I believe that New Mexico's children are our greatest resource and our hope for tomorrow. If we are to fulfill our destiny as "The Land of Enchantment," we need healthy, well-educated, socially adjusted children who will build strong families and contribute to their communities. Wise families, wise communities and wise states invest in children.

We need to support families in their roles as parents, especially those with children from birth to age 3. Some parents need help with parenting skills -- from simple things like showing love and reading to their children every day, to more complex things like learning how to discipline appropriately.

Parenting education, good child development programs, quality child care and after-school programs are often vital supports for families. Some families need help to meet their children's health needs. I have heard too many stories about children whose health needs go untreated because the family can't afford a doctor.

I'm proud that my husband Bruce King, former New Mexico governor, broadened the eligibility criteria for state-supported medical care, pushed for increased immunization and expanded early nutrition programs for low-income families.

We also need to focus on improving education in our state. Good, dedicated teachers and administrators are working hard to do this every day, and they need our support. Communities should target priorities for a lowered drop-out rate as well as steadily increasing study achievement, and then collaborate with schools to achieve these goals. All our children can learn, and we all need to work together to see that they do.

I am concerned, as I know many of you are, about the increasing violence in our society, much of it involving young people. One key to turning this trend around is early prevention.

Another is alcohol and substance abuse prevention, because we know that many violent acts occur under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When we see signs of violent behavior in children, we need to have resources available to treat them before the violence leads to serious harm to other people or to themselves.

We cannot afford to put huge numbers of children in jails, from which they will probably emerge hardened criminals. We need to invest in more early intervention and mental health programs so that our grandchildren will not bear the cost of our shortsightedness.

We established the state Children, Youth, and Families Department in order to strengthen the above services, to provide them more cost-effectively and with less duplication between departments, and to emphasize preventive and early intervention services.

As important as the role of state government is in helping children and strengthening families, the private sector has a more important role. I have seen the difference the Girls' and Boys' ranches, All Faiths Receiving Home and quality after-school programs make in their communities.

NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service and 4-H, and FFA all have been significant in my life and the lives of our children and grandchildren. Much of my energy now is spent on leading the New Mexico Children's Foundation. It's exciting and rewarding work.

Each of you can, in your own way and with your own talents and skills, find ways to work in your communities to help children and families. I think you will find it some of the most rewarding work that you ever have done. Your community and your state will benefit from what you and thousands of other New Mexicans like us do to make life better for children and their families.

Alice King received the Outstanding Leadership Award from NMSU's College of Agriculture and Home Economics in both 1982 and 1993.