In the following dropdowns, you will find a variety of resources and links to various organizations and agencies that support early childhood care and education in New Mexico. Please note that these links will take you to external websites. On the right side bar, there are various hotlines and crisis numbers listed for easy access.
Health and Safety
Keeping Your Baby Safe
- Keep my Children Safe
- The Baby Safe Project
- Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Handle with Care: Help Prevent Non-accidental Trauma
- Crying! Just doing what comes naturally
- UNM Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention and Awareness Program
- Tips and Resources For Parents on How to Calm a Crying Baby
- Safe to Sleep - National Institute of Health
- UNM Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention and Awareness Program
- Charlie's Kids - Educating Families About SIDS and Safe Sleep
Health and Wellness
- New Mexico Department of Health
- New Mexico Immunization Exemption Statute (24-5-3)
- Healthy Children - American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Infectious Disease Prevention
- New Mexico Environment Department Resources
- UNM New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center
- New Mexico Department of Health: Healthy Kids New Mexico
- Children’s Medical Services
- The National Program for Playground Safety
- Healthy Child Care America
- A School Nurse's Guide to Kids' Health and Safety
Nutrition
- CYFD’s Family Nutrition Bureau
- Summer Food Service Program
- USDA Choose MyPlate
- USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center
- Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
- Team Nutrition - Child Nutrition for Families and Caregivers
- Lifecycle Nutrition - Information for Nutrition During Pregnancy through Teen Years
- Food Safety Guidelines
Product Safety
- Keep my Children Safe
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Guides
- Good Toys for Young Children by Age and Stage
- Choosing Safe Baby Products
- Toy and Product Recall Finder
- SafeKids Product Recalls
- Safe to Sleep - Crib Information Center
- Child Ready Home Safety Tool
Food Allergy
- Food Allergy Research & Education
- Ingredient Labels
- Food Allergy Emergency Plan
- Allergy Ready Course
Transportation Safety
Family and Community Support
Find Support
- Support for Parents
- Tips for Parents
- Child Care Assistance - Am I Eligible Tool
- Universal Application to Public Assistance - YES NM
- Health Care Support – Community Health Workers
- Find a Home Visiting Program to support you and your baby or toddler
- Fathers New Mexico
- Parents Reaching Out - Family Advocacy and Support
- When a Child Bites
- Maternal Child Health Postpartum Support NM
- New Mexico Crisis and Access
Child Development
- Act Early, CDC - Concerned About Your Child's Development
As a parent, you know your child best. If your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or if you think there could be a problem with the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves talk to your child’s doctor and share your concerns. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference!
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be screened for general development using standardized, validated tools at 9, 18, and 24 or 30 months and for autism at 18 and 24 months or whenever a parent or provider has a concern.
If you or the doctor thinks there might be a delay, ask the doctor for a referral to a specialist who can do a more in-depth evaluation of your child.
Please look below for tools related to milestones, screenings, and organizations and tools that can help if you have concerns about your child's development.
Developmental Tools and Apps
- Milestone Tracker
- Text for Baby (personalized health information for you and baby)
- Vroom App
- Bright by Text
Developmental Screenings
- Birth To 5: Watch Me Thrive! A Compendium Of Screening Measures For Young Children
- Screening Passport
- Developmental Screening Tools
Developmental Milestones - Physical and Cognitive
- CDC - Act Early Developmental Milestones
- New Mexico Early Learning Guidelines
- Making Moments Matter Parent Guide
- Public Education Department Family Guide
- DOH First Year book and video series
- DOH Toddler Years book and video series
- Everyday Steps to Reading and Writing
- Reading Milestones, Birth to Third Grade, PBS.org
Developmental Milestones - Social Emotional
- New Mexico Early Learning Guidelines
- Social and Emotional Health
- Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning - Family Resources
Developmental Intervention and Support
- Early Intervention for Early Childhood Developmental Concerns (FIT Program)
- Child Find List by School District - Preschool Screenings
- Public Education Department Special Education
- Children’s Medical Services
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for Early Childhood
- UNM Center for Development and Disability (CDD)
- Zero to Three – Early Learning
- New Mexico School for the Deaf
- New Mexico School for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Quality Child Care for Your Child
- Child Care Search
- Choosing Quality Child Care for your Children
- The National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for Families
- Childcare.gov Resources for New Mexico
- New Mexico PreK (3 and 4 year olds)
- CYFD New Mexico PreK Program
- PED New Mexico PreK Program
- Child Care Aware of America
- A High Quality Program for Your Preschooler
Criminal Background Checks
- NM Court Case Lookup
- NM Sex Offender Registry
- US Department of Justice National Sex Offender Search
- New Mexico Department of Public Safety-Criminal History Records
- (Note: There is a fee associated with this search. The provider must agree to and sign the form for a search to be conducted. You should be concerned if the provider refuses to sign the form, or, questions the reason why.)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Identity History Summary Checks
Early Childhood Agencies
New Mexico Agencies
- NM State Government Agencies
- NM State Legislature
- New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department
- PullTogether
- New Mexico Public Education Department
- New Mexico Department of Health – Maternal and Child Health Program
- NM DOH Family Infant Toddler Program
- Early Learning New Mexico
- New Mexico Voices for Children.
- New Mexico Association for Infant Mental Health
- New Mexico Child Care and Early Education Association
- New Mexico Head Start Association
- NM County Vital Records
- Parents Reaching Out - Family Advocacy and Support
- New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children
- Center for Development and Disability
- Family Development Program
- New Mexico Immunization Coalition
- New Mexico Out of School Time Network
- Cooperative Extension Services - County Extension Map
National Agencies
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Office of Child Care
- Office of Head Start
- US Department of Education
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- ChildCare Aware of America
- Zero-to-Three
- National Association for Family Child Care
- NCCA (National Child Care Association)
- Center on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning
- The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA Center)
- Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
- Division for Early Childhood
- Harvard Center for the Developing Child
- Children’s Defense Fund
- National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health
- Office of Special Education Programs
- Mother Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting
- PromotePrevent - Safe Schools and Healthy Communities Technical Assistance
Early Care and Education Resources
Resources for Caregivers and Educators
- Am I Eligible Tool (application for Child Care Assistance)
- Child Care Search
- Public Education Department Family Guide
- Everyday Steps to Reading and Writing
- Reading Milestones, Birth to Third Grade, PBS.org
- New Mexico Early Learning Guidelines
- New Mexico Early Learning Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
- NM Early Childhood Higher Education Task Force
- Guiding Principles for the Full Participation of Young Children, Birth through Age Eight, in New Mexico’s Early Learning System
- UNM Family Development Program
- NM State Child Care Regulations
- Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)
- Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
- The National Professional Development Center on Inclusion (NPDCI)
- The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- 17a Exemption for Employees Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
- Daycare Centers and Preschools Under FLSA
Quality Child Care
- Child Care Resource Materials
- Choosing Quality Child Care
- New Mexico PreK
- NM FOCUS: Essential Elements of Quality for Center-Based Child Care Programs
- NM FOCUS: Elementos Esenciales de Calidad Para Programas de Cuidados Infantiles Familiares (BORRADOR)
- NM FOCUS: Essential Elements of Quality for Family Child Care Programs (DRAFT)
- Indicators of Quality Child Care
- Parents’ Guide to Quality Care
- Choosing Quality Child Care for your Children
