Child Advocacy Blog | Maine Children’s Alliance

Federal Update & End of Session Summary

Monday, July 7th, 2025Federal NewsWe’ll start with the bad news first - Congress recently passed the “Big Beautiful Bill”, which includes billions of dollars in cuts to programs Mainers rely on,...

🚨Action Alert - CALL Susan Collins today!

Hi from the Maine Children’s Alliance! We hope you’re enjoying the warmer weather and finding time to relax with your loved ones. We may be biased, but summer in Maine is truly the best.We want to...

Celebrating the Heart of Our Organization: Rebecca Herron

By Ashleigh Barker, MCA Executive DirectorAt the Maine Children's Alliance, we know that behind every successful project, every polished event, and every moment of organizational magic, there is a...

Guide to Knowing Your Rights and Promoting Your Safety

Families across Maine are reporting heightened immigration enforcement. Everyone living in the United States has constitutional rights, and it's essential that individuals in our communities...

Celebrating the Remarkable Contributions of Melissa Hackett: A True Champion for Maine’s Children

As the Executive Director of the Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA), I am privileged to work alongside some of the most dedicated and passionate professionals in the field of child advocacy. Today, I...

Announcing MCA's 2024 Giraffe Award Winners!

The Maine Children’s Alliance is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Giraffe Awards, which honor community heroes who “stick out their necks” for Maine children, youth, and families....

MCA Staff Spotlight: Rita Furlow

Rita Furlow, Senior Policy Analyst at the Maine Children's Alliance (MCA), is celebrating 11 years of dedicated service to improving the lives of children and families across Maine. Since joining...

Needed change is on the horizon for Maine’s Child Development Services

Rita Furlow, Senior Policy Analyst with the Maine Children's AllianceThe Governor's supplemental budget proposes significant changes for responsibility and oversight of how educational services are...

Announcing the 2023 MCA Giraffe Award Winners!

The Maine Children’s Alliance is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Giraffe Awards, which honor community heroes who “stick out their necks” for Maine children, youth, and families....

The 2022 Giraffe Award Winners

The Maine Children’s Alliance is pleased to feature the recipients of the 2022 Giraffe Awards, which honor community heroes who “stick out their necks” for Maine children, youth, and families....

MCA Looks Forward

“If it’s not working to close disparities, try something else.” I remember being struck by these seemingly simple words of scholar Ibram Kendi speaking to a national gathering of child advocates....

Legislative Session Wrap

This session MCA advocated for state policies and funding to improve critical systems for children and families, including early care and education, health and well-being, and family economic...

Update on MCA 2022 Policy Priorities

The Maine Children’s Alliance advocates for sound public policies and promotes best practices to improve the lives of Maine children, youth, and families.During the second regular session of the...

Census 2020: Key Takeaways from the Decennial Census Count in Maine

Helen Hemminger, Research and KIDS COUNT AssociateWhat is the Census and why does it matter?By law, the Census is used to allocate federal funding, as well as to determine Congressional...

Meet Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

This is part of a series of profiles on the 2021 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 4th, we will feature a profile of a 2021...

Meet Victoria Siering, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

This is part of a series of profiles on the 2021 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 4th, we will feature a profile of a 2021...

Meet cPort Credit Union, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

This is part of a series of profiles on the 2021 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 4th, we will feature a profile of a 2021...

Amber Lombardi, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

This is part of a series of profiles on the 2021 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 4th, we will feature a profile of a 2021...

Meet Lori Moses, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the first in a series of profiles on the 2021 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 4th, we will feature a profile of a...

Maine College Students and the Pandemic

Helen Hemminger, Research and KIDS COUNT Associate, Maine Children's AllianceMaine’s college students – like students of all ages – were profoundly affected by the pandemic. The declines in college...

Legislative and Appropriations Wrap

After months of advocacy, the first regular session of the 130th Legislature is complete. It was an unprecedented year, amidst the twin crises of public and economic health caused by the pandemic;...

Maine College Students and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Maine’s college students – like students of all ages – had their learning disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis. The impact on college enrollment in Maine reflects the trends nationally. Maine’s public...

The American Rescue Plan is the significant investment in children and families necessary to meet the unprecedented needs of the moment.

THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP), signed into law by President Biden on March 11th, represents a significant investment in children and families at a critical time of need. The headline is incredible...

