For the first time, a federal report breaks down New Mexico’s child poverty rate after anti-poverty measures like tax credits and food assistance are taken into account.
Advocates said it’s a number the state can be proud of.
Before those anti-poverty measures are accounted for, the Land of Enchantment comes in dead last in the nation for child poverty with a rate of more than 27%, far outpacing the national average of about 17%.
But the new report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the rate after accounting for those state interventions — known as the “supplemental poverty measure” — drops to just under 9%.
That’s actually below the national average, and brings New Mexico from last, to 17 in the country.
Emily Wildau, senior research and policy analyst at New Mexico Voices for Children, said that’s in part thanks to government programs.
“So, you look at a child tax credit or the earned income tax credit, you look at non-cash benefits like SNAP, those things are having a significant impact on lifting people above the poverty line,” she said.”
She said the stat is also unique because most states' supplemental poverty rates rise, as it also takes into account standard family expenses.
“Absolutely, we should feel proud about it,” Wildau said,
The rate is based on a three-year average, she said. However, that includes when pandemic era federal money was still propping up some social services like Medicaid. As those programs have expired, more kids lack health insurance.
“Poverty is a policy choice. When we let those programs expire, we saw all of the rates rise again,” Wildau said.
But she has faith that New Mexico’s supplemental childhood poverty rate will remain low even without a boost from pandemic aid, because of state efforts to bridge gaps. Wildau pointed to New Mexico extending Medicaid coverage this year until a child is 6-years-old, for example.
Wildau said the supplemental childhood poverty rate can also help legislators by showing them which programs work best, and identifying areas where real progress is still needed.
Support for this coverage comes from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
