specific FOCUS trainings they substitute for, and the steps to apply the substitution. The flyer is available in English and Spanish.
The New Mexico Panic Button: One-tap emergency response for early childhood programs
The Rave Panic Button is a mobile application designed to quickly alert authorities and simultaneously notify all on-site staff of an emergency at an early childhood program.
How it works
When activated, the Panic Button:
- Contacts authorities immediately, providing emergency responders with the program’s location and incident type
- Notifies all staff on-site at the same time, so emergency response protocols can begin without delay
- Reduces response time on both ends — staff coordination is faster, and first responders arrive better informed
Why it matters
In an emergency, the gap between an incident and an organized response is what costs the most — both in safety risk and in cognitive load on staff trying to coordinate while managing children. A single tap collapses that gap.
Learn more
Statewide CLASS Observations Underway!
New Mexico is now conducting CLASS observations to gather a statewide baseline of educator and child interactions. This effort is for data collection only and will not affect your FOCUS star-level or reimbursement rate in any way.
To learn more about CLASS, free webinars and PD opportunities are available on the New Mexico Early Learning System (NMELS). Just visit www.nmels.org and search CLASS.
Programs were selected intentionally to create a representative sample across all settings including PreK and head Start, all Star-Levels, FOCUS participation status, and nationally accredited programs. Your participation helps ensure the FOCUS Redesign reflects real classroom experiences and strengths.
Thank you for your partnership and commitment to high quality early learning.