What Does “Reasonable Distance” Mean? The Maine Mirror Opens Records Investigation Into Maine’s Child Care Law
Maine law allows some child care providers to operate without on-site outdoor recreational space when a public recreational space is within a “reasonable distance.” The Maine Mirror has filed a public records request seeking to learn how DHHS defines, documents and applies that standard.
One Board Member, Six Recusals, No Stated Reason: Maine Licensing Board Asked to Clarify the Record
Maine officials say Board member Benjamin Strick’s reasons for recusing himself from five recent social worker licensing complaints were not stated on the public record or separately provided to Board staff. An earlier recusal from another complaint by the same complainant has now prompted additional transparency questions.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Five Maine OCFS Social Worker Complaints Head Before Licensing Board Friday — Here’s How to Watch
Five professional licensing complaints involving Maine OCFS personnel are scheduled for presentation before the State Board of Social Worker Licensure on August 14. Here’s how to attend in Gardiner or observe live via Zoom, along with The Maine Mirror’s reporting on the complaints.
The Record | An Insider Speaks: Former DHHS Caseworker Alleges Retaliation After Refusing to Change Child Welfare Findings
A former Maine DHHS Child Protective Services caseworker has filed a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation after refusing to change the findings of a child welfare investigation. In Part 5 of The Record, The Maine Mirror examines the allegations, DHHS’s response, and why the case matters to the broader conversation about transparency and accountability.
The Record | Bipartisan Support Wasn’t Enough. Why Maine’s Child Welfare Oversight Bill Never Became Law.
A bipartisan proposal to expand legislative oversight of Maine’s child welfare system ultimately failed to become law. In Part 4 of The Record, The Maine Mirror examines what the bill sought to accomplish, why it mattered, and the questions its failure leaves behind.
The Record | Should Maine’s Child Welfare Agency Stand on Its Own?
Should Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services remain within DHHS, or operate as an independent agency? In Part 3 of The Record, The Maine Mirror examines the legislative push for structural reform, the arguments on both sides, and the questions that matter most for children and families.
The Record | Maine’s Child Welfare Ombudsman Has Raised Similar Concerns for Years. What Should the Public Take Away?
For years, Maine’s Child Welfare Ombudsman has identified recurring concerns within the state’s child welfare system while also recognizing areas of measurable improvement. In this installment of The Record, The Maine Mirror examines what the reports say, what questions remain, and why preserving the public record matters.
Federal Audit Found Widespread Policy Failures in Maine’s Child Welfare Agency. What Can We Learn From It?
A federal audit found that Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services failed to fully comply with required child welfare policies in 94 of 100 reviewed cases. In the first installment of The Record, The Maine Mirror examines the findings, DHHS’s response, and why preserving the public record matters.
🎙️ Maine Mirror Deep Dive – Episode 007: Maine DHHS CES Restructuring — Follow-Up Analysis
In Episode 007 of the Maine Mirror Deep Dive Podcast, we take a closer look at the internal records behind the Maine DHHS Children’s Emergency Services (CES) restructuring, analyzing the Department’s stated rationale, frontline employee concerns, performance data, and the unanswered questions that continue to shape this ongoing investigation.
🎙️ Maine Mirror Deep Dive – Episode 006: Inside the Maine DHHS CES Restructuring
Episode 006 of the Maine Mirror Deep Dive Podcast examines the internal documents behind the Maine DHHS Children’s Emergency Services (CES) restructuring, including restructuring data, performance metrics, correspondence with House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, and frontline employee concerns. Join us as we follow the documentary record, separate documented facts from competing claims, and explore the questions that remain unanswered.