New Mexico stands at a pivotal moment, facing two distinct paths forward. On one side lies “Future Z”: a continuation of the status quo that leaves nearly half of our families struggling and perpetuates costly public health, safety, and education challenges. On the other side is “Future A”: a vision of a thriving New Mexico where every child grows up with access to essential services, ensuring they are healthy, safe, and inspired to learn.

“Future A” is not just a dream; it’s a comprehensive plan built on ten transformative actions ready to implement.

Action 1: County-wide 100% Family Centers

County-wide 100% Family Centers serve as one-stop service hubs, connecting residents to vital resources through on-site facilities, online platforms, and dedicated staff navigators.

Action 2: Workforce Development

These hubs also spearhead workforce development, addressing shortages in healthcare, education, and social work through innovative “grow your own” programs.

Action 3: School-Based Health Centers

School-based health centers become a reality in every public school, meeting the healthcare needs of students and their families.

Action 4: School-Based Family Resource Centers

Family resource centers within schools act as service hubs, linking students and parents to crucial support systems that address adverse childhood experiences, trauma, food insecurity, and housing instability.

Action 5: Community Schools

Public schools transform into community schools, led by dedicated directors who create welcoming environments and facilitate after-school and weekend activities in partnership with local organizations.

Action 6: Social Determinants of Health Program

The state’s public health leaders establish a Social Determinants of Health Program. They work alongside their Health Equity initiatives to assess and improve access to vital services for surviving and thriving that determine our quality of life across all counties.

Action 7: Getting the First Five Years Right

The state’s early childhood learning leaders create a “getting the first five years right” and ensure that every new parent receives comprehensive support, from safe housing to nutritious food and transportation assistance. Supporting parents and their families prepares children to arrive at school ready to learn.

Action 8: Right-Size School Staffing

The state’s public education leaders ensure that each school has the staffing, curriculum, instruction, technology, and physical environment to meet the needs of diverse student populations and support the entire school community.

Action 9: Tackle Food and Housing Insecurity Head-On

Two new state-level entities are created to tackle food and housing insecurity head-on. Entities would be operating like the Department of Food Systems and the Department of Housing and would assess challenges and be repositories for research that could be transformed into solutions.

Action 10: Support Local Government Improvements

Local governments receive support to become data-driven and truly “family-friendly” and “business-friendly,” fostering healthy families, successful students, well-trained workforces, and robust local economies.

Future Reality or Wishful Thinking?

This vision for “Future A” is not a pipe dream. New Mexico possesses the financial resources and expertise necessary to bring this plan to fruition. The question now is: which future do we, as New Mexicans, prefer?

Choosing “Future A” means committing to a path of equity, opportunity, and shared prosperity. It means recognizing that when we invest in our children and families, we invest in the long-term success of our state. This approach addresses root causes rather than symptoms, potentially reducing the strain on public resources while simultaneously improving the quality of life for all residents.

Implementing these ten actions would represent a paradigm shift in how New Mexico approaches social issues. By creating interconnected systems of support, from birth through adulthood, we can break cycles of poverty and disadvantage that have held our state back for too long.

Critics might argue that such sweeping changes are too ambitious or costly. However, the cost of inaction—in terms of lost potential, increased healthcare costs and criminal justice expenses, and diminished economic growth—far outweighs the investment required to build this brighter future.

As New Mexico faces this crossroads, we must ask ourselves: Are we content with the status quo, or are we ready to embrace a vision that uplifts all of our communities? The choice between “Future Z” and “Future A” is more than a policy decision; it’s a statement about who we are as a state and what we value.

The path to “Future A” will be challenging, but it offers the promise of a New Mexico where every child has the opportunity to thrive, where our communities are strong and resilient, and where our economy flourishes. It’s time for New Mexicans to come together, embrace this vision, and work collectively toward a future that benefits all.

For those voting for “Future A,” email us and share your insights and interests in any of our actions awaiting implementation. Many visionary New Mexicans are already working on the actions within the government, nongovernmental organizations, community groups, and building partnerships with the business sector, requiring only the assets to turn aspirational goals into actions serving all New Mexicans.