Report: New Mexico 49th in Child Well-Being for Third Year

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A report examining child well-being among states shows New Mexico stuck near the bottom of the list for a third year in a row. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count assessment released Tuesday says New Mexico ranks 49th. The state has held the spot since 2014, with only Mississippi ranking lower overall. The report measures child well-being on a variety of indicators, including health, education, and the economy. Veronica Garcia, executive director for the non-profit Voices for Children, says New Mexico's standing in the health category improved slightly this year. But the state fell to last place in the poverty and education categories. She says even as the state made strides in early childhood education, other states also gained ground, making it difficult for New Mexico to pull ahead.