New Mexico Grown Grant (ECECD)

New Mexico Grown Grant (ECECD) is sponsored by New Mexico Early Childhood Education & Care Department (ECECD). The New Mexico Grown Grant, administered by ECECD, is a state-funded local food procurement program for public institutions operating nutrition programs that serve early childcare education sites, K-12 schools, senior centers, and other programs under the Child and Adult Care Fo…

Early Childhood Education & Care Department | Working to ensure that all New Mexican families and young children have equitable access to high-quality early childhood opportunities 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. View the report in English and Spanish . Learn About the Child Care Assistance Program Act (SB241) Access the presentation from the March 31, 2026 session to learn about new requirements, reporting measures, and long-term sustainability for the Child Care Assistance Program Act.

Download SB241 PowerPoint Slides Empowering and Supporting Educators in New Mexico Teachstone ® is honored to partner with the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) in its commitment to strengthening its early childhood system to enhance the development, education, and well-being of Birth–Five children.

Our goal as an ECECD partner is to support New Mexican educators and leaders by improving their skills through purposeful training and professional development focused on the impact of meaningful interactions.

This ensures all educators and the children in their care thrive Professional Development Information System (PDIS) Whether you are a child care or PreK provider, a home visitor, or a Family Infant Toddler provider, this free platform supports early childhood employers and employees in tracking educational attainment, certifications, trainings, and background checks all in one place.

The Early Show with Alax, a playful, informative online series for families with young children. The show’s host, Alax , is a live-action Galactic character from another solar system who wants to learn the important elements of caring for “little humans” without judgment or prior caregiving knowledge. Jobs in early childhood have a big impact on the future.

Professionals in this field change lives every day. For people who love babies and young children, these are meaningful, joyful jobs. And currently, opportunities in the field of early childhood are expanding fast .

Whether you want to teach, help children with speech delays, or prepare healthy meals and snacks, there’s a profession in the early childhood field for you. Stronger Child Care for Every New Mexico Family The 2026 legislative session was a historic moment for early childhood in New Mexico.

Lawmakers passed landmark legislation to cement Universal Child Care in state law and remove barriers that have limited child care access in communities across the state. See what passed during the legislative session, what it means for families and providers, and links to key resources from the session. Thriving families and young children in every New Mexico community!

New Tucumcari facility expands critical child care for Quay County FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 13, 2026CONTACT Julia SclafaniPublic Relations Specialist Email: julia. sclafani@ececd. nm.

govMobile: (505)... CACFP provides free meals to thousands of New Mexicans in FY27 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 31, 2025CONTACT Julia SclafaniPublic Relations Specialist Email: julia. sclafani@ececd.

nm. govMobile: (505)... The ECECD Community Newsletter Briefing Room ECECD Early Childhood Community Newsletter: April 27, 2026 Child care is an expensive burden for us.

In order to make ends meet for day care, we ended up having to take on extra jobs. Universal Child Care is going to provide us the opportunity to take the funds from what we would have spent on child care and use them on other things like a house or a car or even just groceries. Educator/Parent , Aztec, NM It’s so incredible what ECECD has done with respect to opportunities for teachers and the wage lattice.

Our teachers, all of them have enrolled in classes and are taking full advantage of the scholarships, and then also being able to apply for the pay parity as they gain their degrees. That’s been really amazing, because 100% of our teachers have taken advantage of that. Child Care Center Owner , Taos, NM We’re with you every step of the way!

Early Head Start / Head Start The Head Start Collaboration Office at the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) supports Early Head Start and Head Start programs statewide. Early Head Start serves pregnant people and children up to age three in home-based or center-based settings, and Head Start serves preschool-aged children (3 to 4) in center-based programs.

LEARN MORE: New Mexico Head Start Collaboration Office Families FIRST is a support program for Medicaid-eligible families in New Mexico during pregnancy, infancy, and the first three years of a child’s life . It connects families with a registered nurse Care Coordinator who provides personalized guidance, helps with health and parenting questions, and links families to community resources.

LEARN MORE: Families FIRST Home Visiting is a no-cost support program for families who are pregnant or have children under age five. Trained home visitors partner with families to support healthy child development, positive parenting, and connections to local resources, meeting in the home or virtually.

