NMiF discusses CYFD reforms and medical mushrooms

This week, New Mexico in Focus breaks down a handful of new state laws. For years, reporters Ed Williams of Searchlight New Mexico and Taylor Velazquez of KUNM News have documented the shortcomings and failures of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD).

In their conversation with host Nash Jones, the pair discuss the new changes made at the department that aim to address its many issues surrounding child placement and housing. Later, Nash asks how the creation of the Office of the Child Advocate might better support children under CYFD care.

New Mexico is now the third state to legalize the use of psychedelic mushrooms for medical treatment. The Medical Psilocybin Act went into effect last month, giving state officials a 2027 deadline to establish the use of mushrooms as a medical practice. Reporter Cailley Chella spoke with medical experts and advocates who explain how psychedelics can help patients with severe depression and PTSD.

Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez and two program directors at the department, sit down with Nash to discuss how several new loan forgiveness programs are meant to help more New Mexicans pursue high-paying, high-skill jobs. Later, the three discuss new scholarship programs aimed at making higher education more affordable for graduate students and people who never finished high school.

NMiF airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) on Friday, July 11, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 13 at 7 a.m. and streaming on the PBS video app. ​ Involved, informed, in-depth media: watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

Host
Nash Jones

NMiF Segments
Housing and Placement Concerns at CYFD
and
Office of the Child Advocate and CYFD Transparency
Correspondent
Nash Jones

Guest
Ed Williams, reporter, Searchlight New Mexico
Taylor Velazquez, reporter, KUNM News

New Loan Forgiveness Programs for NM Veterinarians, College Employees|
and
New Scholarship Programs for Grad School and High School Equivalence Tests
Correspondent
Nash Jones

Guests
Stephanie Rodriguez, secretary, New Mexico Higher Education Department
Heather Romero, director, financial aid, New Mexico Higher Education Department
Amber Gallup, director, adult education, New Mexico Higher Education Department

New Medical Mushroom Program
Correspondent
Cailley Chella

Guests
Ben Feinberg, professor of anthropology, Warren Wilson College
Joaquin Orozco, New Mexico Psychedelic Science Society board member
Larry Leeman, psychedelic assisted therapies researcher, UNM
Jeff Holland, licensed clinical social worker

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic health, education, and art issues and explores them in-depth with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment."

NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus's senior producer for public affairs is Lou DiVizio. Host and producer of New Mexico in Focus is Nash Jones. Producer is Antonio Sanchez. Multimedia journalist is Cailley Chella.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You. Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund. Funding for Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present & Future is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming.