AUGUSTA (WGME) — For the past two years, a government oversight panel has been investigating what it calls “deficiencies” in Maine's child welfare system.
On Friday, they considered a list of recommendations.
“Stability and support for child protection workers is a very urgent need,” said Sen. Craig Hickman (D-Kennebec), a member of the Government Oversight Committee.
The commission compiled 28 recommendations for child welfare reform.
These include creating special teams to deal with complex cases, improving access to family courts and making child abuse consultations with pediatricians more routine.
Representative Amy Arata (R-New Gloucester), a member of the Government Oversight Committee, held up a bracelet in memory of Maddox Williams, a 3-year-old boy from Maine who was bludgeoned to death by his mother.
“We want to prevent what happened to him from happening to others,” Arata said.
Earlier this week, DHHS Secretary Jeanne Lambrew resigned.
Bill Diamond heads Walk a Mile in Their Shoes Maine, a group that aims to prevent child deaths in state custody.
He says there should be higher expectations for whoever takes on the role of commissioner next.
“It has to be someone with some management and interpersonal skills. Those are some of the things that were missing,” Diamond said.
Diamond commissioned the study in 2021, but the move was slow.
No one from DHHS attended Friday's committee meeting.
Hickman explained that.
“We wanted to emphasize our efforts. We'll see what the authorities' response will be,” Hickman said.
“Will this just end up on the shelves? If so, this is all for naught,” Diamond said.
Committee members say they are still a work in progress, but will work closely with DHHS to implement these recommendations.
