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 A media campaign is aimed at preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Medicaid and New MexiKids cover healthcare up to 235% of federal poverty level. Children’s Medical Services(1) serves children with special health care needs. The Healthier Kids Fund (HKF)(2) covers primary care for children with no payment source. The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition(3) program serves 64% of those in need, aiming to improve infant birth weight, breast-feeding and infant health.
Public information campaigns to ensure that child safety seats are installed and used correctly. Workplace policies that support breast-feeding mothers. Nurse home visits for pregnant women and children age 0-3 years. Increased access to quality child care for children of working parents. Culturally appropriate physical activity and nutrition programs for school age children. Promotion of the “5-a-day” nutrition program for school age children and their families through schools, public health offices, and other organizations. Increased enrollment of eligible children in Medicaid and New MexiKids.
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 Healthy development from birth to 9 years can last a lifetime. Introduction The health of infants and children says a lot about how families are doing economically. Access to healthcare is very important in these early years, and in New Mexico we have significant gaps. Both Medicaid and a program known as New MexiKids ensure this access for many New Mexico children. Many other children are covered by Children’s Medical Services and the Healthier Kids Fund. Nevertheless, there has not been enough funding to cover all children in need.  Who are they? In 1997-98 New Mexico was home to over a quarter million children of age 0-9.(4) Roughly one-third lived at or below the federal poverty level (FPL).(5) More than one out of five children were not covered by any health insurance.(6) Birth To Age 4 Years Infant mortality. Besides prematurity and birth defects (covered in the previous chapter) another leading cause of infant deaths is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Many cases of SIDS can be prevented by simple steps that people can take. Everyone who cares for a new baby, including fathers, grandparents and sitters, needs to know that an infant less than one year old should sleep on his back. Since the 1995 “Back-to-Sleep” public information campaign, New Mexico SIDS deaths decreased from 40 or more per year to 20 or fewer. These rates would be even lower if infants were never exposed to cigarette smoke.(7) Injuries. Injuries are a significant threat to infants, and they are the leading cause of death in children 1-4 years. Nearly 70% of infants who are killed in motor vehicle crashes would survive if they were in a properly installed child safety seat; similarly, 47% of toddlers (1-4 years old) who are killed in crashes would survive if they were in a child safety seat.(8) Infant nutrition. Breast milk is the perfect food for babies. Infants who are breast-fed are less likely than formula-fed infants to have respiratory, intestinal or urinary infections, dental caries, allergies or diabetes. In 1997-98 nearly 75% of new mothers in New Mexico started breast-feeding; the percentage who continued was 69% by one week; 58% at one month; and 48% at two months.(9)
Early infant screening and well-baby care. The state screens over 94% of infants for serious metabolic problems, sickle cell disease and hearing problems. These screening services include follow-up to ensure that those who need care get it promptly.(10) In 1998, New Mexico ranked 50th in the nation in children immunized, with 73% of toddlers immunized on schedule; in 1999 this had improved slightly, to nearly 76% (still well under the national rate)(11) (Figure 1). Nutrition and success in school. Learning to read has been shown to make a critical difference in life, but hunger makes it hard to learn. Between 1996-98, 15% of New Mexico households had difficulty meeting basic food needs.(14) Although nearly 30% of New Mexico children live at or below the poverty level, only 14% got and used food stamps in 1997. Home visiting services. Home visiting by health workers during pregnancy, and from birth to age 3, prevents some serious health problems. Such services can decrease New Mexico’s high rates of child abuse and neglect, injuries and poisonings. They also can improve our immunization rates.(12) In 1997-1998, an estimated 8% of new mothers received home visiting before delivery, and 12% after delivery.(12) Children Age 5-9 Years Injuries. Falls, pedestrian-vehicle injuries, car crashes and bicycle injuries are the most common non-fatal injuries in this age group. Nearly 4% lead to long-term disability.(13) Safety needs to be ensured in the home, in the streets and in recreation.    
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