LEARN MORE: Home Visiting Universal Child Care (Child Care Assistance) Universal Child Care, also known as Child Care Assistance, provides no-cost child care for all New Mexico families , regardless of income. The program pays licensed and registered child care providers directly so families can access quality child care without copays or fees, supporting family stability, workforce participation, and healthy child development.

LEARN MORE: Universal Child Care Early Head Start / Head Start The Head Start Collaboration Office at the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) supports Early Head Start and Head Start programs statewide. Early Head Start serves pregnant people and children up to age three in home-based or center-based settings, and Head Start serves preschool-aged children (3 to 4) in center-based programs.

LEARN MORE: New Mexico Head Start Collaboration Office Families FIRST is a support program for Medicaid-eligible families in New Mexico during pregnancy, infancy, and the first three years of a child’s life . It connects families with a registered nurse Care Coordinator who provides personalized guidance, helps with health and parenting questions, and links families to community resources.

LEARN MORE: Families FIRST Family Infant Toddler (FIT) The Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program is New Mexico’s early intervention program for children from birth to age three who have or may be at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. The program connects families with local experts for a free developmental evaluation and supports such as therapy and coaching to help children thrive.

FIT services are family-centered and provided at no cost , often in the child’s home or natural environment. LEARN MORE: Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) connects families with free, nutritious meals for children and teens (ages 1–18) during the summer months when school is out. There is no cost, no registration, and no proof of income required .

LEARN MORE: Free Meals for Children Child and the Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal nutrition program. CACFP reimburses participating child care centers, Head Start programs, family child care homes, before- and after-school programs, and adult day care centers for serving healthy, nutritious meals and snacks that meet USDA nutrition standards.

Meals and snacks offered through CACFP are provided at no cost to families at participating sites to support good nutrition, healthy growth, and development. LEARN MORE: Family Nutrition Bureau Home Visiting is a no-cost support program for families who are pregnant or have children under age five.

Trained home visitors partner with families to support healthy child development, positive parenting, and connections to local resources, meeting in the home or virtually. LEARN MORE: Home Visiting Family Connects New Mexico Family Connects New Mexico is a no-cost, nurse-led home visiting program for families with newborns.

A registered nurse visits families in their home shortly after birth to support newborn health, caregiver well-being, answer questions, and connect families to local resources. The program is available to all families, regardless of income or background, and helps parents feel supported and confident during the early weeks of a child’s life.

LEARN MORE: Family Connects New Mexico Early Childhood Special Education Students with developmental delays or disabilities deserve access to high-quality supports and services that help them succeed in school and in life.

ECECD administers two critical programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that ensures young children with disabilities receive appropriate early education and developmental support.

LEARN MORE: Early Childhood Special Education Universal Child Care (Child Care Assistance) Universal Child Care, also known as Child Care Assistance, provides no-cost child care for all New Mexico families , regardless of income.

The program pays licensed and registered child care providers directly so families can access quality child care without copays or fees, supporting family stability, workforce participation, and healthy child development.

LEARN MORE: Universal Child Care Early Head Start / Head Start The Head Start Collaboration Office at the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) supports Early Head Start and Head Start programs statewide. Early Head Start serves pregnant people and children up to age three in home-based or center-based settings, and Head Start serves preschool-aged children (3 to 4) in center-based programs.

LEARN MORE: New Mexico Head Start Collaboration Office Families FIRST is a support program for Medicaid-eligible families in New Mexico during pregnancy, infancy, and the first three years of a child’s life . It connects families with a registered nurse Care Coordinator who provides personalized guidance, helps with health and parenting questions, and links families to community resources.

LEARN MORE: Families FIRST Family Infant Toddler (FIT) The Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program is New Mexico’s early intervention program for children from birth to age three who have or may be at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. The program connects families with local experts for a free developmental evaluation and supports such as therapy and coaching to help children thrive.

FIT services are family-centered and provided at no cost , often in the child’s home or natural environment. LEARN MORE: Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) connects families with free, nutritious meals for children and teens (ages 1–18) during the summer months when school is out. There is no cost, no registration, and no proof of income required .

LEARN MORE: Free Meals for Children Child and the Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal nutrition program. CACFP reimburses participating child care centers, Head Start programs, family child care homes, before- and after-school programs, and adult day care centers for serving healthy, nutritious meals and snacks that meet USDA nutrition standards.

