AUGUSTA, Maine — After years of discussion to improve Maine’s child welfare system, lawmakers are catching on to a new bill to separate out the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS).
"We have these great plans of, 'I want to break up the department,' but no one comes forward with how we're going to do it," Senator Jeffrey Timberlake said, who proposed LD 779, which lays out the groundwork to do just that.
In a public hearing Thursday, powerful testimony from a handful of speakers gave insight and brought forth concerns to the Committee on Health and Human Services.
By separating the two, many believe it could give special attention and resources to alleviate issues within both the Department of Health and Human Services and OCFS.
"A child should never be used as a learning tool. I don't want Maddox's death to be in vain," Victoria Vose, the grandmother of Maddox Williams, who was just one of the four children who died under the state’s care, said.
The bill takes inspiration from similar steps states like Washington, New York, and New Jersey took to remedy their own child welfare systems, and found great success.
Some have been skeptical of the idea of a separate department in the past, with a similar bill brought forth by former Senator Bill Diamond getting struck down by lawmakers.
"This is certainly a positive and dramatic change, from previous and adamant opposition to this concept, and I'm not sure what influenced it but I think it's a great sign," Diamond said during his testimony for the bill.
Although testimony was mostly met with support, some raised concern that separating OCFS from DHHS could cause problems and double efforts with some of the services it provides, such as mental health and food assistance.
"What are the services that we really want to think about? Because currently there are services that are in corrections, education, that also serve children, youth and families; and so to be really intentional about doing some of that mapping," Melissa Hackett, who serves as the policy and communications associate for the Maine Children's Alliance, said.