Legislative Republicans Respond to Letter of No Confidence in OCFS Director
AUGUSTA – Yesterday, members of the Maine Service Employees Association released a letter of no confidence in Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) Director Bobbi Johnson. Signed by 145 caseworkers, community care workers and case aides, the letter points to the continued failure of OCFS and its parent agency, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, to address known problems that continue to put vulnerable Maine children at risk.
Legislative Republicans offer their support in calling for major reforms, including proper prioritization of OCFS in the Governor’s upcoming biennial budget proposal.
“Protecting our must vulnerable children is the fundamental function of OCFS, but year after year we continue to see the same story – inadequately trained and supported workers spread too thin,” said Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart, R-Aroostook.
House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, said, “After the department's horrific failures over recent years, it’s appalling that these workers have to take this step to have their concerns acknowledged.”
Sen. Jeff Timberlake, R-Androscoggin, who is the Senate Republican Lead on the Legislature’s watchdog Government Oversight Committee added, “The future of our communities depends on making kids a priority. We will continue our efforts to hold the Mills administration accountable for its failure to do so.”
Johnson was appointed director of OCFS earlier this year following the resignation of Todd Landry after the state experienced more child fatalities in three years under his tenure than the previous seven years combined. Johnson, a 28-year veteran of OCFS, served as Landry’s assistant director during that time.
Subsequent reviews revealed OCFS’ ongoing failures to properly address reports of abuse and neglect in more than half of the cases examined, including a recent federal audit that found a 94% failure rate in cases reviewed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Inspector General.
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