Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Takes Action on CYFD Policy Reforms Following KRQE Investigation
After years of issues within the state’s Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD), the governor created a council to help fix the agency. But, a year later, one council member told KRQE it’s been pointless. In a KRQE Investigation, Ann Pierret exposed these concerns, catching Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s attention.
The governor did not interview Pierret, but she did speak to a KRQE news team member. When asked about her meeting with the CYFD Policy Advisory Council after Pierret’s story aired, the governor expressed her gratitude for the investigation.
“That story put us into a meaningful position with the Advisory Council to start working on policies,” the governor explained. “And in fact, that’s exactly what they’re doing.”
It took a year and one member calling her out for Governor Lujan Grisham to meet with her CYFD Policy Advisory Council. She created the Council of Child Welfare Professionals in early 2023 after vetoing a bipartisan-supported bill that would have created independent oversight of the agency.
Instead, in an Executive Order, the governor laid out that her Policy Advisory Council would provide recommendations and policy changes to improve the state agency.
“We’re rolling out what they’re calling a blueprint for all of the changes they’d like. They’re working really well together,” she said. “We’re figuring out some changes to some voluntary policies that we worry don’t put parents in the best possible position to safeguard their families.”
A spokesperson for CYFD explained further, “CYFD offers programs that are voluntary for families and support their well-being. When it is determined the family would benefit from services, CYFD wants to ensure participation.
According to the source, Participation in these services could help with reunification for children who have been removed or prevent children from being removed.”
One council member previously told KRQE Investigates she thought they would have been doing this work starting with the first meeting in May 2023. “This policy council that I’m on is full of wonderful people with wonderful ideas, and we have all shared our ideas many times,” Barbara Yehl explained.
“And the people who are supposed to be listening and making the decisions have not done a single thing that we have suggested.”
Yehl, a former foster mom who runs the nonprofit Lighthouse Foster and Adoption Support in Roswell, shared these frustrations in an emotional interview KRQE Investigates aired in April 2024. “We have offered some suggestions, as I said in the past, about helping retain and recruit more foster families,” Yehl explained.
“Same as with staff, like we’ve offered solutions to help improve their staff retention.” KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret asked, “Is any of that being listened to?” Yehl responded, “It does not feel like it.”
The governor now says after this interview aired and KRQE Investigates confronted Governor Lujan Grisham about Yehl’s concerns and the council’s lack of progress, she met with Yehl and the other council members. “And so congratulations,” she said.
“Thank you for that story. And thank you to the Advisory Council, who’s working really well with an incredible new secretary who, in fact, is turning things around as we should.”
Watch the governor interview from April 2024 below:
A spokesperson for the CYFD Secretary said in a statement the council is now working with an NMSU program to “develop a statewide blueprint of child services.” And, ahead of next year’s legislative session, the spokesperson mentioned members will help the state agency with new legislation.
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“But we have a lot more to do for poverty and child well-being in the state,” the governor added. “So, we’re going to keep doing that work.
And folks should expect that those investments are going to be a number one priority in the next session as well. But things are moving in the right direction. So, tell your colleague thank you.”
While the ball is finally rolling with the Policy Advisory Council, it’s not clear what this means for the future of CYFD because there are no results yet. And, the Council is still not fully staffed.
It started with one member and then two people left. CYFD said it expects the three vacant positions will be filled by the end of the week. KRQE Investigates will continue to keep an eye on the Council’s progress.