LFC report cards show mixed agency performance; CYFD repeat maltreatment and staff turnover flagged

Helen Goswah, communications analyst, guided the committee through LFC's report cards, which compare program performance across quarters and agencies. She said most program measures were "yellow" (near target) in the second quarter and pointed to notable items:

- Public education: Graduation rates improved and met an 80% target for the first time, though New Mexico remains below the national average.

- Early childhood: Medicaid home‑visiting enrollment increased and hit target metrics.

- Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD): Multiple red ratings persisted, including percent of children experiencing repeat maltreatment and lagging program expansion for evidence‑based approaches; LFC noted high turnover among protective‑services workers.

- Unemployment insurance operations and the film tax program were also flagged for performance issues.

Committee members asked for follow‑up materials: a trust‑fund balance chart for unemployment insurance (staff cited a roughly $450 million balance from session materials), a study of foster parent payment rates (expected in October), and additional oversight of program implementation through the child‑welfare subcommittee.

Staff said they will publish more report cards online, work on additional dashboards and bring requested data back to the committee for deeper review.