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PublishedApril 23, 2024
Proposal for separate child welfare department dies after Maine House fails to take action
The measure passed the Senate in a bipartisan 22-8 vote but was never taken up in the House. 'We could have at least had the conversation,' said the bill's sponsor.
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PublishedApril 3, 2024
Frustrated lawmakers back proposal to create a separate child welfare department
A proposal for a new Department of Child and Family Services wins strong support in the Maine Senate amid efforts to reform the state's troubled child welfare system, but the Mills administration wants the idea studied first.
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PublishedMarch 2, 2024
Bangor 10-year-old suffered months of abuse before his death, police say
Braxtyn Smith was zip tied, injured and denied food, court records state. His mother, father and grandmother are charged with depraved indifference murder in the Feb. 18 killing.
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PublishedFebruary 23, 2024
Maine fails to meet federal standards when returning at-risk children to their families, watchdog report says
OPEGA's report highlights another symptom of a child welfare system that suffers from high vacancies, heavy caseloads and a lack of community services for families struggling with mental health and substance use issues.
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PublishedJanuary 26, 2024
New child welfare chief aims to prioritize input from caseworkers, front-line workers
Bobbi Johnson, who took over the beleaguered system this month, answered questions from lawmakers on the Government Oversight Committee on Friday.
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PublishedDecember 24, 2023
Maine foster families say pressures are overwhelming
Problems in the state's child welfare system are spilling over into the foster care network, leading to a decline in licensed homes and adding more strain to other front-line workers trying to keep Maine children safe.
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PublishedDecember 12, 2023
Maine nonprofit says child caseworkers need more support, parents need to be held accountable
The group, called Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, wants the state to stop prioritizing family reunification when parents are not following plans to keep their children safe from neglect or abuse.
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PublishedDecember 6, 2023
State agency, legislative committee clash in supreme court hearing over records
Lawmakers on the Government Oversight Committee are appealing a lower court's decision that barred them from access to confidential child protective records.
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PublishedDecember 5, 2023
Commentary: Child abuse exams must be carried out by trained specialists
Few otherwise highly skilled physicians have the training and experience necessary to accurately determine if injuries are inflicted or accidental.
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PublishedNovember 19, 2023
Our View: Mills administration is failing in effort to fix child welfare system
The state's ability to recognize children in peril and act on their behalf is getting worse.
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