In response to the recent, tragic shooting in Alamogordo, it is tempting to point a finger at someone, some agency, some organization, expecting someone else to fix the problem. 100% Otero, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families, would like to suggest an alternative: become part of the solution.
The homelessness crisis in Alamogordo and in communities around the state and country must be addressed. We have to support communities, individuals and organizations that work to make housing accessible to all.
Every county in New Mexico has residents experiencing food insecurity. The New Mexico Roadrunner Food Bank reports that 1 in 4 New Mexico children are at risk for hunger, and 1 in 6 people overall will experience food uncertainty.
From birth to age five, a child’s brain develops more than at any other time in life. The quality of a child’s experiences in the first few years of life-positive or negative-helps shape how their brain develops. 100% Otero’s Early Childhood Learning Team works to make sure parents and guardians have access to all they need to provide the best possible experience for their young children.
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.