Meals and snacks offered through CACFP are provided at no cost to families at participating sites to support good nutrition, healthy growth, and development. LEARN MORE: Family Nutrition Bureau Home Visiting is a no-cost support program for families who are pregnant or have children under age five.

Trained home visitors partner with families to support healthy child development, positive parenting, and connections to local resources, meeting in the home or virtually. LEARN MORE: Home Visiting Family Connects New Mexico Family Connects New Mexico is a no-cost, nurse-led home visiting program for families with newborns.

A registered nurse visits families in their home shortly after birth to support newborn health, caregiver well-being, answer questions, and connect families to local resources. The program is available to all families, regardless of income or background, and helps parents feel supported and confident during the early weeks of a child’s life.

LEARN MORE: Family Connects New Mexico New Mexico PreK is a no-cost, voluntary early childhood education program for three- and four-year-old children during the school year. It provides high-quality, play-based learning in community-based and school-based settings to support children’s physical, cognitive, language, and social-emotional development and help prepare them for kindergarten.

LEARN MORE: New Mexico PreK Early Childhood Special Education Students with developmental delays or disabilities deserve access to high-quality supports and services that help them succeed in school and in life. ECECD administers two critical programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that ensures young children with disabilities receive appropriate early education and developmental support.

LEARN MORE: Early Childhood Special Education Family Connects New Mexico Family Connects New Mexico is a no-cost, nurse-led home visiting program for families with newborns. A registered nurse visits families in their home shortly after birth to support newborn health, caregiver well-being, answer questions, and connect families to local resources.

The program is available to all families, regardless of income or background, and helps parents feel supported and confident during the early weeks of a child’s life. LEARN MORE: Family Connects New Mexico Universal Child Care (Child Care Assistance) Universal Child Care, also known as Child Care Assistance, provides no-cost child care for all New Mexico families , regardless of income.

The program pays licensed and registered child care providers directly so families can access quality child care without copays or fees, supporting family stability, workforce participation, and healthy child development.

LEARN MORE: Universal Child Care Early Head Start / Head Start The Head Start Collaboration Office at the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) supports Early Head Start and Head Start programs statewide. Early Head Start serves pregnant people and children up to age three in home-based or center-based settings, and Head Start serves preschool-aged children (3 to 4) in center-based programs.

LEARN MORE: New Mexico Head Start Collaboration Office Families FIRST is a support program for Medicaid-eligible families in New Mexico during pregnancy, infancy, and the first three years of a child’s life . It connects families with a registered nurse Care Coordinator who provides personalized guidance, helps with health and parenting questions, and links families to community resources.

LEARN MORE: Families FIRST Family Infant Toddler (FIT) The Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program is New Mexico’s early intervention program for children from birth to age three who have or may be at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. The program connects families with local experts for a free developmental evaluation and supports such as therapy and coaching to help children thrive.

FIT services are family-centered and provided at no cost , often in the child’s home or natural environment. LEARN MORE: Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) connects families with free, nutritious meals for children and teens (ages 1–18) during the summer months when school is out. There is no cost, no registration, and no proof of income required .

LEARN MORE: Free Meals for Children Child and the Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal nutrition program. CACFP reimburses participating child care centers, Head Start programs, family child care homes, before- and after-school programs, and adult day care centers for serving healthy, nutritious meals and snacks that meet USDA nutrition standards.

Meals and snacks offered through CACFP are provided at no cost to families at participating sites to support good nutrition, healthy growth, and development. LEARN MORE: Family Nutrition Bureau Home Visiting is a no-cost support program for families who are pregnant or have children under age five.

Trained home visitors partner with families to support healthy child development, positive parenting, and connections to local resources, meeting in the home or virtually. LEARN MORE: Home Visiting Family Connects New Mexico Family Connects New Mexico is a no-cost, nurse-led home visiting program for families with newborns.

A registered nurse visits families in their home shortly after birth to support newborn health, caregiver well-being, answer questions, and connect families to local resources. The program is available to all families, regardless of income or background, and helps parents feel supported and confident during the early weeks of a child’s life.

LEARN MORE: Family Connects New Mexico The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.

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