HM 59 — STUDY FAIR FOSTER PARENT COMPENSATION

HOUSEA MEMORIAL 59REQUESTING 57THTHE LEGISLATURE-CHILDREN, STATEYOUTH OFAND NEWMEXICOFAMILIES -DEPARTMENT SECONDTO SESSION,CONDUCT 2026A INTRODUCEDSTUDY BYTO SusanDETERMINE K.FAIR COMPENSATION FOR FOSTER PARENTS.

Herrera6 WHEREAS, hundreds of New Mexicans serve the state and Pamelyaits Herndonchildren as foster care parents and Rebeccaresource Dowfamilies for children in the custody of the children, youth and Patriciafamilies A.department;

Lundstromand WHEREAS, foster care parents and Andrearesource Romerofamilies 7provide 9children Ain MEMORIALtheir REQUESTINGcare THEwith CHILDREN,unconditional YOUTHlove ANDand FAMILIESsupport, DEPARTMENTemotional TOsafety, CONDUCTeducational Aopportunities, STUDYstability TOand, DETERMINEin FAIRmany COMPENSATIONinstances, FORthe FOSTERopportunity PARENTS.to be children without the burden of adult responsibilities;

15and WHEREAS, hundredschildren ofin Newfoster Mexicanscare serverely theon statetheir and its children as foster care parents and resource families to accept them for ewho tthey 17are childrenand inwhere thethey custodycome offrom and to provide the children,necessary youthsupport and familiesencouragement wto lset ngoals dfor 18their department;futures and to believe in the power of their dreams;

and = = 19 a l WHEREAS, foster care parents and resource families provide i a e r 20 children in their care with unconditional love and support, a t m m 21 emotional safety, educational opportunities, stability and, in d r e 22 many instances, the opportunity to be children without the c e s k 23 burden of adult responsibilities;

and e a n b 24 WHEREAS, children in foster care rely on their foster u [ parents and resource families to accept them for who they are .233590.2 and where they come from and to provide the necessary support and encouragement to set goals for their futures and to believe in the power of their dreams;

and WHEREAS, foster care parents and resource families HM 59 Page 1 selflessly bestow opportunities for educational, emotional, mental and physical growth to the children in their care so that each child is treated with dignity and respect, while preparing the children to be confident, respectful, responsible and self-sufficient adults;

and WHEREAS, despite their dedication and service to the state's most vulnerable children, foster care parents and e t 17 resource families in New Mexico can incur substantial personal w l n d 18 expenses as a result of providing care for children in the = = 19 a l custody of the children, youth and families department;

i a e r 20 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF a t m m 21 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the children, d r e 22 youth and families department be requested to conduct a study c e s k 23 into fair compensation, including a cost-of-living allowance, e a n b 24 for foster parents in New Mexico and to report its conclusions u [ and recommendations to the legislative health and human .233590.2 - 2 - services committee by November 30, 2026;

-HM 359 -Page 72 925 11 13 15 e t 17 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .233590.2