In the summer of 1994 Sister Beth Daddio and Sister Anna Waldschmitt spoke with homeless service providers in the Las Cruces area about the unmet needs of the local homeless population. Repeatedly these providers expressed the need of young homeless families for immediate, safe childcare for their young children. 

Community leaders worked together and by December of 1995, Jardin de los Niños opened its doors at Peace Lutheran Church on Missouri Ave. When the center first opened, only two classrooms were provided – one for preschoolers and one for infants and toddlers. 

In February of 1996, a van was purchased to transport the children of families who had no other access to transportation. As time passed we added two additional classrooms. Playgrounds were built and equipped. 

From the beginning, Jardin de los Niños has aimed to work closely with parents, and by 1997 we instituted a comprehensive family support program.

In 2001, we moved into our new building at 999 W. Amador on the Community of Hope Campus, where we are able to serve children ranging from 6 weeks to 10-years-old, with each age group in its own classroom with adjoining playground.

At this time, Jardin de los Niños was one of two programs in the state providing these services to this unique population, and one of only five original programs of its kind in the nation. 

In 2005 Jardin de los Niños received funding through NM CYFD for the PreK Program.

In 2016 Jardin received its Five-Star rating from the New Mexico FOCUS program and has successfully maintained a Five-Star Rating. 

In 2018 Jardin expanded its Community Health Services with a clinic that is supported through a collaboration with Amador Health Center.

Jardin de los Niños was awarded Early PreK funding through NM CYFD, which allows us to expand our early childhood educational services.

A rebrand was reimagined and presented by Covarrubias and Josen Creative Agency in 2019 with Jardin adopting a new logo and website.

Jardin implemented an online fundraising platform to create new opportunities for donors to support our mission.

May 21, 2021, Jardin de los Niños celebrated a huge milestone as we were officially designated as the first Trauma Informed Care Center in the state of New Mexico by the New Mexico Association for Infant Mental Health!

This achievement is the result of the hard work and dedication from Jardin staff and the incredible support and guidance provided by NMAIMH. The ongoing journey of maintaining the Infant Mental Health Endorsement provides our team with guidance and resources to best support our children and families.

Jardin de los Niños is thrilled to announce our expansion into the Hatch Valley community. This marks an exciting milestone for our organization as we continue to grow and extend our services to new regions. We are so grateful for the support and opportunities that have allowed us to reach this point, and we look forward to building strong relationships within the Hatch Valley community.

Our mission is to create new possibilities for homeless and near homeless children and their families through loving childcare, education and the use of community resources. By expanding into Hatch Valley, we aim to bring our resources, expertise, and dedication to a region rich in culture and potential. We recognize the unique strengths of this community, and we are committed to working hand in hand with local residents, businesses, and leaders to make a meaningful impact.