Elevating the needs of Maine children and families in policy and funding in 2021

As we look toward the new legislative session and a challenging biennial budget, we are committed to elevating the voice of Maine children and families who, perhaps now more than ever, are counting...

New report reveals children and families struggling during COVID-19 and recommends ways to respond

Maine performed relatively well compared to other states on issues of access to health care, food security, housing stability, and mental health, according to Kids, Families and COVID-19: Pandemic...

Meet Hannaford, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the last in a series of profiles on the 2020 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 17th, we will feature a profile of a...

Meet the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

This is one in a series of profiles on the 2020 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 17th, we will feature a profile of a 2020...

Meet Steve Meister, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

This is one in a series of profiles on the 2020 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 17th, we will feature a profile of a 2020...

Meet Abdul Ali, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

This is one in a series of profiles on the 2020 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 17th, we will feature a profile of a 2020...

Meet Camelia Babson-Haley, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the first in a series of profiles on the 2020 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 17th, we will feature a profile of a...

Safety net programs in Maine provide critical support during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond

During times of crisis, public safety net programs provide critical resources to mitigate food and housing insecurity, health care coverage, and assistance to cover other basic needs. The onset of...

Building a Better System of Child Care for Families, Educators, and the Economy

Maine needs a system of early care and education that truly supports the needs of our youngest children, families, and workforceInnovationRight from the StartFirst4ME,The First4ME legislationBetter...

Child Care is an Essential Part of Our School and Economic Reopening Plans

Framework for Returning to Classroom InstructionYet a recent national pollAmerican Community Surveyoffer their assistance to school districtsthe July 15th report from the Governor’s Economic...

The Child Care System in Crisis

In February, Maine had 1,728 open child care programs; as of May 1st that number was down to 907 and on July 1st there were 1,349 open. Unless we act now, many child care programs parents and...

Back to School: Key considerations and options for a safe and supportive reopening of classrooms in Maine

Young people suffered academically and emotionallythe negative impact was even more pronounced.Return to Classroom Instruction Frameworkoffered guidance(See below for resources)While significant...

How Maine was able to respond quickly to reduce the number of youth in corrections during the COVID-19 crisis

brain science tells us that teens and young adults have not reached maturityNo Place For Kids, Maine youth incarceration during the pandemic The reduction of the number of juveniles incarcerated in...

Black Mainers Are Being Hit Hard by COVID-19

We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on children and families across our state. some populations are being hit harder than others by this public health crisis.The...

Let's Talk About Racism

http://www.childrenscommunityschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/theyre-not-too-young-1.pdfHere are some resources and tools for learning more about the history of racism, talking to kids about...

Maine behind in 2020 Census response rates

Maine is currently among the states with the lowest response rates to the censusas of May 4th, over 100,000 Maine households had not yet received their census formsthMaine is just shy of the 50...

Supporting Children and Families During the COVID-19 Crisis

During these unprecedented and challenging times, it is critical that children and families get the support they need to mitigate the harmful effects of this pandemic on their health and well...

Child poverty rates in Maine remained relatively unchanged for 2018, though wide disparities are evident by county

Growing up in povertyandWhat the data showsbased on U.S. Census SAIPE 1 year dataThe poverty rate for children in Maine in 2018 is 14.8%The difference in child poverty rates in Maine from 2017 to...

The Child Welfare System in Maine: An Update on Reforms and Improvements

it is critical to remember that these deaths were due to systemic failures that need to be addressed in order to ensure all children are safe and in a permanent home with a forever family.Office of...

MCA Welcomes New Executive Director

The Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA) is pleased to welcome our new executive director, Stephanie Eglinton.Stephanie comes to MCA with extensive experience with Maine’s philanthropic and nonprofit...

Meet Stephanie Bratnick, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

This is one in a series of profiles on the 2019 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children Luncheon on November 7th, we will feature a profile of a 2019 Giraffe Award...

Meet Bath Savings Bank, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Adelaide Lyall, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Maine Principals' Association and Special Olympics Maine, 2019 Giraffe Award Winners

Meet Elinor Goldberg, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Helen Blank, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the first in a series of profiles on the 2019 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children Luncheon on November 7th, we will feature a profile of a 2019 Giraffe...

Percentage of Children Living in Concentrated Poverty in Maine Remains Below National Averages

Children Living in High-Poverty, Low-Opportunity NeighborhoodsWhy concentrated poverty is important What does concentrated poverty look like in Maine The percent in poverty data is 1 year data and...

