Governor Makes Presentation on Maine's Child Welfare Reform Initiative

Press Release

Governor Makes Presentation on Maine's Child Welfare Reform Initiative

Governor John E. Baldacci today discussed Maine's Child Welfare Reform Initiative before the National Selection Committee for the Innovations in American Government Award. The award, given by the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation, will be presented in the fall to six programs nationally. Maine's Child Welfare Reform was chosen as one of sixteen initiatives to advance out of an original applicant pool of about 600 programs.

Governor Baldacci told the committee about Maine's success with Child Welfare Reform and the difference it has made in the lives of many Mainers.

"In every measure of child welfare, we are making significant progress," Governor Baldacci said. "Children are safer, and they are placed earlier and more often with families. Fewer children are in the foster care system, and of those who are, there's been a 67 percent drop in residential care. Savings from reduced residential care has been invested in community supports."

Governor Baldacci added that child placements with relatives have gone up. In 2003 an estimated 360 youth were placed with relatives and in 2008 that number increased to 508. More than half of the children who enter care in Maine are now placed directly with relatives.

"Through Family Team Meetings, children and their families have a voice and the needs of the child are clear and paramount," the Governor said. "Maine leads the nation in the percent of reduction of youth in foster care."

Governor Baldacci's presentation was followed by comments from Christine Cassella. Cassella is a parent who has had experience with child welfare in Maine. Her infant daughter was removed from her custody and placed with her mother for 10 and a half months. Today, Cassella says that her family is intact, sober and stronger than ever before thanks to her own hard work and the dedication of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

"Today, and everyday, I look back on my experience and think, not that I was short-changed by the system, or that my life was ruined by the stigma of child welfare, but rather that I needed help, and DHHS was there to give it," Cassella said. "In my eyes they are not the enemy, rather a trusted ally in my and my family's continued success."

Maine's Child Welfare Reform Initiative is also one of three finalists in the Innovations in American Government Award in Children and Family System Reform. The award is sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and focuses specifically on public policy innovation in the area of child and family services with a priority and emphasis on systemic reform. The winner of this award will receive a $100,000 grant to be used for replication activities.

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