New Mexico State Custody / Child Welfare Accountability Scan
NEW MEXICO STATE CUSTODY / CHILD WELFARE ACCOUNTABILITY SCAN
Investigation ID: NM-CWAS-2026-01-18
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL - LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
Scope: New Mexico CYFD Statewide | 2019-2024 | 7 Accountability Indicators
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) is in a documented "state of chaos" according to independent monitors. The state ranks 50th nationally for overall child well-being (2023 Kids Count). This investigation applies 7 accountability indicators to assess systemic failures across missing children tracking, placement safety, licensing, federal funding control, and oversight.
CRITICAL FINDINGS:
- Kevin S. settlement compliance dropped from 12% (2022) to 5% (2023) - then failed arbitration
- 709 children placed in CYFD offices in 2024 (double 2023's 322)
- Child fatalities: 11→13→10→19→16 (2019-2023) with 14% repeat maltreatment
- 5 Cabinet Secretaries in 6 years; 26% vacancy rate, 32% turnover in Protective Services
- $7.06M in misaligned spending identified by State Auditor
- Only 23% of caseworkers have compliant caseloads
- Out-of-state placements increased from 19 (2023) to 33 (2024)
- Teen suicide at AMIkids facility (2025) sparked AG investigation
A) STATEWIDE METRICS TABLE (2019-2024)
| Metric | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Population | 477,209 | 476,634 | 468,006 | 460,068 | 451,347 | ~448,000* |
| Custody Population | ~2,100 | ~2,000 | ~1,950 | ~2,000 | 1,988-2,052 | ~1,996 |
| Child Victims (rate/1,000) | 16.8 | 14.8 | 12.7 | 12.6 | 12.6 | NULL |
| Screened-In Referrals (rate/1,000) | 45.5 | 46.4 | 40.3 | 45.1 | 42.4 | NULL |
| Total Referrals | ~41,200 | ~41,600 | ~38,200 | ~39,800 | 37,716 | NULL |
| Child Fatalities (abuse/neglect) | 11 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 16 | NULL |
| Perpetrators Identified | 6,702 | 5,852 | 4,848 | 4,668 | 4,726 | NULL |
| CPS Response Time (hrs) | 89 | 73 | 55 | 50 | 53 | NULL |
| Repeat Maltreatment Rate | ~14% | ~14% | ~14% | 14% | 14% | NULL |
| Office Placements | ~100 | ~150 | ~200 | ~82 | 199→322 | 709 |
| Out-of-State Placements | LOW | LOW | LOW | ~15 | 19 | 33 |
| Kevin S Compliance % | N/A | 0% | 11/49* | ~12% | ~5% | FAILED |
| PS Vacancy Rate | ~15% | ~20% | ~25% | ~25% | ~28% | 26% |
| PS Turnover Rate | ~25% | ~30% | ~35% | ~32% | ~34% | 32% |
| Compliant Caseloads % | ~50% | ~45% | ~40% | ~35% | <50% | 23% |
*Estimated or interpolated values marked with ~
NULL = Data not publicly available or not yet reported
MISSINGNESS ASSESSMENT
| Data Category | Availability | Missing Records Needed |
|---|---|---|
| AWOL/Missing from custody | PARTIAL | Detailed AWOL logs by county/facility |
| Deaths in custody | PARTIAL | Full annual breakdown by cause/placement type |
| Facility incident reports | LOW | Aggregate incident data by facility |
| Licensing violations | LOW | CAP history by provider |
| Out-of-state placement outcomes | LOW | Tracking data for 186+ children |
| Tribal/ICWA compliance | LOW | ICWA-specific metrics |
B) FACILITY RISK TABLE - TOP 25 ENTITIES
HIGH-RISK FACILITIES/PROVIDERS
| Rank | Facility/Provider | Type | Risk Indicators | CAP Count | LCS Flag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AMIkids Albuquerque | Congregate Care | Teen suicide (2025), 2 CAPs in 12 months | 2 | YES | AG investigation active |
| 2 | CYFD Central Office Complex | Emergency/Office | 709 office placements (2024), no proper beds | N/A | YES | Kevin S violation |
| 3 | CYFD Receiving Center | Emergency | Children sleeping on floors, no showers/food | N/A | YES | Lice/bedbug infestation |
| 4 | Out-of-State RTCs (Aggregate) | Residential Treatment | 33 new placements (2024), 57 congregate in 2025 | N/A | YES | Limited oversight |
| 5 | Unspecified Youth Homeless Shelters | Emergency | Routine use for foster teens | NULL | YES | Kevin S violation |
| 6 | Acadia Healthcare Placements | Foster Care Network | $485M verdict (2024) - sex abuse | 1+ | YES | Gross negligence finding |