The State of Child Care in Maine

Child care 1Why child care is important 2How many children need child care 54,000 children under age 6 who need child care in Maine.3How rural child care is different 4There’s a shortage of high...

The changing demographics of Maine

Changing demographics in Maine over time reveal a problematic trend toward an aging population and declining child populationThe latest child population estimates released by the US Census in June...

MCA statement on child detention and family separation at the southern border

Every child deserves the right to the protection of their basic human rightsConvention of the Rights of the Child1997 Flores agreementWhile city officials debate where the funds will come from and...

Legislative Roundup!

After months of advocacy and negotiations, the first regular session of the 129th Legislature has come to a close. Together, we worked to provide data and promote policies that will help all Maine...

The National 2019 KIDS COUNT Data Book is out!

The latest edition of the KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows improvements for child well-being over the last 30 years, but there are still areas for improvement in the...

Maine Children's Cabinet Holds First Meeting

reportopening statementWe are recommitting our state government to making our children a top priority and we’ve set two key goals for the Children’s Cabinet to work on over the next few years.First...

The State of Preschool 2018

National Institute for Early Education ResearchThe State of Preschool 2018 annual reportMaine Percent of Population Enrolled in Public Early Care and EducationherePreschool Development Grant Birth...

Keeping Kids in Families: New Data on Trends in Foster Care Placements

Maine Making Strides in Keeping Children in Foster Care Connected to FamiliesNew 10-year Data Snapshot with State-by-State Data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation Shows Progress in Maine and in the...

The 2019 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book is here!

The Maine Children’s Alliance Releases the 2019 Maine KIDS COUNT® Data BookMaine has seen improvements for kids in key areas over the past 25 years, but this year’s data indicates we should be...

Maine Children's Caucus Welcomes Representative Ruth Kagi

March 12, 2019Maine's Children's CaucusNational Conference of State LegislaturesRuth KagiHouse Chair of the Committee on Early Learning and Human ServicesThe National Conference of State...

Attendance Matters: Every Day Counts for Maine Children in Schools

Count ME InAttendance Mattersevery day counts.Students who miss more than 10 percent of school days (18 days per school year) meet the definition of being chronically absentSchools with 30 percent...

Protect Immigrant Families: Opposing the Proposed Public Charge Rule

This rule would threaten to undermine the benefit of public services to immigrant families and their children, which are critical to their health and well-beingToday is the last day to submit...

Meet Osgood, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

This is one in a series of profiles on the 2018 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children Luncheon on November 15th, we are featuring a profile on a 2018 Giraffe...

Meet Megan Perry, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

This is one in a series of profiles on the 2018 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children Luncheon on November 15th, we will feature a profile on a 2018 Giraffe...

Meet Charlie Harrington, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

This is one in a series of profiles on the 2018 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children Luncheon on November 15th, we will feature a profile on a 2018 Giraffe...

Meet the Susan Curtis Foundation, Camp Susan Curtis, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

This is one in a series of profiles on the 2018 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children Luncheon on November 15th, we will feature a profile on a 2018 Giraffe...

Meet Karen Heck, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

This is one of a series of profiles on the 2018 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children Luncheon on November 15th, we will feature a profile on a 2018 Giraffe...

MCA Statement on Appointment of Mary Mayhew to Director of Federal Medicaid Program

If we want the children of Maine and the nation to have a prosperous future, we need our future generation to remain healthy, so they can play, learn and grow. A critical piece of that is providing...

Meet Kathy Colfer, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the first in a series of profiles on the 2018 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children Luncheon on November 15th, we will feature a profile on a 2018...

Senators Should Keep Maine's Youth in Mind When Voting on Kavanaugh

Thursday’s testimony by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford courageously detailed a traumatic experience that all too often survivors of sexual assault keep to themselves out of fear of the negative...

Child poverty rates down, latest data shows

dataspecific racial and ethnic groups still experienced child poverty at a rate that exceeded the national averageIn Maine, the data indicates a sharp reduction in the number of children living in...

OPEGA Report Hearing on TANF - MCA Testimony 7.26.18

Public Comment on the OPEGA Report on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ProgramIn Maine, TANF no longer helps even HALF of Maine’s poorest childrenSource: KIDS COUNT Data Center...

