Whats Wrong with Maines Child and Family Services System?
There are four basic problems: 1. It lacks common purpose, most often expressed in discussions about the categorical nature of services and finance. Maine has no clear mission statement to guide the development of public policy and management of its services to children and families. 2. The System has no single point of entry. It is not family-friendly, requiring multiple assessments and treatment plans, which, in turn, often result in disjointed service delivery and unnecessary cost. 3. After 12 years of effort, and despite significant gains, it still fails to maximize federal finance. 4. It is inefficient in its organization of administrative and other supports. Duplication is common. In the following, we will expand briefly on each point: Common Purpose: Common purpose, as expressed in value statements by the State agencies serving children and families, appears to be very similar. All seem to value support for families via community-based services, yet State statute and regulation
