Publications

Strategic Priorities for Maine: A Call to Action

Building on the Maine Framework for Action

The goal of the CPLA is to develop a group of parent advocates who have lived experience with child protection and other family serving systems, and the skills to use their experiences to inform policy and affect practice change. 

Building on the Maine Framework for Action

The Maine Child Welfare Action Network (“the Network”) is a group of organizations and individuals working together to improve the safety and well-being of all Maine children, youth, and families. Since 2018, the Network has issued annual publications that identify core issues and challenges, and outlined recommendations for action supported by evidence. The 2025 Strategic Child Welfare System Priorities build upon these recommendations with current data and context. The Network will continue to update these strategic priorities annually to provide an ongoing framework for action.

There are currently many public conversations about Maine’s need to improve services for children and youth with behavioral health needs. A group of service providers and family advocates came together to share experiences and information, and to answer the question: What would a fully functioning child and youth services system look like in Maine?  This document represents a shared vision for building a successful system of supports that is responsive to developmental needs and provides children and youth with the services they need, when they need them. 

In 2022, the Maine Child Welfare Action Network established a new initiative, the Center for Parent Leadership and Advocacy in Child Welfare (CPLA). The purpose of CPLA is to inspire changes in child welfare by supporting parents to share their lived experiences in ways that can inform policy and affect practice changes. 

In order to develop and implement effective system improvement efforts, it is essential to consider and incorporate all types of high quality practices and services into systems of care for children, youth, and families.

First publication issued by the Network. 

Community Collaboratives are groups of people who are committed to developing better ways to help those who live in their communities. These groups are led by local nonprofit organizations and community residents, and are often funded by philanthropy and other donations. They create opportunities for local people to work together by providing designated staff to convene meetings, build relationships among participants, and coordinate shared activities and resources.

Family reunification is the process of bringing together children and families when their children have been temporarily placed in out-of-home care.

A Public Health Approach Could Reduce Child Maltreatment in Maine

Reporting on child welfare is important and challenging work. Journalists generally encounter child protective issues when a child has been seriously injured or has died, when information is difficult to obtain, and emotions are running high. Following these tragedies, there are understandable feelings of fear, disgust, and despair. This guide was developed to support journalists as they report child abuse and neglect and related challenges.