Mar 16, 2026

ECECD Early Childhood Community Newsletter: Monday, March 16, 2026

What's Inside: Universal Child Care Signed into Law and Home Visiting Application is Live + 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

Building the Future: FY27 Home Visiting Application Now Available

The Home Visiting Application for Fiscal Year 2027 is now open, offering a unique opportunity to provide informational, educational, and developmental support services that prevent adverse childhood experiences and promote parental competence.

By meeting families in their own environments, home visiting programs build the essential relationships and goals necessary to support wellness across physical, developmental, and emotional domains. This year, priority for expansion will be given to providers proposing to serve the Albuquerque metropolitan area, as well as Bernalillo, Cibola, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Guadalupe, McKinley, Otero, Roosevelt, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, and Torrance counties.

Save the Dates:

Upcoming office hours: Friday, March 20, 2026, at 1 p.m.

Deadline to submit questions: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Application deadline: Monday, April 13, 2026

Join via Zoom: nmececdorg.zoom.us/j/83162949064

Meeting ID: 831 6294 9064

All application information and resource materials can be found at: nmececd.org/grants-rfps-and-procurement-opportunities/

To learn more about the Home Visiting program or to make a referral, visit nmececd.org/homevisiting .

March 16, 2026

What's Inside?

1. Reminders/Announcements

2. Events

3. Professional Development

5. Boletín en Español

A Historic Day for New Mexico: Universal Child Care Signed Into Law

Experience the moment Universal Child Care became a reality for New Mexico families. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was joined by state lawmakers, early childhood experts, and children to celebrate this landmark legislation.

A special thank you to the Garcia Street Club in Santa Fe for hosting the community in their space. Garcia Street Club has been serving New Mexico’s children and families since 1945, and their support made this celebration possible.

Watch the Facebook Live Recording Here

Reminders/Announcements

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.

Public Comment Opportunity: Plan of Safe Care for Substance-Exposed Infants

The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) is proposing a new rule (8.3.2 NMAC) regarding the Plan of Safe Care for Substance-Exposed Infants. This proposal follows the transition of the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act (CARA) program from the Children, Youth, and Families Department to the HCA, effective July 1, 2026.

The CARA program supports families living with substance use by connecting them to services that promote healthy environments for newborns and children. Community members are invited to review the proposed rule and provide feedback during the public comment period.

Public Hearing: April 9, 2026, at 11 a.m. MDT (In-person and virtual options available).

Deadline for Comments: April 9, 2026, by 5 p.m. MDT.

Click here to view the full press release and participation details .

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

Help Shape the Future of Early Childhood: 2026 Family Engagement Survey is live

New Mexico Infant/Toddler Pay Parity

FOCUS Training Waiver for Department of Defense Child Care Providers

ECECD-Teachstone Webpage is Live!

Discover the Power of Nutrition this March

Choose the Summer Food Service Program

View More Reminders