Haaland Reaffirms Support for Universal Childcare in Visit to ABQ Boys and Girls Club
Tours after-school program funded by universal childcare
Albuquerque, N.M. – Yesterday, Deb Haaland, the Democratic nominee for governor, visited a Boys and Girls Club after-school program in Albuquerque, meeting with students and hearing directly from childcare providers.
This Boys and Girls Club program is supported through New Mexico’s Universal Child Care, which helps make after-school care accessible to families across the state. In addition, the elementary school that hosts this Boys and Girls Club, is based on a community school model that may serve students and their families with wrap-around services like counseling, healthcare support, food assistance, and more.
At the site, Haaland heard from childcare providers about the challenges families face accessing childcare, the need for more providers, and the requirements for a program to be funded by universal childcare and why those requirements are sometimes more difficult for a rural provider to meet than an urban provider.
“We all have a responsibility to build a bright future for our kids and the generations that come after them. When a kid falls behind, it is our responsibility to support them and get them back on track,” said Haaland. “New Mexico is a leader on universal childcare: now we need to make sure it can reach every student and every family who needs it.”
As governor, Haaland will support the expansion of universal childcare and programs like the Boys and Girls Club by:
- Protecting universal childcare and early learning into the future.
- Adopting and expanding Community School Models to coordinate resources and partnerships and deliver services.
- Increasing funds for before- and after-school programs that keep young people off the street.
- Creating an Every Child Outdoor Initiative that engages students in their education by incorporating outdoor learning into K-12 curricula.