The Child Welfare System in Maine: An Update on Reforms and Improvements

mainechildrensalliance • December 23, 2019
A woman is holding a crying child in her arms.
it is critical to remember that these deaths were due to systemic failures that need to be addressed in order to ensure all children are safe and in a permanent home with a forever family.
Office of Child and Family Services Updates and Priority Reforms
increase in the number of children in care
Alternative Response Program
The opioid crisis
To address the increase in the number of reports and assessments
focus on recruiting foster and adoptive families
Each child in custody represents a family in need of services and support to ensure safety and well-being
map out and evaluate the effectiveness of major initiatives and strategies
A map of maine showing the number of children in each state.
child welfare workload
Families First Prevention Services Act
What is Family First?
This strengthens the ability of states to promote prevention and early intervention services
What is Maine doing to implement Family First?
Maine is just beginning the planning process
What's Next?
long-term, sustained, and systemic effort
*Information in this post was compiled in part from System Improvement Updates, presentations, and correspondence from the Office of Child and Family Services.
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