KIDS COUNT 2018 Data Book Release

The Maine Children’s Alliance is pleased to announce today’s release of the 2018 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book. Through the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the KIDS COUNT Data Book provides...

MCA statement regarding family separation at the US border

Earlier this month the Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA) joined with 540 organizations from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to urgently request that the Administration reverse...

Maine Children's Caucus Welcomes Speakers on Opioid Crisis in Maine

Mark Moran, Nora Sosnoff, and Nicole Chaplin...

Big Wins for Kids in the 2018 Omnibus Bill!

March 2018: With the recent passage of the FY18 Omnibus appropriations bill by Congress, we are pleased to report the overall significant increases in spending for child care, early learning, and...

Maine Children's Caucus Welcomes the Maine Children's Trust

Maine Children's TrustMaine Legislators learned about the 2017 draft data on child abuse, neglect, and prevention in Maine. The Maine Children's Trust works regionally to provide support and...

MCA Welcomes New Staff Members!

Melissa Hackett most recently worked as special projects assistant with the Maine Democratic Party, providing coordination and outreach for municipal caucuses, petition circulation, and training...

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Maine Children's Caucus Welcomes Georgia Early Childhood Expert

Georgia Department of Early Care and LearningNational Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)Maine Legislators learned about Bright from the Start, Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning....

BDN: Maine families deserve better than Congress’ flawed tax bills

This blog post was written by MCA Board Member Pam Day and originally appeared in December 14, 2017 edition of the Bangor Daily News. Read the full op-ed here.With responsible planning and smart...

MCA is Hiring!

The Maine Children's Alliance will be hiring two positions in the New Year.The Communications & Outreach Assistanthere!The Research and KIDS COUNT® Assistanthere!...

BDN: Aroostook County Understands Value of Public Preschool

This post was written by Senior Policy Analyst, Rita Furlow and originally appeared as a letter-to-the-editor in the December 7, 2017 edition of the Bangor Daily News.The key to Maine’s future is...

The Senate Tax Plan Misses the Mark.

In Maine, we know the value of our children and families. Maine children are our future workers, leaders and parents. As a result, we need a tax plan that is going to make smart investments in...

BDN: Maine’s children are counting on Congress to reauthorize this vital program

original article hereTo most families and communities, promoting and protecting the health and well-being of their children is a top priority. At the Maine Children’s Alliance, we know that when...

Building Thriving Communities Capitalizing on Evolving Science and Circumstances

This blog post was written by MCA's MSW intern Jill Walker, who attended the conference earlier this month. Maine Resiliency Building Network (MRBN)The Bingham ProgramWHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM...

Maine Children’s Alliance Celebrates Health Care Victory for Children and Families in Medicaid Expansion

“Access to quality, affordable health care coverage is critical to the success of our state,” said Claire Berkowitz, Executive Director of the Maine Children’s Alliance. “And yesterday, Maine...

Maine Fails to Protect the Safety of Children in Child Care

voted to protect Maine’s childrenUnfortunately, the state has yet to implement the fingerprint background check elements of these laws, leaving Maine children in child care vulnerable and...

Proposed Budget Cuts to SNAP Would Harm Maine Children & Families

Together, these programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), seek to help families get out and stay out of poverty—and see impressive results.SNAP is a critical lifeline for...

Children of Color in Maine and the Nation Face Extensive Inequities and Barriers to Success

2017 Race for Results report identifies areas where state needs to provide greater opportunities for children of color to reach potentialAnnie E. Casey Foundation2017 Race for Results: Building a...

Urgent action on CHIP is necessary to provide certainty for families and state budgets.

This blog post is an excerpt of a letter from MCA to U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding urgent need to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Learn more about...

Proposed Changes to Maine’s Family Child Care Rules go into Effect, Bypassing Legislative Review

Despite calls from over 100 parents, providers and advocates to halt the rushed process, DHHS moves ahead with emergency implementation AUGUSTA—Last week, the Maine Department of Health and Human...

New Report Explores Problems with Maine’s Early Childhood System and Recommends Set of Policy Solutions for a Better Future

LEWISTON—On Thursday, September 21 at 10:00 AM at the YWCA in Lewiston, the Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA) and Maine Women’s Policy Center (MWPC) released a new report: Investing in our Future:...

Maine's Case for CHIP Reauthorization: Healthy and thriving communities begin with our children and families.

