This letter pertains to recent news regarding the letter of no confidence involving DHHS’ Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) employees vs. its director, Bobbi Johnson.
In reply to the Press Herald’s article on Dec. 19, 2024, among other reports, it’s truly very disturbing that no progress or meaningful headway occurred for addressing this department’s many chronic failures, ills, etc. These recurring bureaucratic failures are neither OK nor acceptable.
Unfortunately, it’s obvious that recurring problems aren’t being adequately addressed nor resolved. It’s alarming that this continues unabated. Why is there a lack of concern by this current administration? In addition, why have the Government Oversight Committee (GOC) and Health and Human Services Committee not made meaningful progress and taken meaningful action? Additionally, why wasn’t this addressed by our state representatives? Obviously, legislative leadership is part of the problem.
Going forward, it’s absolutely imperative that meaningful progress happens, including by the GOC, to address and resolve this Departments’ many programmatic failures and shortcomings, including by Sen. Craig Hickman and Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio, co-chairs of the GOC.
Further, Mainers’ taxpayer funds should not ever be wasted, including for recurring departmental issues. Also, let’s not continue to put our vulnerable children at risk from any further harm.
Lastly, it’s absolutely 100% imperative that the ME Legislature, its Government Oversight Committee (GOC) and Health and Human Services Committee get very serious in addressing and resolving this Departments’ many chronic shortcomings and recurring systemic failures. Enough of past inaction. Let’s get after it to fix this in this New Year. Think about it.
David Hall
Cornish
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