Sara Mauskopf
Sara Mauskopf is the co-founder and CEO of Winnie. She’s also the mom of three young children and vocal advocate for high quality child care and early education for all.
In a historic turn of events, New Mexico has become the first U.S. state to guarantee free universal childcare for all residents, regardless of income, effective November 1, 2025. This is absolutely game-changing and the whole country should be paying attention.
Quick Facts About New Mexico’s Universal Childcare
- Every family in New Mexico now qualifies regardless of how much money you make.
- The program covers infants and children from 6 weeks old up to age 13, or up to age 19 for children with documented special needs.
- You choose the child care program that is best for you and your child such as: a licensed home daycare, a licensed center, or before-and-after school programs.
- The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) pays providers directly each month. Families will not have to pay out-of-pocket for standard childcare services.
- The average annual savings per child is approximately $12,000, a significant relief for families across the income spectrum
How to Get Started
You can search on Winnie to find licensed childcare providers in your zip code. On Winnie, you can search by city or zip code, age, program type, and availability to find the right fit for your family.
Quick links to childcare in popular cities in New Mexico:
With universal access, a lot more families qualify than previously. All families engaged in work or education will qualify, and importantly, the state has expanded eligibility to families in special situations even if the parent is not working or in school. For example, grandparents raising grandchildren, families involved with the child welfare system (through CYFD) or under CARA plans, and those experiencing homelessness or housing instability can receive childcare assistance even if they are not employed or enrolled in school.
Additionally, the initiative provides more flexibility in scheduling as childcare hours are no longer rigidly tied to a parent’s work or class schedule. A parent working part-time can still get full-day care. This ensures families with irregular or changing schedules can still access stable childcare.
For all eligible families at eligible childcare providers, childcare will be completely free. There are no family co-pays or fees under the universal program. Families will not have to pay out-of-pocket for standard childcare services. All licensed home daycares and centers are eligible, but not technically required to participate.
Challenges with New Mexico’s Universal Childcare
While New Mexico’s universal childcare initiative is groundbreaking, it does come with significant challenges. Although the state has built up a $10 billion early childhood trust fund, the long-term viability depends on continued commitment.
Another challenge is capacity and workforce. Even with incentives and expansion loans, the current number of licensed providers and childcare workers may not be sufficient to meet the surge in demand once every family is eligible. Recruiting, training, and retaining enough early educators and ensuring they earn competitive wages will be critical.
Childcare providers will be reimbursed if they participate (as long as they meet certain requirements like paying high enough wages), but they are not required to participate. It will be important that enough participate to meet the surge in demand!
New Mexico as a Blueprint for Every State
Earlier expansions to childcare access in New Mexico already reduced poverty and boosted workforce participation. According to news reports, a 2022 expansion lifted 120,000 people above the supplemental poverty line and halved the rate for early childhood providers living in poverty.
Other states are beginning to notice and follow suit. While no other state has yet matched New Mexico’s universal approach, several are moving in that direction through universal pre-K programs. States like Florida, Oklahoma, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Georgia already offer free preschool to all 4-year-olds, while places like California, New York, Michigan, and New Jersey are working toward broader access. These efforts signal growing momentum, but New Mexico remains the first to guarantee childcare for every child, not just preschoolers or low income families.
With mothers continuing to leave the workforce and birth rates at record lows, the U.S. faces mounting challenges to both labor force participation and population growth. Guaranteeing access to quality, no-cost childcare can help parents stay employed and make raising children more sustainable. New Mexico’s model shows that treating childcare as essential infrastructure is possible. If scaled nationally, it could stabilize families, strengthen the workforce, and secure long-term economic resilience.
