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New Mexico
Office of the
Child Advocate

An independent voice
for better child welfare.

Girl blowing a dandelion in a sunlit field

Fair.
Independent.
Focused on children.

Young girl looking up hopefully in autumn light

Action.
Answers.
Accountability.

Mother giving her daughter a piggyback ride

Action.
Answers.
Accountability.

Portrait of a smiling young boy

How We Work

Listen

Every inquiry we receive begins with listening. We receive questions, inquiries, and complaints from children, families, professionals, and community members and work to understand their concerns and determine how we can help.

Investigate

We independently review records, including CYFD and court documents, gather information from relevant parties, and assess whether children are receiving appropriate services, whether laws and policies are being followed, and whether concerns warrant further action.

Advocate

When concerns are identified, we work with CYFD and other stakeholders to address or prevent issues affecting individual children and families, solve problems, and implement timely, practical solutions whenever possible.

Resolve

Each case is unique. When necessary, we issue formal findings and recommendations, identify systemic concerns, and recommend changes to laws, policies, procedures, and practices that strengthen New Mexico's child welfare system.

Educate

We provide resources and information about the child welfare system. We also report to lawmakers, the governor, Tribal partners, and other stakeholders on the state of child welfare in New Mexico, systemic issues, and opportunities to improve outcomes for children.
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Request the help of the Office of the Child Advocate

The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an independent office that reviews complaints and concerns about New Mexico’s child welfare system. If you believe there is a problem with how the system is working, you can contact the OCA to share your concerns.

The OCA can review individual cases, request records, investigate concerns, identify systemic issues, and recommend changes to improve the child welfare system. However, the OCA does not have the authority to enforce laws, overturn court decisions, or discipline agencies or individuals.

Click the link below to submit a complaint to the Office of the Child Advocate.

File a Complaint

Mission Statement

The Office of the Child Advocate is an independent, impartial office that promotes the safety, well-being, and rights of children involved with New Mexico's child welfare system. We do this by listening to concerns, conducting reviews, resolving individual issues when possible, and identifying systemic improvements that help all children and families.

Resources
150+
Inquiries and complaints received in our first quarter

Our Impact

The New Mexico Legislature established the Office of the Child Advocate in 2025 to strengthen accountability within the child welfare system and improve outcomes for children and families involved with CYFD. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed New Mexico's first State Child Advocate on January 9, 2026, and the Office officially began operations on March 30, 2026. In our first quarter alone, we received more than 150 inquiries and complaints from across New Mexico.

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FAQs

Answers to common questions about the Office of the Child Advocate and how we can help.

The Office of the Child Advocate is an independent, impartial entity that serves in an ombudsperson capacity to receive and investigate complaints about CYFD, monitor systemic issues and critical incidents, advocate to resolve issues, and make recommendations to improve safety and outcomes for children.

The OCA does not provide legal advice or representation or advocate on behalf of any one party involved in a case or conflict. Instead, the OCA advocates for the well-being of children and the integrity of the child welfare system.

The OCA is not an emergency first responder and its communications are not monitored 24/7. If you have concerns for abuse, neglect, or the safety of a child, please call CYFD's Statewide Central Intake (SCI) child abuse reporting line at 1-855-333-SAFE (7233) or dial #SAFE from a cell phone.

If a child is in immediate danger, please first call 911 or local law enforcement, then contact CYFD.

Anyone can contact the OCA to report concerns, file a complaint, or request advocacy. Please note that the OCA does not investigate cases where CYFD is not already involved or that do not involve CYFD action or inaction.

No matter your role or relationship to a child, the OCA is here to listen, respond, and advocate. We believe every voice matters, and every concern deserves to be heard.

No. The Office of the Child Advocate is an independent, impartial state agency with legal authority to review CYFD's services, policies, procedures, and placements, investigate CYFD-involved cases, and make recommendations to improve CYFD and the child welfare system.

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