TRENTON, Maine — A coalition of families, national advocates, and a 2026 gubernatorial candidate will gather April 18 in Trenton for what organizers describe as a growing push for accountability and reform within Maine’s child welfare and family court systems.

The event, titled Maine Family Court & Child Welfare Reform, will take place at Big Cat’s Catering & Event Center and is expected to draw individuals from across the state who have been impacted by decisions involving the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the courts.

Organizers have also extended an open invitation to all gubernatorial candidates—regardless of party affiliation—to attend, listen, and engage with Maine families and advocates, emphasizing a shared focus on improving outcomes for children and ensuring accountability in systems that impact them.

The forum will feature a combination of policy discussion, advocacy perspectives, and personal testimony—reflecting what participants say is an increasing demand for transparency and oversight in systems that directly affect Maine families.

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A Convergence of Advocacy and Policy

Among the featured speakers is Robert Garza, Vice President and Government/Legislative Liaison for National Family Justice, a national organization focused on family court reform and parental rights legislation. Garza has been involved in national efforts such as the “Time Taken, Time Back” initiative, which seeks to address time lost between parents and children due to court processes.

Also speaking is Lincoln Brubaker, a national advocate known for highlighting systemic failures within family court and child welfare systems across the country.

Local advocacy voices will also be represented, including individuals working with families across Maine to raise concerns about oversight, accountability, and the lived impact of DHHS and court decisions.

Organizers say the goal is to bring together both national expertise and local experience to examine whether current systems are functioning as intended—and where reform may be necessary.

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Political Attention to a Growing Issue

The event will also feature Derek Levasseur, a declared candidate for governor in 2026, who is expected to address DHHS oversight, transparency, and protections for Maine families.

In a statement provided ahead of the event, Levasseur emphasized that the issue is not a lack of policy, but a lack of accountability.

“Maine doesn’t have a lack of policy. It has a lack of accountability,” Levasseur said. “And I’m done watching families get crushed by a system that answers to itself.”

Levasseur outlined several proposals he would pursue if elected, including the creation of an independent DHHS Oversight Committee with subpoena power, as well as a separate Division of Audit and Investigation operating outside of DHHS.

“If a family is wronged, they shouldn’t be forced to file a complaint with the same system that failed them,” he said.

He also called for broader family court reforms aimed at restoring due process, transparency, and consistency in judicial outcomes.

“Outcomes should be based on facts—not geography, money, or connections,” Levasseur added.

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Concerns Over Systemic Failures

Levasseur stated that he believes systemic issues exist within both the child welfare and family court systems, particularly around accountability and transparency.

“Talk to families across Maine—not just officials—and you’ll hear the same thing over and over: they feel unheard, overpowered, and like the system protects itself first,” he said.

While acknowledging that many individuals working within these systems act in good faith, he argued that structural issues continue to leave families without meaningful recourse when errors occur.

“When the system makes a mistake, nothing happens. Families are left to fight uphill battles just to be heard. That is unacceptable.”

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Centering Lived Experience

In addition to scheduled speakers, the event will include an open microphone segment, allowing families and individuals to share their personal experiences with the system.

Organizers say this component is central to the event’s purpose.

“Policy conversations often happen without the voices of the people most directly affected,” one organizer noted. “This creates space for those stories to be heard alongside broader reform discussions.”

Advocates agree that firsthand accounts can highlight patterns that may not be visible through isolated cases, particularly in areas such as case handling, communication, and access to due process.

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A Political Issue Moving to the Forefront

Levasseur said his participation in the event reflects a broader commitment to addressing these concerns at a policy level.

“This is not a side issue in my campaign. This is a core issue,” he said. “If a system can impact your family, your children, and your rights—and operate without real accountability—that is one of the most important issues a governor can face.”

He added that the event represents an opportunity to elevate voices that often go unheard.

“Too many politicians avoid this issue because it’s uncomfortable… I’m not running to protect these systems. I’m running to expose what’s broken, fix it, and make sure it answers to the people again.”

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Broader Context

The event comes amid ongoing national and state-level conversations about the role of child welfare agencies, judicial discretion in family courts, and the balance between child protection and parental rights.

Maine DHHS has not publicly commented on the event. The department has previously stated its commitment to child safety, legal compliance, and continuous system improvement.

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Why This Matters

The April 18 gathering represents more than a single event. It reflects a broader convergence of advocacy, lived experience, and political attention surrounding systems that shape the lives of Maine families.

With a gubernatorial candidate now publicly aligning with calls for reform—and an open invitation extended to other candidates to participate—the issue may be gaining traction beyond individual cases, potentially signaling a shift in how child welfare oversight and family court practices are addressed at the state level.