Prenatal to Three Initiative
Brokering solutions for New Mexico’s children and families
Studies show that the prenatal to age three period of development is the foundation for a child’s future health and wellbeing.
The science is clear: in order to thrive, infants and toddlers need loving, stimulating, stable, and secure environments. That’s why we work for policy solutions that foster nurturing environments for New Mexico’s youngest children.
New Mexico’s Prenatal to Three Initiative aligns early childhood systems towards improving outcomes and increasing access to services for all young children. Created in partnership with the Early Childhood Education and Care Department, and in coordination with a broad statewide coalition, the initiative is funded through a three-year Pritzker Children’s Initiative grant.
Goals of the Prenatal to Three Initiative
Overview of Pritzker Grant: New Mexico’s Universal PN3 Goals
- A Family and Community-Driven Early Childhood Ecosystem:
The state’s early childhood systems are driven by communities and families. - Access for All:
All families can receive parenting and child development supports. - Healthy Beginnings:
All pregnant families can receive perinatal care for themselves and their child, including maternal depression screenings, MOUD screening and treatment, comprehensive newborn screenings, and home visits if desired. - Early Care and Education:
All families can access high-quality early care and education.
To propel outcomes, a statewide coalition of over 200 members convenes quarterly to provide guidance, share information, and champion the importance of the earliest years.
PN3 Coalition and Steering Committee
About the Initiative
The New Mexico Prenatal to Three (PN3) Coalition unites over 200 organizations, families, and state leaders to ensure young children and their families have the support they need to thrive. This work, in partnership with the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD), is funded through a three-year grant from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative.
What does the Steering Committee do?
The Steering Committee is a small leadership team that helps guide the larger PN3 coalition. Members meet regularly to:
- Help set goals and priorities
- Plan meeting agendas
- Recommend next steps and support implementation
Steering Committee Leadership
Johnny Wilson (Co-Chair) – Fathers New Mexico
Alex Gonzalez (Co-Chair) – Success Partnership / Doña Ana Cty ECE Coalition
Adrianna Abeita, Family Leader
Barbara Tedrow, NM Early Childhood Association
Chelsea Morris, UNM
Dayana Zaragoza, Family Leader
Jackie Shipley, Central NM Community College
Jessa Cowdrey, Common Spirit St. Joseph’s Children
Laura Barriga, Family Leader
Melissa Toledo-Ontiveros, Community Action Agency of SNM
Tracy McDaniel, Southwest Women’s Law Center
Angie Mungia, Family Leader
Catron Allred, Early Childhood Center of Excellence
Dámaris Donado, UNM Center for Development & Disability
Ernestina Mendez Huerta, Family Leader
Jean Braun, NM Department of Health
Kelly Klundt, Legislative Finance Committee
Maria Saavedra, Family Leader
Rebecca de Melo, Family Leader
Victoria Roanhorse, Family Leader
Key Outcomes
Guiding Principles for Equity
The Prenatal to Three Coalition adopted the Prenatal-to-Three Guiding Principles for Equity in the Spring of 2021. Download the Guide below, along with social media materials you can share widely.
Child Care Cost Estimation Model
Child care faces a persistent challenge: families can’t afford it, and providers can’t afford to pay educators what they deserve. Burnout and staff turnover make it harder for children to get the consistent, high-quality care they need.
For years, subsidy rates were set by a “market rate study” that only measured what families could pay. In 2021, New Mexico became the first state to adopt “alternative rates” based on the real cost of quality care.
Growing Up New Mexico helped lead this shift by engaging hundreds of providers across rural, frontier, and urban communities to build a Cost Estimation Model. This model centers true costs and ensures that diverse voices, including prenatal-to-three educators, are part of transforming New Mexico’s child care system.
You can read about New Mexico’s Child Care Cost Estimation Model here.
Questions? Please contact us at rebeccabr@growingupnm.org