House Memorial 61 requests the Children, Youth and Families Department of New Mexico to study and implement strategies for autobiographical storytelling as a trauma-informed approach for children, particularly those in the foster care system. The memorial emphasizes the importance of narrative therapy and autobiographical storytelling in promoting emotional healing and language development among children who have experienced trauma. It highlights the need for collaboration with speech-language pathologists and mental health professionals to provide training and workshops for families and caseworkers, as well as to assist children in developing and sharing their personal stories.

The memorial outlines specific actions for the department, including designing events that focus on positive activities with caregivers, rather than traumatic past experiences, and providing families with a strategy plan for addressing any traumatic memories that may arise. The resolution acknowledges the significant role that storytelling can play in supporting the emotional health and communication skills of children in foster care, and it calls for a comprehensive approach to integrating these practices into the care provided to these vulnerable children. A copy of the memorial is to be transmitted to the secretary of the Children, Youth and Families Department.