Governor appoints Casados to lead CYFD

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Teresa Casados to permanently lead the Children, Youth and Families Department Monday.

Casados has served as interim secretary since April.

“Teresa Casados has left an indelible mark at CYFD over just a few months, delving into evaluating processes and structures to make sure they all squarely support a singular goal: to serve the state’s most vulnerable children,” Lujan Grisham said. “She has already delivered results, and I have no doubt the momentum will continue from here.”

“I am honored to get to serve in this position permanently. Over the past six months here, I have seen the dedication of the employees in the department who do some of the most challenging work in the state with determination, compassion and teamwork,” said Casados. “We are making great strides in restructuring the organization, hiring and ensuring transparency, and there is much more work to do for the children and families in our care. I am grateful to the fovernor for this opportunity to serve the young people of our state.”

In the last six months, CYFD:

• Ended the practice of using Social Security benefits belonging to children.
• Restructured the agency to prioritize three pillars: family services, juvenile justice and protective services.
• Published its first-ever public transparency dashboard
• Is on track to meet the requirements outlined in the Kevin S. Corrective Action Plan

“Acting Secretary Casados is a strong choice to lead CYFD at this pivotal moment for New Mexico families,” said House Majority Leader Rep. Gail Chasey. “Gov. Lujan Grisham’s decision to nominate Casados as secretary of CYFD allows for critical stability and continuity as the agency works to implement necessary changes to improve the safety and well-being of our children, while increasing accountability and transparency.”

In her role as chief operating officer, Casados led efforts to realize the vision and goals of the executive. This includes operationalizing the comprehensive state response to COVID-19, mobilizing disaster relief for wildfires, and starting up the Early Childhood Education and Care Department.