Who are the homeless? Government entities offer many complicated definitions. Simply put, people experiencing homelessness lack stable, safe, functional housing. 100% Otero, the City of Alamogordo, and Otero County recently counted people experiencing homelessness in Otero County.

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Perhaps you have heard one of these catchy slogans, “See Something Say Something,” “No Excuse for Child Abuse,“ or “Every Child Matters.” The problem is more serious than catchy slogans. We must ask, what do we know about child abuse and what can we do to help?

100% Otero, your local grassroots nonprofit dedicated to eliminating childhood trauma in Otero County, recently hosted a successful community forum and training on preventing childhood trauma. This was a big step forward, as the last time the entire 100% Otero group gathered was three years ago when we first introduced the initiative to local residents.

When thinking of events in our lives that contribute to adverse childhood experiences, we do not normally consider access to medical and dental care as contributing factors. However, lack of access to health and dental care may itself constitute neglect—an adverse childhood experience that can damage a child psychologically and physically.

100% Otero, a part of the 100% New Mexico initiative,  is a local grassroots nonprofit dedicated to eliminating childhood trauma in Otero County. Our goal is that every child grows up in a safe and healthy environment with the best potential possible to become a responsible and productive adult.

What does it mean to be homeless? Housing insecurity spans a range of situations: staying in a motel, unsure if you can afford rent beyond this month; “couch-surfing” at a friend’s house for a while, being unable to find affordable housing with adequate space for your family. Being chronically homeless typically means a person has lived outside for over a year, perhaps sleeping in the park and only finding indoor shelter on the nights with the worst weather.

It has been said that grandparents are a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. For many grandparents, the role of parent has become primary when they make the life-changing decision to raise grandchildren whose parents are unable to raise them.

The ability to learn is an umbrella skill that will benefit a child throughout life. That is why It is imperative to find and remove barriers to learning. Children who have experienced ACEs or adverse childhood experiences may find learning especially difficult.

100% Otero is working to ensure 100% of families and residents have access to ten vital services for surviving and thriving. Survival services include medical/dental care, behavioral health care, food, housing, and transportation.

Unfortunately, many in our community can say this phrase and actually mean it. Every county in New Mexico has residents experiencing food insecurity, and some counties have segments of the population reporting hunger at least once during the month.

In an ideal world, all parents would have the ability to nurture, have coping skills, have excellent parenting skills, and have unlimited access to quality affordable health and dental care. Access to all types of resources and supports within their community would help ensure their children would survive and thrive.

The book, Anna, Age Eight, launched a movement to ensure trauma-free childhoods. The book was the catalyst for creating the Anna, Age Eight Institute and its centerpiece program called the 100% New Mexico initiative. The 100% New Mexico initiative is working to ensure 100% of families and all residents have access to ten vital services for surviving and thriving.

What does it mean to be homeless? An Alamogordo couple recently experiencing homelessness for the first time in their 60+ years said, “The word ‘temporary’ to a homeless person is a scary word. People will offer help, but when you go by [the location provided] they hide. I felt as though I was passed from one person to another, and one person actually said ‘I guess I’m obligated to help you now.’ Then I had to find another home for our dog.”

When we think of events in our lives that contribute to adverse childhood experiences, we do not normally consider access to medical and dental care as a contributing factor. However, lack of access to health care or dental care may itself constitute neglect, an adverse childhood experience that can damage a child psychologically and physically.

The Behavioral Health Sector within 100% Otero is one of 10 action teams committed to supporting and improving youth mental health in Otero County. The team is comprised of individuals from various agencies and backgrounds including therapists, counselors, administrators and community individuals. We are striving to identify issues and improve services for children and their families so that we as a community can reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

100% Otero is a group of individuals in Otero County working to support children and their families so that 100% of our children can grow up to be healthy, safe, and productive. We have ten action teams, each one seeking to improve and/or expand a service vital to our community. The ten vital services are food, housing, medical/dental care…

Never before have there been so many job opportunities and job training options available as in 2021. The 100% Otero initiative brings Otero County organizations together to collaboratively identify and share the resources individuals need to survive and thrive. Are you in need of job training services? Do you know where or how to access job training programs? Are you seeking to make a career change but don’t know how to make the transition?

In the past few months, 100% Otero has provided an overview of how childhood trauma affects our children, our families, and our communities. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) can include violence, abuse, neglect, growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems, incarceration, and parental separation or divorce.

Alamogordo Public Schools is happy to collaborate with 100% Otero in meeting the basic needs of families that have an impact on student attendance and success. We recognize that if a student’s basic needs are not met, it is difficult to learn. If you are hungry or do not have a quiet place to sleep, it is hard to focus on the math exam.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, 100% Otero continued its work through virtual meetings instead of traditional face-to-face meetings, its internal groups meeting weekly online. 100% Otero is an organization developed to reduce adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, to help make the community healthier.

Last month, 100% Otero provided an in-depth look at how childhood trauma has both direct and indirect impacts on both families and their communities. Unfortunately, 20% of children in New Mexico are impacted by two or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as experiencing or witnessing violence, abuse, or neglect.

“Children have faced trauma and stress in the form of abuse, neglect, violence, and fear since God was a boy. The people who are smart and strong enough are able to rise above the past and triumph through the force of their own will and resilience…”