Click to Download MCA's new one-pager!However, federal funding for CHIP expires on September 30, 2017.Without reauthorization, Maine will run out of federal CHIP funds by June 2018. THE URGENCYTHE...

Home visiting works. Let’s keep it working for Maine.

Maine FamiliesMuch like building a house, a child’s experiences in the first few years of life lay the groundwork for future brain development.Home visiting programs are voluntary, evidence-based...

Wrapping up the 2017 Legislative Session!

After months of advocacy, budget negotiations and so much more, the first regular session of the 128th Legislature has finally ended. Together, we worked to promote policies and practices that give...

Letter to the Editor: Collins showed courage

This post was written by MCA Executive Director, Claire Berkowitz and originally appeared as letter-to-the-editor in the Bangor Daily News. Access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health...

2017 Maine State Budget: What's in it for kids?

SCHOOL FUNDING: K-12as promised in state statute.PUBLIC PRESCHOOLHEAD STARTFAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITYAn Act to Reduce Child Poverty by Leveraging Investments in Families Today, The first TANF...

Letter to the Editor: DHHS child care rules troubling

This is Letter to the Editor was written by MCA board vice chair Margaret Leitch Copeland and originally published in the Bangor Daily News.a recent Maine Focus story,all available parents in the...

Parents, child care providers, and advocates call for legislative review of proposed DHHS rules for family child care providers

AUGUSTA—A group of over 130 concerned parents, child care providers and advocates have filed a petition to delay emergency implementation of proposed family child care rules until they have a...

Keep Maine Children & Families Healthy: How the Senate Health Care Bill Harms Maine Children, Youth & Families

New fact sheet from MCA on the proposed Senate Health Care Bill. Learn why the Better Care Reconciliation Act is bad for Maine children, youth and families.Click here to Download!THE STATE OF...

Letter to the Editor: New health care bill would endanger Maine infants, children

This post was written by MCA executive director Clare Berkowitz and originally appeared as a letter to the editor in the Portland Press Herald. Since the letter was published, Senator Collins has...

#ProtectOurCare: Senate to release new health care bill this week. Call Senator Collins today!

The U.S. Senate is set to release their secret health care bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act as early as tomorrow.Please call Senator Collins today and tell her to oppose any bill...

Making School Breakfast a Priority!

While 86,000 children are eligible to receive a free breakfast, Far too many Maine children are going to class on an empty stomach.LD 809, An Act To Address Student Hunger with a “Breakfast after...

The National 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book is out!

New report shows federal and local policies are leading to improvements for U.S. children, but Maine is not seeing the same results as other New England statesthe Annie E. Casey Foundationaccording...

MaineCare Provides More Access to Health Coverage for Rural Communities in Maine

according to a new reportGeorgetown University Center for Children and FamiliesMedicaid in Small Town America: A Lifeline for Children, Families and Communities“Medicaid provides critical access to...

Maine's Early Head Start Programs Effectively Serve Our Youngest & Most Vulnerable Children.

A new report out this month from the Carsey School of Public Policy finds that cuts to Maine's Early Head Start funding could undermine a critical program that serves Maine's youngest and most...

Legislative and Budget Wrap

Through the Maine state budget, we can support solutions that respond to the needs of the moment and invest in building a more vibrant, equitable future for our children. an unprecedented...

Remembering Jack Rosser: A Champion for Children & Founding Board Member of MCA

Earlier this month the Maine Children’s Alliance lost a friend and founding leader when John “Jack” Rosser passed away in Bristol, FL. As was stated in his obituary, “Jack had a passion for...

Federal Budget Proposal Threatens Maine Children

AUGUSTA, ME—On Tuesday the President released his blueprint for the federal budget, which if enacted, would be detrimental to Maine’s future and the health and well-being of our children, youth and...

First Focus: New Maine Bill Aims to Reduce Child Poverty

This post was written by Cara Baldari, a Senior Policy Director for Family Economics and Legal Counsel at First Focus. Click here to read the original post on First Focus’ blog, Voices for Kids....

2017 Giraffe Award Winner: Meet Margo Walsh

This post is part of a series of profiles on the 2017 Giraffe Award Winners. MCA is pleased to introduce you to Margo Walsh, founder and CEO of MaineWorks, LLC.Tim Greenway via MaineBiz“I would...

