KRWG News –
SANTA FE, N.M. (krwg) The New Mexico Human Services Department is receiving a $250,000 planning grant to help keep families working.
New Mexico is one of nine states receiving grants from The Urban Institute.
Human Services Secretary Sidonie Squier says the grant will help the state streamline work support services that are key to helping low-income families remain in the work force.
States participating in the initiative will design streamlining plans.
States chosen next year for implementation grants will experiment with new approaches to delivering support to low-income families, including health coverage, nutrition benefits and child care subsidies.
Human Services officials say that without such support, low-income workers facing a crisis often drop out of the work force and remain stuck in poverty.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. krwg