Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Foster Parent Taskforce Sb305 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs task force to study foster‑parent recruitment and retention
Summary
Senators gave a unanimous recommendation to a committee substitute for Senate Bill 305 to create a task force charged with developing ideas to recruit and retain quality foster parents, drawing from models in other states and including lived‑experience and tribal representation.
The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee voted 9–0 to advance a committee substitute for Senate Bill 305, which would establish a task force to develop strategies for recruiting and retaining foster parents and caregivers.
Sponsor Senator Biosyn said the bill responds to ongoing challenges in New Mexico’s child-welfare system, including reports of children sleeping in state offices and youth running from placement. The proposed task force would convene up to 16 members with representation from foster and kinship caregivers, tribal representatives with lived experience, higher-education research partners, and other stakeholders.
Marilyn Beck, executive director of the New Mexico Child First Network, testified that models such as Utah’s statutorily created nonprofit have produced durable results and that removing recruitment and retention from direct agency operations can improve outcomes. Committee substitution added specified appointments for a kinship caregiver, tribal representative, and a member of the LGBTQ+ community who would be appointed by CYFD.
Committee members asked about reporting and funding. Sponsors said the task force would report to CYFD and to the Legislative Finance Committee; the substitute removed an immediate appropriation but sponsors noted existing FY25 grow funds and FY25 appropriations to support foster‑parent recruitment and retention. Several senators expressed support for including tribal social-work expertise and for partnering with state universities and research centers to evaluate options.
The committee approved the substitute and recommended the bill move forward; sponsors noted that converting the statutory task force into a memorial might be an option if appropriation language remains absent during future committee referrals.
