RESULTS FROM NEW MEXICO FAMILY SURVEY &

THE NEW MEXICO EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE SURVEY

GABRIEL R SANCHEZ

PRINCIPAL, LATINO DECISIONS DIRECTOR, UNM CENTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY

FOUNDING MEMBER, UNM NATIVE AMERICAN BUDGET AND POLICY INSTITUTE

November 2019

Survey Methodology – Workforce Survey 2

Ø  The poll was designed and administered by Latino Decisions with consultation from members of the overall NMECDP organized team.

Ø  The survey was fielded from October 1-October 18 and had 1,290 completed interviews.

Ø  The survey was conducted on-line and was drawn from a database of education professionals from across the state.

Ø  The survey was made available in both English and Spanish with 5% of completed interviews being conducted in Spanish.

Primary Role Within the Early Childhood Development Workforce?

3

Source: Workforce Survey (n=1290), October 1-October 18, 2019

32%

22%

15%

13%

7%

6%

5%

4%

4%

3%

3%

3%

2%

2%

0%

Teacher (Lead Teacher)

Teacher Assistant/ Teacher Aide

Director/ Manager

Other (Specify)

Early Intervention/FIT Provider

Home-Based Child Care Provider

Consultant/Trainer

Administrative Support

Home Visitor

Substitute

Another Caregiver/Educator

Principal

Support Staff

Assistant Director

Financial Specialist

Demographics of Early Education Workforce 4

¨  Consistent with prior studies of New Mexico’s education workforce, 94% of our sample is female.

¨  In regard to race and ethnicity, 49% White, 39% Hispanic, 9% Native American, 2% Black, and 1% Asian American.

¨  While 43% of the full sample reported that they work primarily in the Albuquerque metro area, 10% work in counties in the Northwest quadrant of the state, 13% in the Northeast quadrant, 23% in the Southwest, and 11% in the Southeast quadrant.

A major theme that emerged from the survey was that salary levels and benefits are challenges that impact recruitment and retention.

Salary and Benefits of Workforce 5

Salary Levels Across the Workforce 6

8%

6%

11%

30%

26%

24%

Refused

$60,000 or more

$45,000-$59,999

$30,000-$44,999

$15,000-$29,999

Less than $15,000

98% of respondents to the parent survey believe it is important to ensure that people who work in early childhood education earn a living wage, 73% Very Important.

7

90%

28%

24%

88%

69%

85%

65%

55%

50%

21%

38%

47%

64%

4%

11%

5%

20%

27%

20%

38%

31%

20%

9%

0%

8%

0%

10%

18%

10%

36%

25%

10%

5%

3%

8%

13%

9%

4%

20%

5%

6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Substitute

Early Intervention/FIT Provider

Home Visitor

Another Caregiver/Educator

Home-Based Child Care Provider

Teacher Assistant/Teacher Aide

Lead Teacher

Assistant Director

Director/Manger of Home-Based Center

Director/Manager of Home Visiting, Early Intervention, FIT, Other

Director/Manager of Childcare Center, Head Start, Public School

Salary of Early Childhood Workforce by Role

Below $29,999 $30,000-$49,999 $50,000+ Refused

Satisfaction Levels by Employment Type 8

37%

26% 26%

18%

Managers/Directors Teachers Teachers Assistants Home Visitors

Are you Satisfied With Your Current Salary?

[% Who Report Satisfaction]

Many Members of the Early Childhood Workforce Face Economic Hardships

9

¨  The survey identifies that a robust 63% of the early childhood workforce has had difficulty paying their bills over the past three months, 18% reporting that they have had a very difficult time paying their bills.

¨  26% of the workforce utilized Medicaid/Centennial and 16% used SNAP over the past year.

¨  Nearly a third (32%) of the full sample indicated that they work an additional job beyond their primary employment in early childhood to earn extra money.

¨  28% of educators report that they spend $250.00 or more each year for their classroom/work that they are not reimbursed for.

10

1% 4%

6% 7% 8%

11% 15% 15% 16%

23% 23%

34% 39% 39% 40%

46%

Refused Don't Know

Transportation support Scholarships

Meals DK/NA/Refused

Free or discounted childcare Tuition support

None of the above Annual leave (at least 2 weeks off per year) Annual leave (at least 1 week off per year)

Life insurance Retirement or 401k

Dental insurance Health insurance

Paid sick leave

What benefits do you currently receive through your job in early childhood?

