About the Office of the Child Advocate
An independent, impartial voice for the safety, well-being, and rights of children in New Mexico.
Who We Are
The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an independent, impartial office dedicated to promoting the safety, well-being, and rights of children involved with New Mexico's child welfare system.
We accomplish this by listening to concerns, conducting independent reviews of complaints and critical incidents, advocating for timely and appropriate resolution of individual issues, and identifying systemic improvements that strengthen the child welfare system and improve outcomes for children and families.
As New Mexico's child welfare ombuds office, the OCA provides independent oversight of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). The Office has authority to investigate concerns involving CYFD, including foster care placements and juvenile justice facilities, evaluate whether children are receiving appropriate care and services, and make recommendations to address concerns on both an individual and systemic level.
A Neutral, Independent Resource
The OCA serves as a neutral, independent resource and does not provide legal advice or legal representation. The Office does not advocate for any single party in a dispute. Instead, it works to ensure that children are safe, their rights are protected, and public agencies fulfill their responsibilities under the law.
What We Do
The Office of the Child Advocate has three primary functions.
Individual Case Assistance
We receive inquiries and complaints about the actions or inactions of CYFD, review all available information as part of our investigation, and determine the best way to address each one. We can provide information and resources, conduct a full investigation, or advocate with CYFD and other partners to resolve or prevent an issue.
System Oversight and Monitoring
We monitor significant incidents concerning CYFD-involved children, including fatalities, near fatalities, restraints, seclusions, and harms to children in custody.
Our monitoring covers:
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Services
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Placements and facilities
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Incidents
Accountability and Recommendations
We also review systemic trends and patterns in order to make recommendations.
How the Office Was Established
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.
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2025
The New Mexico Legislature established the Office of the Child Advocate.
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January 9, 2026
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed New Mexico's first State Child Advocate.
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March 30, 2026
The Office officially began operations.
Enabling Legislation
House Bill 5 was passed and signed into law in 2025, and the Office of Child Advocate Act is codified in New Mexico Children's Code 32A-30 et seq.
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.