Community Matters: Universal Childcare
Universal Childcare
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
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On this episode of Community Matters, we explore how universal childcare is transforming life for New Mexico families and early childhood professionals. Two leaders close to the work — Dr. Hailey Heinz of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department and Deyanira Contreras of Kids Campus at Santa Fe Community College — share insights into our region's evolving childcare landscape and the importance of investing in access, quality, and a strong workforce.
Dr. Hailey Heiz is a senior research scientist and deputy director of the University of New Mexico Cradle to Career Policy Institute, where she has worked since 2013. During her 12 years at CCPI she has led research, evaluation and policy projects related to children and families in New Mexico, with a particular emphasis on early childhood education and care. Recent projects have included multi-year studies of New Mexico’s Child Care Assistance program, analysis of home-based care providers’ use of the federal food program, and ongoing outcomes research and evaluation for the First Born and More home visiting model. Dr. Heinz uses a range of methods and approaches to support policymaking grounded in data and research. This has included extensive interview and survey research with New Mexico families and communities to understand how they benefit from early childhood programs, as well as any barriers and challenges they encounter when accessing programs.
Prior to her research career, Dr. Heinz worked as a newspaper reporter covering public education for The Albuquerque Journal. She applies skills from that career to communicating about research and policy in ways that are useful to families, policymakers, and community organizations. In that capacity, she has written and consulted for ECECD’s Emmy-winning web series, “The Early Show with Alax,” which communicates information about early childhood development and programs in family-friendly formats. Dr. Heinz holds a PhD in political science from the University of New Mexico, with concentrations in public policy and American politics. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the child care subsidy program and the relationship between early childhood governance structures and policy choices.
Dr. Heinz lives in Albuquerque with her husband and her two children, who both benefitted from high-quality infant and toddler care as well as two years of NM PreK. She enjoys walking, cycling, and trivia.
Deyanira Contreras is the Director of Kids Campus at Santa Fe Community College and an experienced early childhood leader, educator, and advocate. She oversees the daily operations of the college’s lab school, supporting infants through pre-kindergarten while ensuring high standards of quality, compliance, and family engagement. Deyanira is deeply committed to expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare and strengthening the early childhood workforce in northern New Mexico.
In addition to her leadership role, Deyanira serves as an adjunct faculty member teaching early childhood education courses and is actively involved in workforce development initiatives, bilingual and culturally responsive programming, and community partnerships. Her work focuses on equity, access, and the long-term impact of early learning on children, families, and the regional economy.
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About Community Matters
Our monthly radio show invites subject experts and community leaders to talk about the challenges and inequities our region faces and possible solutions that could contribute to its growth. Hosted by Santa Fe Community Foundation staff, Community Matters airs on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM on KSFR (101.1 FM). Listen to past episodes here.
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