ESPAÑOLA, NM – This holiday season, the LANL Foundation’s Grandparents & Kin Raising Children Initiative has distributed 151 stipends of $250 to grandparents and kinship caregivers in Rio Arriba, Taos, and Los Alamos counties. The effort was made possible through generous support from the Delle Foundation. Since 2021, the LANL Foundation has issued more than $130,000 in stipends thanks to the ongoing generosity of the Delle Foundation. Stipends have varied in amount and were primarily provided to families in Rio Arriba County and the Eight Northern Pueblos. This year—thanks to the advocacy of the Grandparents/Kin Raising Children Council—distribution expanded to additional northern counties. Partners such as Las Cumbres Community Services, Family Strengths Network, the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, and the Taos Nurturing Center have played an essential role in identifying families in need and ensuring stipends reach caregivers quickly. “Our grandparents and kinship caregivers help keep children out of the foster care system,” said Jessica Acosta, Early Childhood Education Coordinator at the LANL Foundation. “They are raising them in their own homes, within their culture and community, and preventing them from being moved from home to home. Many are sacrificing their own needs so the children in their care can have stability, safety, and love. We want them to know that we see them, we appreciate everything they’re doing, and we’re here to support them however we can.” While the need far surpasses what any single program can offer, these stipends provide a meaningful measure of relief for families who have stepped forward to raise children when parents cannot. Many of these caregivers—grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and older siblings—are stretching limited and fixed incomes to ensure the children in their homes have food, warm clothing, and a sense of holiday joy. The ages and circumstances of caregivers receiving stipends vary greatly. Among the youngest is a 23-year-old attending school full-time while raising younger siblings. Others include grandparents in their 80s caring for four or more children. Families use stipends for holiday meals, warm winter clothing, school needs, household essentials, or small moments of joy that help children feel supported and cared for. While $250 cannot meet every need, it provides vital support during a financially stressful time of year. Since 2020, the LANL Foundation has supported and advocated for grandparents and other family members raising children in Northern New Mexico. The Foundation championed HB 157 to create a pilot program at the Aging and Long Term Services Department, pledging $300,000 for 2026 to financially support kinship caregivers in Rio Arriba County in 2026 as part of the project. More information about this population can be found in the LANL Foundation’s 2024 research report, Resilient Families: Helping Grandparents and Kin Raise Children in New Mexico. Contact: Stephanie Montoya Lobaugh Communications Director stephaniem@lanlfoundation.org (505) 500-5730 | 