Governor Bans Overnight CYFD Office Stays, Affecting Gallup and McKinley County Families

Governor Michelle Luján Grisham signed an executive order on Jan. 19 that prohibits children in state custody from sleeping overnight in Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) offices. The order takes effect March 1 and directs CYFD to place youth in appropriate foster, residential, or other care settings instead of holding them in offices when placements are not immediately available.

State officials framed the order as a measure to protect the dignity and wellbeing of children who have sometimes spent nights in CYFD lobbies or interview rooms while staff searched for placements. The administration is moving to expand partnerships with placement providers and accelerate transitions for youth currently in office settings. For families, caseworkers, and service providers in Gallup and across McKinley County, the order will change how emergency custody and intake are handled and create a short timeline for operational changes.

The policy shift addresses a practice that advocates and local providers have long criticized as a stopgap that can be traumatic for children. CYFD will be required to implement placement plans that avoid overnight stays in its offices, which means the department must increase capacity through foster-home recruitment, contracts with residential facilities, or other community-based placements. The order does not specify exact provider numbers or locations, leaving implementation details to CYFD operations and its new provider outreach efforts.

In McKinley County, where rural distances and limited provider networks already strain the foster-care system, the directive poses logistical challenges. Caseworkers in Gallup and outlying communities may face increased time and travel to arrange placements, and providers will likely see a surge in emergency placement requests as the March 1 deadline approaches. Local agencies that screen and license foster homes will be under pressure to speed inspections and approvals, while existing providers may be asked to expand capacity or offer short-term emergency beds.

The executive order makes clear the state intends to end office overnight stays as an acceptable practice, while simultaneously seeking to build a broader network of placements to absorb demand. For parents, relatives, and foster families in the Gallup region, immediate changes could affect how children are transported, where initial interviews occur, and how quickly youth move into out-of-home care.

What comes next is an operational sprint: CYFD must report progress and move youth out of office settings ahead of the March 1 deadline, and local providers and community organizations will play a central role in meeting the need. McKinley County residents who work with CYFD, serve as foster or respite providers, or rely on child welfare services should expect outreach from the department and should monitor updates as the state implements the order.