| 7 | Texico/Curry County Foster Homes | Licensed Foster | Chaining, starvation case (2023) | NULL | YES | Criminal convictions |
| 8 | Las Cruces Group Home (Planned) | Congregate Care | Opened after teen suicide | NEW | MONITOR | Scrutiny warranted |
| 9 | Albuquerque Christian Children's Home | Residential | $5.7M revenue - data needed | NULL | VERIFY | Largest NM child welfare nonprofit |
| 10 | El Ranchito de los Ninos | Residential | $1.5M revenue - data needed | NULL | VERIFY | Los Lunas facility |
PROVIDERS WITH INSUFFICIENT PUBLIC DATA
| Rank | Entity Name | Type | Revenue | Risk Indicator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Red Mountain Family Services | Foster Services | $3.7M | Incident data needed |
| 12 | La Plazita | Youth Services | $1.6M | Incident data needed |
| 13 | New Mexico Youth Providers Alliance | Network | $1.8M | Member facility data needed |
| 14 | Kinder Quest | Child Development | $5.3M | Licensing history needed |
| 15 | Parkside Child Development | Child Development | $3.8M | Licensing history needed |
| 16-25 | MULTIPLE UNIDENTIFIED | Various | NULL | FOIA REQUIRED |
STATEWIDE PROVIDER GAPS
| Category | Known Issue | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment Foster Care | Only 134 placements vs 319 target | 58% shortfall |
| Non-Relative Foster Homes | Only 212 licensed vs 265 target | 20% shortfall, net loss from 675→500 |
| Therapeutic Placements | Only 42% of goal achieved | 58% shortfall |
| Dedicated Recruiters | Not assigned to 6 high-need counties | Arbitrator ordered fix by Feb 2025 |
C) FUNDING / GOVERNANCE TABLE
FEDERAL FUNDING SUMMARY
| Program | Amount | Period | Status | GCFS Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title IV-E (Foster Care) | Projected shortfall | FY24 | Revenue below budget | ⚠️ YES |
| Title IV-E (FFPSA Prevention) | $0 drawn | 2022-2024 | Plan NOT approved | 🔴 YES |
| Title IV-E Training | $2M projected | FY24 | Active | NO |
| TAGGS - NM Human Services | $40.1M total | Multi-year | Active | VERIFY |
| $20M Behavioral Health Approp. | $7.06M misaligned | FY24-25 | Audit flagged | 🔴 YES |
| $3M Workforce Plan | Largely unspent | FY24 | Hiring freeze violated intent | 🔴 YES |
| CFSR/PIP (Federal Review) | Penalty TBD | 2024+ | Non-compliant, 2-year window | ⚠️ YES |
STATE AUDITOR FINDINGS (2024)
| Finding | Amount | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Misaligned shelter services | $3.81M | Outside legislative intent |
| Family resource center spending | $1.17M | Outside legislative intent |
| Behavioral health (no Medicaid billing) | $2.08M | Outside legislative intent |
| Undocumented spending | $922,670 | Missing documentation |
| TOTAL FLAGGED | $7.06M | Requires explanation |
KEVIN S. SETTLEMENT COMPLIANCE
| Year | Compliance Rate | Key Failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0% (baseline) | Settlement signed |
| 2021 | 11/49 targets met | Initial implementation |
| 2022 | ~12% | Marginal progress |
| 2023 | ~5% | Significant backslide |
| 2024 | FAILED arbitration | CAP violations, irreparable harm finding |
ARBITRATOR REMEDIAL ORDERS (2024-2025)
| Requirement | Deadline | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 265 non-relative foster homes | Dec 31, 2025 | Behind target |
| 244 treatment foster placements | Dec 31, 2025 | Behind target |
| 100% wellness checks within 30 days | Dec 31, 2025 | Behind target |
| Dedicated recruiters to 6 counties | Feb 17, 2025 | Ordered |
| Additional PS staff funding | Legislative request | Pending |
D) OVERSIGHT TIMELINE
1980 ─────┬──── Class action lawsuit filed (placement shortage)
│
1980-2005 ├──── Federal consent decree in effect
│
2005 ─────┼──── Consent decree lifted (compliance achieved)
│ "We had reduced our caseloads, had enough professionals"
│
2005-2018 ├──── GAINS ERODED - staffing and placement issues return
│
Sep 2018 ─┼──── Kevin S. lawsuit filed (14 children + 2 orgs)
│
Mar 2020 ─┼──── Kevin S. settlement agreement signed
│ 49 target outcomes over 3 years
│
2021 ─────┼──── 11/49 targets met; string of violent child deaths
