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2013 Kids Count Report: NM 49th In Nation In Child Well-Being

A New Mexico children's advocacy group is hoping the latest statistics on child poverty rates, teen birth rates and math and reading proficiency will spur action by the state Legislature.

Officials with New Mexico Voices for Children and others gathered at the state capitol Tuesday to release the annual New Mexico Kids Count report.

It shows 42 percent of New Mexico children now live in single-parent households and the state ranks last when it comes to the reading proficiency of fourth graders.

Overall, New Mexico is ranked 49th in child well-being.

A separate report shows New Mexico falling to 50th in the country when it comes to the percentage of low-income working families.

The Working Poor Families Project found there were 89,000 low-income working families in New Mexico in 2011. That's a 4 percent increase from 2007.

The legislature opens its 2013 60-day session today.