Meet Dr. Robert Beekman: 2017 Giraffe Award Winner

This post is part of a series of profiles on the 2017 Giraffe Award Winners. We hope to see you Friday, May 19th at the Champions for Children Luncheon in Portland. This week, MCA is please to...

Meet Dr. Janice L. Pelletier: 2017 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the first post in the series of profiles on the 2017 Giraffe Award Winners. We hope to see you Friday, May 19th at the Champions for Children Luncheon in Portland. This week, MCA is please...

MCA Announces 2017 Giraffe Award Winners

The Champions for Children Luncheonfeaturing the 2017 Giraffe AwardsFriday, May 19, 2017 | The Woodfords Club in Portland 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (Registration begins at 11:30)feature keynote speaker...

The 2017 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book At-A-Glance

2017 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Bookdespite slight improvements in child poverty and health insurance rates, soaring infant mortality and child and teen suicide rates signal cause for concern.“If we...

How Early Childhood Consultation Programs (ECCP) Could Reduce Challenging Behaviors.

If children are going to succeed in school, at work and in life, they need to master the critical cognitive, social and emotional skills necessary to thrive.Yale's Edward Zigler Center in Child...

ACTION ALERT: Protect Maine's Care - Call Your Rep!

but recent changes have made it even more dangerous.Under this bills, Congress wouldrepeal the ACA's Essential Health Benefits requirement;force states to rollback eligibility and benefits, harming...

What can we learn from brain research?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPcetDFBYng&w=560&h=315]critical brain development occurs during the early years of a child’s life,“By the time they enter kindergarten, children who have...

BDN: The Republican health care bill will reverse gains made in children’s health

The blog post below was written by MCA Executive Director, Claire Berkowitz and is adapted from the OpEd published in Bangor Daily News. Click here to read the original version. All Maine children...

Proposed Budget Cuts Threaten to Worsen Child Poverty in Maine.

TANF is what helps keep these children from going without basic essentials.In 2015, about 19,000 Maine children lived in extreme poverty meaning.In other words, the TANF program did not even serve...

Standing room only at the first meeting of the Maine Children's Caucus.

Rep. Pouliot, Rob Grunewald, and Sen. Millett.This bipartisan group of State Legislators founded by Sen. Rebecca Millett (D – Cape Elizabeth) and Rep. Matt Pouliot (R – Augusta) seeks to build an...

Why Maine children and families need the Affordable Care Act.

Healthy Maine children become healthy Maine adults who will lead us into the future, but they also need healthy parents or guardians to raise them.The number of uninsured Mainers declined 25...

What is good for our children is also good for our economy.

The early years in a child’s life are a critical period for brain development. This is why access to affordable, quality early child care and education programs are important for children and...

Moving Forward & Staying Engaged

The 2016 election has finally come and gone. What’s next, is up to you.Graph shows Maine eligible voter participation from 1980 to 2016 elections. Data from U.S. Election Project. http://www...

Thankful for Your Support

Below is a quick message from our executive director, Claire Berkowitz. You helped us pass a bill to improve the health and safety of Maine children in child care;You helped us gather data to...

On the Move with MCA!

Moving blog post......

Improving Early Childhood in Maine means thinking about children, their families and their communities.

“We have to remember that the child is part of the family, the family is part of the community, and the community is part of the state.” – Marjorie WithersMaine children do not exist in isolation....

There is no question - raising the minimum wage is good for Maine children.

The blog post below was written by MCA Board Member Shawn Yardley on the upcoming ballot initiative to increase the minimum wage in Maine.One way is by supporting Question 4 this November.Research...

MCA and Partners Receive Large Advocacy Grant to Strengthen Maine’s Early Childhood System

The Maine Children's Alliance is excited to announce that we are embarking on a three-year project to improve the quality of early learning experiences for all Maine children For many years Maine's...

Creating a Vision for an Early Childhood System

2nd Maine Children's Convention: Creating a Vision for an Early Childhood System“The research on investing in young children is clear and right now Maine leaves too many young children and their...

Fewer Maine children are living in poverty, but too many families are still facing economic hardships.

With stable, good-paying jobs and supports, Maine children and families can truly succeed.43,000 children living in poverty (17.4 percent).With proper administration and adequate resources,...

New Study Finds Need to Improve Social Emotional Learning & Development of Maine’s Young Children

National Center for Children in PovertyMaine Children’s AllianceMaine Department of Education,Alliance for Early SuccessTo what extent is challenging behavior a problem in early care and education...