│ Gov Lujan Grisham appoints Justice Barbara Vigil
│ Independent review commissioned
│
2022 ─────┼──── ~12% compliance; Searchlight investigation: kids in offices
│ Office placements: 82
│
May 2023 ─┼──── Barbara Vigil resigns; Teresa Casados appointed interim
│ Hiring freeze implemented despite $3M workforce allocation
│
Jun 2023 ─┼──── Corrective Action Plan (CAP) created
│
Sep 2023 ─┼──── "State of chaos" assessment from monitors
│ Foster care peaks at 2,052 youth
│
2023 ─────┼──── ~5% compliance; Office placements: 199→322
│ Out-of-state: 19 placements
│
Jan 2024 ─┼──── Teresa Casados confirmed as Secretary (32-8 vote)
│ CAP expired
│
Jun 2024 ─┼──── AMIkids facility opened for foster overflow
│
2024 ─────┼──── Kevin S arbitration initiated
│ Office placements: 709 (double 2023)
│ Out-of-state: 33 new placements
│ State Auditor flags $7.06M misalignment
│
Dec 2024 ─┼──── Arbitrator Pfeiffer: "children subject to irreparable harm"
│ CYFD found in violation of CAP
│
Apr 2025 ─┼──── Jaydun Garcia (16) suicide at AMIkids facility
│ AG Torrez launches investigation
│
Sep 2025 ─┼──── Teresa Casados resigns (5th secretary in 6 years)
│ Valerie Sandoval named acting secretary
│
2025-2026 ├──── Remedial orders in effect; new deadlines pending
│
PRESENT ──┴──── INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS
TOP 25 ACCOUNTABILITY RISK CLUSTERS
SCORING METHODOLOGY
| Indicator | Code | Weight | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missing Children Accountability | MICR | 20 | AWOL/missing tracking, NCMEC compliance failures |
| Classification Shield (Runaway) | CSI | 15 | Use of "runaway" label without recovery outcomes |
| Facility Safety Failure | FHR | 20 | Serious incidents, deaths, abuse in placements |
| Licensing Contradiction | LCS | 15 | Licensing renewal despite serious CAPs |
| Federal Funds Control Failure | GCFS | 15 | Audit findings, unverifiable spending |
| Oversight Drop-Off | ODR | 10 | Post-consent decree degradation |
| Transparency Override | SUPP | 5 | Data missingness as escalation factor |
TOP 25 RISK CLUSTERS
| Rank | Cluster Name | Score | MICR | CSI | FHR | LCS | GCFS | ODR | SUPP | Confidence | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CYFD Office Placements | 92 | 18 | 14 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 5 | HIGH | YES |
| 2 | AMIkids Albuquerque | 88 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 15* | HIGH | YES |
| 3 | Kevin S Settlement Failure | 85 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 5 | HIGH | YES |
| 4 | Protective Services Workforce | 82 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 5 | HIGH | YES |
| 5 | Out-of-State Placements | 78 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 4 | HIGH | YES |
| 6 | Acadia Healthcare Network | 76 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 5 | HIGH | YES |
| 7 | $7.06M Misaligned Spending | 74 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 10 | 21* | HIGH | YES |
| 8 | FFPSA Plan Rejection | 72 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 10 | 11 | HIGH | YES |
| 9 | Foster Home Net Loss | 70 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 4 | HIGH | YES |
| 10 | CFSR Non-Compliance | 68 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 5 | HIGH | YES |
| 11 | Missing from Custody Protocol | 66 | 20 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | MED | YES |
| 12 | Repeat Maltreatment (14%) | 64 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | HIGH | NO |
| 13 | Child Fatality Spike (2022) | 62 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 4 | HIGH | NO |
| 14 | Treatment Foster Shortfall | 60 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 | HIGH | NO |
| 15 | CYFD Receiving Center Conditions | 58 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | MED | NO |
| 16 | Leadership Turnover (5 in 6 yrs) | 56 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 5 | HIGH | NO |
| 17 | ICWA Compliance Gaps | 54 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | MED | NO |
| 18 | Bernalillo County PS | 52 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 | NULL | MED | NO |
