Aug 18, 2025

ECECD Early Childhood Community Newsletter: Monday, August 18, 2025

What's Inside: Share Your Story with the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department!, 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

Share Your Story with the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department!

The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) is collecting recorded and photo testimonials to highlight the impact of early childhood programs across the state. Your story can help us show the real difference these programs make for families and providers—and will help us advocate for continued and expanded funding during the upcoming legislative session.

We are especially seeking testimonials from:

families with non-traditional work hours;

families who have experienced job stability thanks to child care support;

kinship caregivers;

families who can speak to the affordability crisis;

families with incomes at or around 400% of the Federal Poverty Level;

child care providers; and/or

families in need of extended care hours.

No matter where you live, we want to hear from you—from every corner of New Mexico.

How your testimonial will be used:

Your story may be featured in ECECD social media campaigns, outreach materials, and presentations to legislators and policymakers to demonstrate the real impact of early childhood programs on New Mexico families. Hearing directly from New Mexicans who rely on these services is one of the most powerful ways to protect and grow investments in early childhood care and education.

To participate:

Please send your name, contact information, and the ECECD programs you use to ececd.communications@ececd.nm.gov .

August 18, 2025

What's Inside?

1. Reminders/Announcements

2. Events

3. Professional Development

5. Boletín en Español

Reminders/Announcements

Request for Applications: Next Generation Fund Grant

The New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) Prevention Initiatives Bureau has issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Next Generation Fund Initiative. This grant aims to provide funding to organizations that offer positive youth development programs that are authentic, proactive, and trauma-informed.

Eligible organizations can receive a Provider Agreement for one year, starting on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, and ending on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

The Next Generation Fund is seeking applications from organizations that provide one or more of the following:

positive child and youth development activities that support physical, mental, and social well-being;

promotion of strong, healthy families to help prevent child abuse and neglect;

community service, leadership, and civic engagement;

Community coordination of child and youth development programs for children and young adults aged birth to 24 years.

Applications are due by 5p.m., Tuesday, September 9, 2025 , and must be submitted via the Bonfire portal.

For more information, visit the CYFD Bonfire portal . All questions should be directed to the Procurement Manager, Michelle Taylor, at asd.cdu@cyfd.nm.gov or by phone at (505) 372-8300.

Head Start Programs Receive One-Time Supplemental Funding

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has announced a one-time supplemental funding opportunity for Head Start programs across the nation. The purpose of this initiative is to improve nutrition services and promote healthy eating for the children and families enrolled in these programs.

This funding can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

upgrading food service, such as modernizing kitchens or purchasing fresh, locally sourced foods;

acquiring materials, supplies, and equipment, including commercial-grade appliances, gardening supplies, or cooking demonstration kits;

developing nutrition education resources and programming; and

covering non-recurring personnel costs, like consulting with registered dietitians or nutritionists.

The deadline to submit applications through the Head Start Enterprise System (HSES) is Friday, August 22, 2025. For additional assistance with brainstorming or drafting a grant application, Jenna Rhoads from the Policy Equity Group can be contacted at JennaR@policyequity.com .

You can find more information in the official Program Instruction available on the HeadStart.gov website .

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

Help Shape the Future of Education in New Mexico

Free Back-to-School Vaccines for Children in August

Safe Sleep Campaign Offers Free Pack 'n Play and Training

View More Reminders