AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER Maine) - Governor Paul LePage says Maine's child protective services are currently only doing a "half job," blaming a lack of training and outdated systems for failures in Maine's Department of Health and Human Services.
The Governor testified in front of Maine's Government Oversight Committee Thursday about a report released by the state's watchdog agency. The Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) is investigating Maine DHHS in the wake of two child abuse deaths.
Governor LePage said he's read the case files of Marissa Kennedy and Kendall Chick."Once you read these cases, I’ll tell you, you’ll have nightmares," he said. He handed an 11-page report completed by his office to the Government Oversight Committee.
Governor's Report: Child Welfare Overview by NEWSCENTER26 on Scribd
LePage hailed a school principal and a doctor as "heroes" in one of the cases. He wants to see the legislature bolster Maine's mandatory reporting program as a result of these deaths. He wants mandatory reporters -- like teachers, doctors, and law enforcement -- to face criminal consequences if they fail to comply with the law.
The Governor says Maine's child welfare system is 15 years "outdated" and has only been "patched" for years. According to LePage, bringing Maine up to speed technologically for all government systems could cost as much as $500 million a year - a budget that he said would get him "laughed out of Augusta." He told reporters he is prepared to send more money to DHHS to fix the system.
The priority of family reunification in child welfare services is a major concern to Governor LePage. He was in agreement with several Democrats on the Government Oversight Committee on the topic.
"[Reunification] is just not appropriate in all situations," he said. “The best interest of the child should be put first."
LePage said he's worried about Maine's caseworkers. He said there is a need for more caseworkers, but in his words, "More importantly, we need better training and support." Young, untrained caseworkers are given "very difficult jobs" that lead to early burnout, according to LePage.
Governor LePage on Child Abuse Deaths by NEWSCENTER26 on Scribd
"As a person who personally experienced the department while growing up in an abusive home, I make it my personal responsibility that we fight and fix these laws," the Governor told the oversight committee. "These young children should not have died.”
LePage said he hopes for a special legislative session this summer to deal with reforming child welfare laws. Multiple lawmakers on the oversight committee said they would be more than willing to come to work over the summer to make sure no more Maine children die in abusive homes.