Sens. Jeff Timberlake, R-Androscoggin, and Brad Farrin, R-Somerset, say a ‘series of failures’ by the department appear to have led to the slayings of a father and son found dead in their Chelsea home in June.
maine department of health and human services
Posted inMaine, News
Number of Maine children in state custody hits 4-year low after rising for years
The total of kids removed because of suspected abuse or neglect has fallen steadily after reaching its highest level in 20 years last summer. State officials say the trend is evidence that its embattled child welfare system is turning a corner.
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Posted inHealth, Local News, Maine, Rumford Falls Times
Rumford will be first in Maine to offer a ‘Baby Box’ for parents in crisis with newborns
The town gave final approval to enter into a contract with Safe Haven Baby Boxes for the climate-controlled, padded box to be ready to use by as early as this winter.
Posted inMaine, Maine Crime, News
Maine warns of SNAP benefit thefts impacting hundreds of households
While this type of fraud has occurred in other states, ‘this is the first time we have seen it at this scale in Maine,’ a Department of Health and Human Services official said.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News
Heat danger: Maine’s most vulnerable at risk from rising summer temps
Last summer was Maine’s hottest on record and data show the state is getting hotter.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine, Maine Crime
Stepfather charged with manslaughter in death of 4-year-old shot in head
Police say that the bullet that killed Jasper Smith in May was fired from Robert McCoy’s 9 mm handgun.
Posted inMaine
Maine’s foster care population grew at the fastest rate in the nation, federal data shows
The state’s director of child and family services cited the agency’s response to high profile deaths as well as a lack of attorneys to represent parents and declining support services as reasons for the increase.
Posted inMaine, News
Gov. Mills signs new law targeting septic system runoff near freshwater bodies
A new law regulating septic systems will curb pollution caused by a lack of natural filtration into freshwater bodies, advocates say.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine, News
Death of Lewiston 4-year-old puts Maine’s child welfare failures back in spotlight
Health and Human Services investigators visited the home of Jasper Smith 7 times without taking action. On May 17, he died from a gunshot wound when he accessed a handgun registered to his stepfather.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Lawmaker, advocates say Maine needs new Office of the Child Advocate
If approved, the office would be an independent watchdog agency and work with state departments overseeing health and human services, education, law enforcement police and corrections.