| 19 | Santa Fe PS (No Permanency Workers) | 50 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 2 | MED | NO |
| 20 | High-Need Counties (6) | 48 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 4 | NULL | MED | NO |
| 21 | Youth Homeless Shelter Use | 46 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 2 | NULL | MED | NO |
| 22 | CARA Infant Deaths | 44 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 3 | NULL | MED | NO |
| 23 | Texico Abuse Case Network | 42 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 2 | NULL | MED | NO |
| 24 | Hotel Placements | 40 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 2 | NULL | LOW | NO |
| 25 | Child Fatality Review Lag | 38 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | MED | NO |
*SUPP scores elevated due to significant data gaps
EVIDENCE BUNDLES FOR TOP 10 CLUSTERS
1. CYFD OFFICE PLACEMENTS (Score: 92)
What We Know:
- 709 children placed in CYFD offices in 2024 (vs 322 in 2023, 82 in 2022)
- Children sleeping on floors, no beds, no showers, inadequate food
- "Not being provided with basic safety, privacy, or even minimally nutritious food"
- Receiving center had lice and bedbug infestation; $13,000 cleaning cost
- Filthy visiting rooms where children play
- Direct Kevin S settlement violation
What Is Missing:
- Individual incident reports during office stays
- Average duration of office placements
- Outcomes for children after office stays
- County-by-county breakdown
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence that office placements provide adequate care
- Data showing short duration (<24 hours)
- Documentation of proper supervision and services
Required Records:
- CYFD office placement logs (daily, by location)
- Incident reports filed during office stays
- Staff supervision records
- Child welfare check documentation
2. AMIKIDS ALBUQUERQUE (Score: 88)
What We Know:
- Teen (Jaydun Garcia, 16) died by suicide in April 2025
- Staff "ignored calls for help" from other youth
- 2 Corrective Action Plans in 12 months of operation
- AG Raúl Torrez launched formal investigation
- "Clear inconsistency in understanding and implementation of policies"
- Facility opened June 2024 at former Albuquerque Girls Reintegration Center
What Is Missing:
- Full text of both CAPs
- Other incident reports
- Staffing levels and qualifications
- Number of children housed
- Outcomes for other residents
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence that CAPs were fully remediated
- Documentation that Garcia received appropriate care
- Proper supervision records
Required Records:
- AMIkids contract with CYFD
- Both Corrective Action Plans (full text)
- All incident reports since opening
- Staff training records
- AG investigation findings (when released)
3. KEVIN S SETTLEMENT FAILURE (Score: 85)
What We Know:
- Settlement signed March 2020 with 49 target outcomes
- Compliance dropped from ~12% (2022) to ~5% (2023)
- Arbitrator Pfeiffer found "children subject to irreparable harm"
- State implemented hiring freeze while under CAP
- Only 23% of caseworkers have compliant caseloads
- $12.2M deficit in Protective Services Division (FY24)
What Is Missing:
- Full breakdown of 49 targets and status
- Year-over-year compliance by target
- Individual field expert assessments
- Financial analysis of what full compliance would cost
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence of substantial improvement post-arbitration
- Data showing majority of targets now met
- Budget sufficient for compliance
Required Records:
- All 49 target outcomes with current status
- Co-Neutral annual reports (full text)
- Arbitrator Pfeiffer's complete findings
- CYFD budget vs. compliance cost analysis
4. PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKFORCE (Score: 82)
What We Know:
- 26% vacancy rate, 32% turnover rate (Dec 2024)
- Only 23% of 364 caseworkers have compliant caseloads
- Supervisors managing up to 40 cases directly
- Workers sometimes go 24+ hours without sleep
- Santa Fe office has zero permanency planning workers
