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What about the children? |
A federal investigation into Maine’s handling of child abuse and neglect was hidden from the legislature for two years
This is Assistant House Republican Leader Katrina Smith with the Weekly Republican Address.
It is no secret that Maine has been failing to protect vulnerable children.
More children with Office of Child and Family Services involvement have died over the past four years than in the previous eight years combined.
Democrats and Republicans in the legislature have been holding hearings and demanding answers from the Mills administration for several years now.
Last year’s Child Welfare Ombudsman’s Report highlighted “continued struggles with decision-making around child safety.” And a report from the Government Oversight Committee outlined the stark reality faced by overwhelmed workers on the frontlines of child protection.
Fixing problems in our child welfare system is and should be an area where Democrats and Republicans in the legislature work together.
Now it turns out that federal inspectors conducted and completed an audit TWO YEARS AGO. For two years, the Mills administration hid that fact from legislative committees working to fix the problem of child abuse and neglect.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General conducted an audit from 2021 and 2022.
The audit in question was the first in the nation because Maine is the worst at protecting children.
The audit found that Maine did not comply with at least one requirement for the immediate screening, risk and safety assessments, and investigations in 94% of cases.
In more than 9 out of 10 abuse and neglect investigations, the Office of Child and Family Services failed to comply with best practices.
“Failure to comply with requirements places the children’s health and safety at risk,” states a report on the federal agency’s findings just released this month.
This shocking revelation is a serious breach of trust, accountability, and transparency.
During the two years that the federal investigation was hidden from the public, leadership of both the Office of Child and Family Services and its parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, has changed.
The appalling lack of transparency by the Mills Administration is not helpful and may in fact be harmful to children and families in need of assistance.
Legislative Republicans are ready to work with our Democrat colleagues to put pressure on the Department of Health and Human Services to make serious cultural and structural changes that will help promote the safety of our most vulnerable children.
This has been Assistant House Republican Leader Katrina Smith with the Weekly Republican Radio Address.
I’d like to thank you for listening, subscribing, sharing and following us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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Representative Katrina Smith
of Palermo is the Assistant House Republican Leader. She is currently serving her second term in the Maine House representing District 62, which includes the towns of Windsor, China, Hibberts Gore Township, Somerville, and Palermo. Katrina currently served on the 131st Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement, and Business.
Katrina earned her B.A. from Gordon College, and has spent her career as a realtor and investor. She is a member of the Maine Association of Realtors, Gun Owners of Maine, and the National Rifle Association.
Representative Smith and her husband, Mike, have five children together.
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