"Behavior is the language of a child:" Snapshots from the 2016 Social Emotional Learning & Development Conference

Co-Chair of the Growth CouncilMCA Sr. Policy Analyst Maine Children’s AllianceMaine Children’s Growth CouncilSnapshots from the Social Emotional Learning & Development Conference!What's Next?BDN:...

It's that time of year! MCA seeks nominations for the 2016 Giraffe Awards!

http://www.mekids.org/nomination-form.php“The Giraffe Awards reminds us that an astonishing number of Mainers throughout the state are doing more than their part to make Maine a better place to be...

MCA Welcomes Eric Buch!

Connecting Maine Kids to Coverage Project.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,over 17,000 Maine childrenmore than half of these children are eligible for coverage through MaineCare“For the...

PPH: MCA supports Stand Up for Students

This blog post written by Claire Berkowitz, executive director of MCA and originally appeared in the Portland Press Herald on July 15, 2016. Click here to read the original OpEd.We all want our...

BDN: More Maine children live in poverty, fewer get help. We should expect the opposite.

This post was written by MCA Senior Policy Analyst, Rita Furlow and originally appeared as an editorial in the Bangor Daily News on July 6, 2016. To read the original article, click here.Bangor...

Good news for kids - MCA is hiring!

Position Summary:About the Maine Children’s Alliance:Job Responsibilities:Developing educational materials and distributing them at schools, child care centers, and other kid serving organizations...

New Report Finds Sharp Decline in Well-Being of Maine Children Despite National Trends

Maine drops to 17th for overall child well-being in the latest KIDS COUNT report2016 KIDS COUNT® Data BookAnnie E. Casey FoundationMaine ranks 17th for overall child well-being, dropping five spots...

Communities & Banking: Addressing Early Childhood Expulsions in Maine

The goal is to get a better grasp of what is going on and explore the ways we can better support our young children and the teachers, providers, parents and guardians who care for them.Communities...

How the New 2016 House Child Nutrition Bill Hurts Maine Kids

60,000 Maine childrenlatest child nutrition bill from the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee.Despite its misleading title, this new bill includes some truly harmful provisions that would...

The State of Preschool in Maine

Last week, NIEER released its annual State of Preschool report which unsurprisingly found that many 3- and 4- year olds continue to lack access to high-quality preschool programs. The report...

Looking Towards the Future: How the 127th Legislature Affects Our Kids

Caring for Our Youngest ChildrenLD 1689, An Act to Protect Children in the State from Possible Sexual, Physical and Emotional Abuse by Persons Who Have Been Convicted of Crimes,click herea bill to...

FIRST FOCUS: Cash assistance for families in Maine is critical

This post was written by Cara Baldari, a Senior Policy Director for Family Economics and Legal Counsel at First Focus. Click here to read the original post on First Focus' blog, Voices for Kids....

How LD 1689 Protects Maine Children in Child Care

LD 1689 is about Lawmakers protecting the safety of our youngest children. Check out this great infographic to learn more!...

Fact Sheet: Parental Incarceration in Maine

Fact Sheet: Parental Incarceration in Maine...

Report: Maine has highest percentage of children with incarcerated parents in New England

More than 20,000 Maine children – 8 percent—have a parent that has served timenew KIDS COUNT® reportAnnie E. Casey Foundation 5 million children in the United States20,000 children in Maine.A...

BDN Letter: Find real solutions to poverty

This blog post is from an April 1, 2016 letter to the editor written by MCA Board Member Shawn Yardley published in the Bangor Daily News. Check out the original letter here.KIDS COUNT Data...

Social Emotional Development Spotlight: Community Caring Collaborative

This post was written by Marjorie Withers from the Community Caring Collaborative's Early Childhood Consultation and Outreach program in Washington County. This is s a part of the Maine Children's...

Maine's New Child Care Plan: Good for Children, Families and the Economy

69 percent of Maine children under the age of six having both parents working to make ends meetResearch shows that working parents who receive child care assistance experience fewer missed days,...

Social Emotional Development Spotlight: Portland Defending Childhood

This post was written by Barrett Wilkinson from Portland Defending Childhood as a part of the Maine Children's Alliance's series on early childhood social and emotional development in Maine.[embed...

