Apr 14, 2025

ECECD Early Childhood Community Newsletter: Monday, April 14, 2025

What's Inside: New Episode of The Early Show with Alax — Autism, The Effects of Childhood Trauma, plus more!

The full-text version of the ECECD Early Childhood Community Newsletter is available on the ECECD website here . La versión completa del Boletín semanal sobre el cuidado de los niños está disponible en el sitio web del ECECD aquí .

Featured Story

New Episode of The Early Show with Alax — Autism

In this episode, Alax is joined by Sydney, a pediatric occupational therapist, to discuss autism in early childhood. Alax learns about what autism is, early signs to look for, and the importance of early screening.

Watch the episode here:

English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF-sd1bvnyU

Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-Yor0NYKC0

The Early Show with Alax and Ask Alax are informative online original series by ECECD. They’re made for grownups with kids in mind. Both shows are available on YouTube and the websites TheEarlyShow.org and AskAlax.org. Share Alax with your friends!

Check out the Friends of Alax Toolkit to help spread the word.

April 14, 2025

What's Inside?

1. Reminders/Announcements

2. Events

3. Professional Development

5. Boletín en Español

Reminders/Announcements

ECECD Press Release: Governor doubles down on kids with historic $500M early childhood investment

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed landmark legislation Monday that will double New Mexico’s investment in early childhood education programs to $500 million, benefiting more than 85,000 children from birth to age 5 and further establishing the state as a national leader in early education.

Read the full press release at Governor doubles down on kids with historic $500M early childhood investment.

Now Open: FY26 Home Visiting Notice of Funding Opportunity

ECECD is now accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2026 Home Visiting Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This funding opportunity supports providers who deliver evidence-based home visiting services to eligible families across New Mexico.

The funding period will run from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Agreements awarded through this process will be contingent on available funding, provider performance, and alignment with ECECD program priorities.

Eligible applicants include current or prospective providers offering services through one or more of the following approved models:

Parents as Teachers

Nurse Family Partnership

Healthy Families America

Child FIRST

First Born and More

Home visiting remains a critical strategy in promoting child well-being and preventing adverse childhood experiences. We encourage qualified providers to apply and join us in strengthening family support systems across the state.

Full details and application materials

Advisory: New RFPs Now Available from ECECD

ECECD has released two new Requests for Proposals (RFPs) aimed at enhancing support and services for families of young children with developmental delays or disabilities:

RFP#2025-0071: Parent Training and Support

This RFP seeks proposals to develop a statewide parent support network, connecting trained parent volunteers with families of infants and toddlers enrolled in IDEA Part C services (services for children with or at risk for developmental delay or disability and their families). The goal is to empower families through education, advocacy opportunities, and peer support.

RFP#2025-0071: Parent Training and Support.

RFP#25-0154: Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Campaign and Public Awareness

ECECD is soliciting proposals for a public awareness campaign to promote early intervention services under the FIT program. The selected vender will provide strategic marketing and communications support to increase outreach and engagement across New Mexico.

https://www.nmececd.org/rfp25-0154/

For full details, submission guidelines, and deadlines, please refer to the linked RFP pages.

View more reminders on the full-text version of the Weekly Child Care newsletter.

NMDOH Measles Alert: Health officials warn of exposure at Hobbs daycare and restaurant

Moments Together Blog: Autism Supports Work Best When They Start in Early Childhood. What Signs Should You Look For?

Recognizing Assistant Secretary Cotillion Sneddy

Save the Date for The Early Care, Education and Nutrition Division's 2025 Spring Fling Provider Roundtable Meetings

Help Shape New Mexico’s Early Learning Standards

Sophie B. Bertrand Early Interventionist of the Year Award

View More Reminders