Heath Haussamen
Hanging photos of foster children who are up for adoption in the halls of the Roundhouse would be a powerful statement about the priorities of state government. I hope the legislative branch changes its mind and grants the governor’s request to do it.
At her core, I believe Gov. Susana Martinez is driven by a desire to better the lives of children.
Say what you will about the policy proposals she thinks will improve New Mexico, or the job she’s doing as the state’s chief executive (I’ve certainly criticized her), but I’ve known Martinez a long time, and there is no question in my mind about her motivation.
As a former prosecutor who has put many child killers in jail, Martinez has little patience for anyone she views as standing in the way of that goal. In her mind, children are being hurt every day, whether it’s at the hands of abusers or by policies that don’t create the conditions for them to thrive in New Mexico.
And she can’t stand to see even one child suffer.
That motivation and her experience as a prosecutor are why I wrote last year that Martinez was up to the task of fixing the state’s troubled Children, Youth and Families Department.
I share Martinez’s motivation. I believe most people do, regardless of their political or other views.
So I was heartened in December when Martinez announced that a new gallery in the lobby of her office in the Roundhouse would feature portraits of foster children who are awaiting adoption. What a spectacular way to shine light on a huge need and to set the tone – in the office of the state’s chief executive – that government in New Mexico is working to better conditions for even the most needy children.
A statement about priorities
Martinez also asked the Legislature to allow that portraits of those children be hung in the hallways, in areas of the Roundhouse not under her control. This week, the director of Legislative Council Service denied that request. He said the decision would force him to OK other requests from nonprofit groups, some of them more controversial, according to the Albuquerque Journal.
That’s crap. This isn’t a request from a nonprofit. It’s a request from the governor to promote a state government program’s non-controversial goal – the adoption of children in the foster care system.
The legislative branch can’t promote a program it funds without having to also agree to promote nonprofit programs it doesn’t fund? That argument doesn’t make sense to me. The best-case scenario is that this is red tape at its worst.
I believe most legislators, like Martinez, are motivated by a desire to create a better state for the next generation. I know they’re all aware how far short we fall in so many areas related to children, including education, protection from abuse, and poverty reduction. We’re at or near the bottom of so many positive lists. I know lawmakers aren’t OK with that.
The Roundhouse’s hallways are decorated with a diverse and impressive display of artwork from New Mexicans. Adding a gallery with photos of some of New Mexico’s most needy children to that mix – with the goal of helping them find permanent families – would be a powerful statement about the priorities of state government.
A constant and visible reminder
And at a time when government finds it difficult to focus on the ball, and instead gets caught up in partisan politics and pressured by outside money, such a gallery would serve as a constant and visible reminder to government officials about why they’re there.
It’s about bettering the lives of New Mexicans. It’s about handing a better state to the next generation.
It happens one investigation that saves a child from abuse at a time. One early intervention that helps a child catch up developmentally at a time. One adoption at a time. One teacher who refuses to give up on a child who is struggling to read at a time. One New Mexican who becomes the first in his or her family to graduate from college at a time. One who finds a better-paying job than his or her parents had at a time.
Our governor and lawmakers can – and should – debate how to accomplish these goals. But they should be able to agree that those are the goals.
I hope Legislative Council Service Director Raúl Burciaga changes his mind, or that legislative leaders change it for him.
In the meantime, you can find information about foster children who are currently up for adoption by clicking here.