AUGUSTA, Maine — Editor's note: The video attached to this story was published Jan. 5.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday its plan to restructure the child and family services division, launch a third-party review of the division, and promote its acting director to a permanent position.
The Children's Behavioral Health Services division will be transitioning from the Office of Child and Family Services to the Office of Behavioral Health, Maine DHHS spokesperson Lindsay Hammes said in a news release.
OBH previously only served adults, but the agency said it believes the reorganization will allow a "continuum of behavioral health services" from childhood through adulthood, according to the release. All positions under CBHS will transfer over to OBH as well, the release says, and the move is designed in a way to balance better balance staff.
OCFS reportedly has about 900 positions, so relocating the approximately 40 positions to the much smaller OBH, which has about 100 positions, will help them increase support and "better incorporate feedback from staff in these service areas," the release said.
Maine DHHS also announced plans to launch a third-party management review of the child welfare division and district offices, as was apparently recommended by several members of the Legislature's Government Oversight Committe, with the intent to identify areas where it can improve its "communication process, culture, leadership support," among other areas, aiming to serve as a "roadmap" moving forward.
A report listing short- and long-term recommendations from the third-party agency, which has not yet been identified, is anticipated to be completed by March 2024.
DHHS also announced its promotion of acting director Bobbi Johnson to serve in a permanent role.
Johnson has served 28 years in various social work and public service roles and for her mentorship and will lead the audit as one of the first tasks in her permanent role.
“I come to this role with deep gratitude for the opportunity to better help Maine families, a sense of urgency to meet the challenges we face, and a belief that with continued hard work and dedication, we can," Johnson said in the release.
Johnson's promotion to director was commended by Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who also lauded the restructuring plan.
“I welcome Director Johnson into her new role leading the Office of Child and Family Services. Director Johnson’s depth of experience, empathy, and compassion are central to our ongoing improvements to child welfare,” Mills said. “These improvements will also include a restructuring of the office to elevate its focus on child welfare while better aligning the delivery of important behavioral services for Maine children through the Office of Behavioral Health."
The changes, according to the release, are part of the Mills administration's efforts to improve Maine's child welfare system, which has faced intense scrutiny in recent years over the high number of children who have died in the state, as well as the ongoing challenge of reported caseworker burnout, leading to high turnover within the department.
The decision is an apparent reflection of recommendations from "families, front-line workers, state leadership, and legislators," the release stated.
This story is developing and will be updated.
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If any Maine child or youth who is experiencing a mental health crisis, including dangerous behaviors, or thinking needs help, there is a crisis line available.
Contact the Maine Crisis Line at 1-888-568-1112 to access this service, available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.