Federal government approves Maine’s ‘Family First’ child welfare reforms

DHHS Maine

Published
September 13, 2021

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.
Published
September 5, 2021

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.
Published
August 23, 2021

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.
Published
June 3, 2021

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.
Published
January 6, 2021

Lawsuit faults Maine DHHS for use of powerful medications on foster children

The federal government raised concerns about the use of psychotropic medications on Maine foster children in 2018.
Published
January 2, 2021

State has cited 65 businesses for violating COVID-19 rules. See where they are

Two of the establishments subsequently were awarded state bailout money for which they should have been ineligible.
Published
December 8, 2020

Facing pressure, state lab to stop processing COVID-19 tests for hospitals

Six hospitals rely on the Maine CDC lab almost exclusively, while others do so in times of surging demand.
Published
September 23, 2020

Maine tax revenues ‘better than anticipated’ during COVID, but still not good

Spending on hotels, restaurants and fuel didn't decline as much as state officials expected, helping Maine end August $34 million over budget, which is better than revenue forecasters had predicted.
Published
July 5, 2020

Pandemic exacerbates crisis levels for Maine’s group homes

Providers say state state aid hasn't sufficiently addressed the funding, reimbursement and workforce issues that existed even before COVID-19.
Published
June 4, 2020

Mills accelerates reopening for bars, tasting rooms and gyms in 13 counties

Similar businesses in Cumberland, York and Androscoggin counties will not be able to reopen on June 12, however, because of continued spread of the coronavirus.