New Mexico’s new universal child care program includes a new provision that exempts grandparents with legal custody or kinship guardianship from work and school requirements, making them eligible for free child care.
New Mexico offers free, universal child care for grandparents raising grandchildren, regardless of income, through the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) as of November 1, 2025. Grandparents with legal custody or kinship guardianship are exempt from work/school requirements, allowing them to access no-cost, high-quality care for children aged 6 weeks to 13 years.
Key Details for Grandparents:
- Eligibility: No income limits, and work/school requirements are waived for grandparents raising grandchildren.
- How to Apply: Apply online at the ECECD website or visit a local Child Care Services Bureau office.
- Benefits: Covers full-time or part-time care, eliminating co-pays and fees.
- Additional Support: The Kinship Caregiver Program (via the Aging & Long-Term Services Department) provides additional resources in specific counties like Rio Arriba and San Juan.
In the first three weeks since the program launched, 61 new grandparent-headed households have applied and been approved for free child care assistance.
