A committee takes the unusual step of suing Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services after agency officials did not comply with a subpoena seeking records of four children who have died from abuse or neglect.
DHHS Maine
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime
Jury hears first police interview with mother standing trial in 3-year-old’s death
On the tapes, Jessica Trefethen gives her account of the events leading up to the death of her son Maddox Williams in June 2021. She is charged with depraved indifference murder.
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Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
Child care providers say industry needs consistent financial support to survive
More than 170 Maine child care centers have shuttered since the beginning of the pandemic, and Gov. Janet Mills has proposed $12 million to fund legislation to increase the wages of workers. But much more may be needed.
Posted inLocal & State, Local Government
Closure of Wilton DHHS call center raises questions
The closure, and employee transfer to Lewiston, raises questions with the local legislative delegation about how Gov. Mills’ goal to bolster Maine’s rural economy lines up with the DHHS decision.
Posted inLocal & State, Uncategorized
Wilton participates in statewide COVID-19 wastewater screening
Wilton is one of seven sites in Maine participating in a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) program.
Posted inHealth, Local & State
State will use federal funds to give bonuses to direct care workers
The federal government has approved Maine’s request to use $126 million in American Recovery Act funding to give bonuses to new and existing workers providing home- and community-based health services.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Federal government approves Maine’s ‘Family First’ child welfare reforms
The state sought approval of its plan at a time when it is implementing numerous child welfare reforms in response to multiple high-profile abuse deaths.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
State had prior involvement in most child homicide cases in Maine
A Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram analysis of newly released details going back 14 years shows DHHS had contact with most of those families before the children were killed.
Posted inLocal & State, News
DHHS names director of new office for health equity
A Bowdoin graduate, Ian Yaffe was the head of a nonprofit that worked to help immigrant and farmworker communities with education, housing and health care.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine Senate votes to create separate child welfare agency
The proposal, which faces further votes in the Legislature, is a response to concerns that reforms are not happening quickly enough after several high-profile child-abuse deaths.