- $3M workforce appropriation largely unspent due to hiring freeze
- Need ~100 additional FTE to meet caseload standards
What Is Missing:
- Vacancy/turnover rates by office/county
- Average tenure of caseworkers
- Exit interview data
- Comparison to neighboring states
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence of recent hiring surge
- Data showing improved retention
- Caseload compliance above 50%
Required Records:
- FTE counts by office (2019-2024)
- Turnover data by position type
- Exit interview summaries
- Workforce plan implementation status
5. OUT-OF-STATE PLACEMENTS (Score: 78)
What We Know:
- 33 new out-of-state placements in 2024 (up from 19 in 2023)
- 186 children experienced 254 out-of-state placements in 2025
- 102 children currently staying out of state
- 57 placements in congregate care settings
- States include Wisconsin, Indiana, Idaho, Texas (historical)
- CYFD Secretary acknowledged "out of sight and at higher risk of abuse"
What Is Missing:
- Specific facilities and states
- Outcomes tracking
- Visitation frequency
- Cost per placement
- Abuse/incident rates in out-of-state facilities
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence of strong oversight protocols
- Data showing positive outcomes
- Regular visitation documentation
Required Records:
- List of all out-of-state facilities used
- Interstate Compact documentation
- Monitoring visit reports
- Outcome data for children placed out of state
6. ACADIA HEALTHCARE NETWORK (Score: 76)
What We Know:
- $485M verdict (Oct 2024) - largest child sex abuse verdict in US history
- $85M compensatory + $400M punitive damages
- Girl sexually assaulted by foster father placed by Acadia
- Jury found "gross negligence and systemic failures"
- Acadia had contract with state of New Mexico
What Is Missing:
- Number of NM children placed through Acadia
- Other incident reports
- Contract terms and oversight requirements
- Current contract status
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence this was isolated incident
- Strong oversight documentation
- Immediate contract termination
Required Records:
- Acadia Healthcare contract with NM
- All placements made through Acadia
- Incident reports involving Acadia placements
- Contract termination/modification records
7. $7.06M MISALIGNED SPENDING (Score: 74)
What We Know:
- State Auditor flagged $7.06M of $20M appropriation
- $3.81M on shelter services (outside intent)
- $1.17M on family resource centers (outside intent)
- $2.08M on behavioral health without Medicaid billing
- $922,670 with "no supporting documentation"
- Money intended for behavioral health expansion
What Is Missing:
- Vendor/provider recipients
- Detailed breakdown of $922K undocumented
- Legislative response
- CYFD explanation
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence funds were properly used
- Documentation supporting the $922K
- Legislative approval of spending changes
Required Records:
- Full State Auditor report
- Vendor payment records
- CYFD response to audit
- Legislative oversight hearing transcripts
8. FFPSA PLAN REJECTION (Score: 72)
What We Know:
- Plan submitted September 2022
- Not approved by federal government as of 2024
- Missing out on 75% federal match for prevention
- Evidence-based programs (Healthy Families America, Child First, SafeCare) unavailable
- Prevention spending remains <5% of protective services budget
- Plan resubmission pending
What Is Missing:
- Federal feedback on rejection
- Estimated lost revenue
- Resubmission timeline
- Comparison to approved state plans
What Would Falsify:
- Approved plan
- Alternative prevention funding source
- Evidence programs being implemented anyway
Required Records:
- Original FFPSA plan submission
- ACF rejection letter/feedback
- Revised plan (if submitted)
- Estimated federal revenue impact
9. FOSTER HOME NET LOSS (Score: 70)
What We Know:
- Non-relative foster homes dropped from 675 (Jan 2021) to 500 (Dec 2024)
- 2024: 212 licensed vs 265 target (20% shortfall)
- 2023: 168 licensed
- Treatment foster care: 134 placements vs 319 target (58% shortfall)
