Brought to yo by LIVING WORD MINISTRIES
New Mexico rolled out its new universal child-care funding beginning Nov. 2025. Since this announcement, leaders in the Questa area are moving quickly to expand services for families, including the launch of what will be the only faith-based early learning center in Taos County.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced earlier this fall that the state would remove income limits and other barriers to child-care subsidies beginning Nov. 1. Under the changes, grandparents raising their grandchildren can qualify for support, citizenship is no longer a requirement, and the application process has been simplified.
Pastor Gayle Martinez of Living Word Ministries said the policy shift opened a door the church had long hoped for.
“When we learned the governor intended to fund universal child care, we saw an opportunity to lay new building blocks in our community,” Pastor Martinez said. “We wanted a faith-based program to support families. Strong families make strong churches and strong communities.”
Martinez said the new funding expands the resources available to child care providers. Jessica Trujillo, who attends Living Word Ministries and works with INSPIRE, a multi-site early learning and youth program serving Taos and surrounding communities, introduced the two organizations. They began informal conversations in August and moved to formalize the partnership in October.
The new program, which will operate under Inspire at Living Word Ministries, will be called Joy and Wonder Early Learning Center.
Trujillo will serve as a site director of the new center at Living Word Ministries. She says the collaboration aligns with Inspire’s long-standing goal of expanding quality services to as many families as possible. Inspire currently offers early childhood programs and after-school care, which she said helps bridge critical gaps for working parents.
“Over the last couple of years, our goal has been to support and expand access wherever we can,” Trujillo said. “This is something different and something exciting for our northern Taos County communities.”
Living Word Ministries plans to convert its Sunday school classrooms into an early learning center, which Pastor Martinez says will function as a shared space that benefits both the church and the wider community.
“Child care is a major need in northern New Mexico, especially in rural communities like Questa. Universal childcare expands access for children under 5 and strengthens support for families who rely on after school programs.”
Interest in the new center has already begun to surface. Trujillo said one mother was nearly brought to tears in relief after learning childcare would finally be accessible to her family.
Organizers hope to open with 12 slots, though they have capacity to grow as staffing and resources expand. Hiring for the center is underway.
Pastor Martinez emphasized the long-term vision: creating programs with generational impact, grounded in faith, family support and community outreach.
Inspire previously hosted an early learning program in Questa, which is no longer operating. Pastor Martinez reiterated that the new partnership between Inspire offers renewed structure and stability rooted in shared goals and commitments from both Inspire and Living Word Ministries.
“We want families to know we’re here, and we’re committed to giving this a good go,” she said. “This is a great partnership, and we’re excited about what it means for Questa.”
Trujillo echoed that optimism, calling the moment “full of joy and excitement.”
“This partnership will allow us to meet a need that has existed for a long time,” Trujillo said. “We expect to expand and grow as the community grows with support and stability.”
