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.
child welfare
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
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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Posted inLocal & State, News
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.
Posted inLocal & State, News
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.
Posted inLocal & State, News
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.
Posted inLocal & State, News
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.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
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.
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
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.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Maine’s child protection staff: ‘We work within a broken system’
Lawmakers reviewing the state’s child protective agency hear testimony from front-line workers for the first time Wednesday, and their message is sobering.
Posted inNation & World, New England, News
How and when to remove children from their homes? A federal lawsuit raises thorny questions
A couple whose young children were taken by social workers and police in the middle of the night are suing, arguing they were unconstitutionally removed without a warrant or court order.