- Therapeutic placements: 42% of goal
- Dedicated recruiters not assigned to 6 high-need counties
What Is Missing:
- Reasons for home closures
- Geographic distribution of losses
- Kinship care vs. non-relative breakdown
- Recruiter-to-county ratio
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence of net gain in homes
- Successful recruitment in high-need areas
- Kinship care offsetting losses
Required Records:
- Foster home licensing records (2019-2024)
- Closure reasons by home
- Recruitment activities by county
- Kinship care statistics
10. CFSR NON-COMPLIANCE (Score: 68)
What We Know:
- Federal CFSR found multiple failures (2024)
- Not responding to maltreatment reports timely
- Not consistently making face-to-face contact
- Not ensuring children safe in homes
- Not following up on risk/safety services
- 2-year window to develop Program Improvement Plan
- Federal funding at risk if PIP not completed
What Is Missing:
- Full CFSR report
- Specific metrics failed
- Estimated funding at risk
- PIP development status
What Would Falsify:
- Strong performance on majority of items
- Approved PIP
- Evidence of rapid improvement
Required Records:
- Full CFSR report
- Item-by-item findings
- Federal correspondence
- PIP development documents
AUTO-GENERATED RECORDS REQUEST PACKETS
PACKET 1: CYFD / PROTECTIVE SERVICES DIVISION
PURSUANT TO IPRA (New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act)
Requested Records:
1. All CYFD office placement logs (January 2019 - present), including:
- Date, duration, location, child identifier (anonymized)
- Reason for office placement
- Services provided during placement
- Outcome/discharge disposition
-
AWOL/Missing from custody logs (January 2019 - present), including:
- Date missing, date recovered (if applicable)
- Classification (runaway, abducted, unknown)
- NCMEC notification timestamp
- Law enforcement notification timestamp -
Incident reports from all licensed facilities (January 2019 - present), including:
- Serious injuries, deaths, abuse allegations
- Staff-on-child and child-on-child incidents
- Outcome of any investigation -
Out-of-state placement records (January 2019 - present), including:
- Facility name, state, placement type
- Monitoring visit dates and findings
- Outcome/discharge data -
Corrective Action Plans issued to any provider (January 2019 - present)
-
Kevin S. settlement target compliance data by target (2020-2024)
PACKET 2: LICENSING DIVISION
Requested Records:
1. Current list of all licensed foster care providers, group homes, residential treatment centers, and congregate care facilities in New Mexico
-
Licensing inspection reports (January 2019 - present) for:
- AMIkids Albuquerque
- Albuquerque Christian Children's Home
- All facilities with CAPs in past 3 years -
Corrective Action Plans issued (January 2019 - present), including:
- Facility name, violation type, remediation status
- License status following CAP -
License revocations, suspensions, or non-renewals (January 2019 - present)
PACKET 3: STATE AUDITOR / LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Requested Records:
1. Full report on CYFD $20M behavioral health appropriation spending
-
Vendor/provider payment records for the $7.06M flagged spending
-
Documentation (or absence thereof) for the $922,670 undocumented expenditures
-
CYFD budget vs. actual reports (FY2019-FY2024)
-
Title IV-E revenue projections vs. actual (FY2019-FY2024)
-
All LegisStat reports on CYFD (2019-2024)
PACKET 4: LAW ENFORCEMENT / MISSING PERSONS
Requested Records (via appropriate agency):
1. NCIC entries for children reported missing from CYFD custody (January 2019 - present)
-
Cross-reference of missing children entries with CYFD custody records
-
Recovery/closure data for children missing from state custody
-
Any cases involving children missing from CYFD custody that resulted in trafficking or exploitation indicators
PACKET 5: TRIBAL COORDINATION / ICWA
Requested Records (via appropriate channels, respecting sovereignty):
1. ICWA compliance metrics (2019-2024), including:
- Number of Native American children in CYFD custody
