CYFD room named after late foster parent

The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department in Tucumcari last week named one of its conference rooms after a local woman who fostered over 100 children before her death this year.

The local CYFD honored Merlinda Sisneros on her birthday, July 16. That also was the date Sisneros fostered her first child in 2008.

A foster parent provides a temporary home to children in abuse or neglect cases. The Tucumcari CYFD office serves not only Quay County, but Harding and De Baca counties.

Sisneros died in May at age 66.

"Merli was always straight and to the point, but always offered a warm welcome to the children in her care," Deputy Secretary Valerie Sandoval said in a statement.

"She was one of the few resource foster parents who never seemed to have issues and never said no to caring for a child or youth in need of her support. CYFD is honored to have benefited from her kindness and welcoming generosity. She will truly be sorely missed."

Many people who knew Sisneros gathered at the Tucumcari CYFD office last Tuesday for sandwiches and snacks before the ceremony, including office administrator Miquela Otero and placement coordinator Susan Lease.

Otero said Sisneros, while not having children of her own, became a foster parent because "of a love of children and a home to share."

Lease said: "She never told us no, day or night."

One who attended as Asia Gallegos, 23, who was placed in Sisneros' home several times as a youth.

"I loved her," Gallegos said. "She was my 'auntie.' She's family."