11

11%

12%

15%

17%

21%

23%

27%

41%

46%

47%

DK/NA/Refused

Other (Specify)

Provider rates

Communication with lead agencies

Overhead costs

Improving or maintaining FOCUS rating

Competition with other early childhood services

Staff training

Staff retention

Staff recruitment

What challenges do you face as a provider in the current system?

Question asked of managers/directors – challenges in recruitment/retention greater in rural counties

Most of the workforce participate in training and other professional development opportunities, however more training is needed to prepare our workforce to tackle challenges many children in the state face.

Professional Development is High 12

Please rate how prepared you feel you are to support different learning needs for children?

13

12%

8%

4%

4%

12%

19%

20%

13%

6%

26%

27%

29%

30%

14%

35%

26%

25%

34%

36%

19%

9%

13%

14%

34%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Living in Poverty

Homelessness

Trauma

Challenging Behaviors

Infants/Toddlers

Not prepared at all Under prepared Somewhat prepared Prepared Very prepared

Please rate how prepared you feel you are to support different learning needs for children?

14

4%

7%

8%

2%

13%

15%

16%

4%

13%

26%

30%

30%

24%

41%

34%

28%

27%

41%

39%

18%

15%

15%

25%

3%

3%

4%

4%

3%

Typically Developing

Developmental Delays

Disabilities

Dual Language Learners

Diverse Cultural Backgrounds

Not prepared at all Under prepared Somewhat prepared Prepared Very prepared Not applicable Don’t Know

Survey Methodology – Parent Survey 15

Ø  The poll was designed and administered by Latino Decisions with consultation from members of the overall NMECDP organized team.

Ø  The survey was fielded from October September, 24 - October, 26 and had 817 completed interviews.

Ø  The survey was conducted on-line and was open to all New Mexicans, with targeted outreach to parents/primary caregivers who represent 49% of completed interviews.

Ø  The survey was made available in both English and Spanish with 5% of completed interviews being conducted in Spanish.

How valuable do you believe early childhood development programs are for children in New Mexico’s future academic success and ability to succeed as adults? 16

85%

10% 2%

2%

Very Valuable Somewhat Valuable Not Very Valuable Not Valuable at All Don’t Know

In general, how would you describe the quality of overall early childhood education and health programs and services in your community?

17

45% Excellent/Good/Very Good 41% Fair or Poor

9%

17%

29%

29%

12%

5%

Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor Don’t Know

Are there any services or programs that you would like to utilize if it were available to you in your community?

18

44%

40%

27%

23%

21%

12%

8%

8%

4%

School/Center Based Pre-K

Financial Assistance for Child Care

Support/Training for Parenting Skills

Transportation Support for Child Care

I Have Access to all the Services I Need

Home Visitation Services

Programming in Languages Beyond

Don’t Know

Other

“Lack of transportation for families to take child/children to early childhood programs makes it difficult to access the services provided.”

How much of an issue do you believe finding convenient and affordable child care here in New Mexico is for parents who [Insert Scenario] across the state?

19

2%

4%

27%

65%

2%

2%

3%

19%

69%

9%

4%

8%

19%

66%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Not at all an issue

Not much of an issue

Somewhat of an issue

Major issue

Don’t know

Working Parents/Going to School Rural Areas Low Income

“Lower the cost. Many parents have informed me the cost of early childhood programs are so high, having one of the parents not working actually saves them money. Sad when ECE programs cost more than a parent's income.”

How important is it to you that your child, and children of other families, have access to teachers who are able to speak the same language that the children speak in their home?

20

4%

6%

23%

64%

Not at all Important Not Very Important Somewhat Important Very Important

Questions or Suggestions?

¨  Thank you for your support with the project. sanchezg@unm.edu gabriel.sanchez@latinodecisions.com

Perceived Qualifications of Job Applicants Among Respondents With Hiring Capacity

22

17%

31% 33%

13%

6%

Almost always More than half of the time Less than half of the time Almost never DK/NA/Refused

Are the quality of teachers applying for positions in your view appropriately qualified for the roles you are looking for?

This is a greater challenge in rural counties of the state.

Did you use any of the following child care options during the day or evening to help with childcare?

23

39%

18%

16%

11%

5%

4%

4%

2%

2%

1%

0%

School/Center Based Pre-K

Privately Owned Center/Licensed Home

Grandparent

Mother or Father

Registered Homecare Provider

Informal Child Care (Nanny/Babysitter)

Other

Other Family Member

My Child Always With me/ Partner

One of My Older Children

I Did Not Utilize any Child Care During the Day or Evening