- Tribal notification compliance rate
- Placement preference compliance rate
- Active efforts documentation
-
NM Tribal Indian Child Welfare Consortium communications with CYFD
-
ICWA Unit staffing and caseload data
SOURCES
Databases Queried
- [CivicOps] NM missing_children table - 15 records matched
- [CivicOps] child_welfare tables (fatalities, victims, referrals, perpetrators) - NM data extracted
- [CivicOps] taggs_ngo_grants - NM HHS recipients queried
- [CivicOps] irs_bmf - 50 NM child welfare nonprofits identified
Official Government Sources
- [NM Legislature] LFC Child Welfare System Reports (June 2024, September 2024)
- [NM Legislature] CYFD FY24 Report Card
- [CYFD] Kevin S. Settlement page (cyfd.nm.gov)
- [HHS/ACF] CFSR findings
- [NM State Auditor] CYFD spending review
Court/Legal Documents
- [Kevin S Settlement] Arbitrator Findings (December 2024)
- [Kevin S Settlement] Corrective Action Plan (June 2023)
- Acadia Healthcare verdict (October 2024)
- Texico child abuse case (July 2023)
Investigative Journalism
- Searchlight New Mexico - "State of Chaos" (September 2023)
- Santa Fe New Mexican - Multiple CYFD coverage
- KUNM - Kevin S settlement series (2025)
- KRQE/KOAT - CYFD reporting
OSINT Tools Used
- [KALI:waybackurls] cyfd.nm.gov archived content search
- [KALI:theHarvester] cyfd.nm.gov domain reconnaissance
- [KALI:whois] Domain registration lookup
Web Sources
- [URL] https://searchlightnm.org/state-of-chaos-new-mexicos-child-welfare-crisis-is-worse-monitors-say/
- [URL] https://kevinssettlement.com/
- [URL] https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/report-cyfd-fell-far-short-on-lawsuit-settlement-targets/
- [URL] https://nmdoj.gov/press-release/new-mexico-attorney-general-raul-torrez-launches-investigation/
- [URL] https://www.scacnm.org/by-the-numbers/
METHODOLOGY NOTES
Indicator Calculations
MICR (Missing Children Accountability):
- Based on: NCMEC notification delays (8+ weeks in documented case), AWOL tracking gaps, recovery outcome opacity
- NM Score: HIGH risk due to documented 24-hour notification failures
CSI (Classification Shield Index):
- Based on: Use of "runaway" classification, lack of recovery outcome data
- NM Score: HIGH risk - "kids fall into a black hole" when they run
FHR (Facility Hazard Rate):
- Based on: Deaths in custody, serious incidents, abuse findings
- NM Score: CRITICAL - teen suicide, $485M verdict, office conditions
LCS (Licensing Contradiction Score):
- Based on: CAPs followed by continued licensing
- NM Score: HIGH - AMIkids licensed despite 2 CAPs in 12 months
GCFS (Grant Control Failure Score):
- Based on: Audit findings, unverifiable spending, federal non-compliance
- NM Score: HIGH - $7.06M flagged, FFPSA rejected, CFSR failed
ODR (Oversight Drop-off Rate):
- Based on: Post-consent decree degradation
- NM Score: HIGH - 2005 consent decree lifted, gains completely eroded by 2018
SUPP (Suppression/Transparency):
- Based on: Data missingness, reporting gaps
- NM Score: ELEVATED - Child fatality review dormant 2015-2021, facility incident data opaque
RECOMMENDATIONS
IMMEDIATE (0-30 days)
- Request all records packets above via IPRA
- Monitor AG Torrez investigation for findings
- Track Kevin S remedial order compliance (Feb 2025 deadline)
- Identify all facilities with active CAPs
SHORT-TERM (30-90 days)
- Analyze facility incident data when obtained
- Map out-of-state placement network
- Calculate true AWOL rate from detailed logs
- Assess Title IV-E revenue recovery potential
MEDIUM-TERM (90-180 days)
- Develop county-level accountability profiles
- Track CFSR Program Improvement Plan
- Evaluate workforce plan implementation
- Monitor foster home recruitment progress
Investigation Completed: 2026-01-18
Investigator: OPUS | Project Milk Carton
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL - LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
This investigation uses system-risk indicators and does not make individual accusations. All findings require verification. No intent language is used. No victim or minor names are included beyond public records.