Social Emotional Development 101

This month, MCA will explore the topic of social and emotional development of young children on our blog every Thursday. This week's post is an overview on social and emotional development. What is...

MCA Wins $2,000 Grant!

Masonic Charitable Foundation"MCA seeks to make a difference for children and families by harnessing the power of data and empowering lawmakers, service providers and advocates to make the best...

Legis Reception (Untitled)

Last week, the Maine Children's Alliance joined the Maine Children's Growth Council for a Legislative Reception on early childhood in Maine. Research tells us that the early years are so critical...

Just One Click: Increasing Participation & Access to CACFP

This week the Maine Children’s Alliance is submitting testimony to support LD 1472, Resolve, To Enhance the Administration of the Child and Adult Care Food Program by Creating Clear Guidelines for...

Getting Our Kids Oral Health Care

Far too many children in Maine lack access to the dental services they need to grow and thrive.The first step in ensuring that our children receive quality oral health care is an annual dental...

The Value of a Child's Smile

More than just a SmileOral Health and Maine Kids2015 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey found:27.7 percent of kindergartners had dental caries experiences40.9 percent of third graders had dental...

One More Snack: What the U.S. Senate Child Nutrition Bill means for Maine kids

Childhood Food Insecurity (Percent) - 2013KIDS COUNT Data Center60,000 children live in food insecurityChild and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)one more snack, please.U.S. Senate Child Nutrition...

Vote for MCA for Community Grant

a finalist for a $2,000 “Building Our Community” Grant.How You Can Help MCA:Got to: masoniccharitablefoundation.org/Vote for MCA (under district 11!)Spread the wordIndividuals have the opportunity...

Making MaineCare Enrollment Easier for Maine Kids

Healthy Maine kids can grow up to become healthy Maine adults.Here are the Facts:Right now, there are almost 15,000 children (6%) living without health insurance in Maine.Over 8,000of these...

New Year, New Opportunities: A Data-driven Agenda for Maine kids

Data in this post can be found in the 2015 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book or the Data Center.2015 Maine KIDS COUNT Data BookMany of our children are experiencing severe economic, academic and health...

ICYMI: the 2015 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book

“At this moment, we are at a critical juncture for Maine children,” said Claire Berkowitz, Executive Director of the Maine Children’s Alliance. “The data highlights some significant challenges...

BDN Contributor: Maine kids need Congress to finish job on improving child care

This editorial was written by MCA Vice Board Chair, Margaret Leitch Copeland and originally ran in the Bangor Daily News on December 8, 2015. You can access the original article here.early learning...

Toward a World That Works for Everyone...

In honor of #GivingTuesday, our Board Chair Bill Cumming talks about why he gives his time and energy to the Maine Children's Alliance. Read his story and contribute to MCA below.Anything over...

The Future of Maine: Do not let fear cloud your compassion.

This blog post was written by our Executive Director, Claire Berkowitz, in response to the recent remarks made by prominent figures and policymakers regarding the Syrian refugee crisis in the...

Raising Our Voices for Early Learning, Child Health and in Celebration

An Update from the Maine Children's AllianceNovember 2015Getting Their Story Right: the Giraffe Awards Pihcintu Multinational ChorusMaria Padian Out of NowhereShe impressed upon the crowd how...

Getting their Story Right

The 2015 Champions for Children Event, featuring the Giraffe Awards."Here's the thing about kids, they just want to be kids." - Maria Padianthe Pihcintu Multinational Youth Choir.“Anybody can be a...

Meet Maria Padian, 2015 Champions for Children Keynote Speaker

Maria PadianChampions for Children Eventthe Green LadleReserve your ticket today“We think we’re all playing the same game, but we’re not.” -- Out of NowhereOut of Nowhere,how kids often become...

Meet Judy Feinstein, 2015 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the final post in the series of profiles on the 2015 Giraffe Award winners. We hope to see you next week at the Champions for Children Event. This week, we are pleased to introduce you to...

Meet Jim Wellehan, 2015 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the sixth in a series of profiles on the 2015 Giraffe Award winners. Each Tuesday leading up to the Champions for Children Event, we will feature a profile on a 2015 Giraffe Award Winner...

Register for the 2015 Champions for Children today!

Champions for Children Eventavailable now, 2015“stick out their necks”the 2015 Giraffe Awards.Julia SleeperTree Street YouthMaria PadianOut of Nowhere. Out of Nowhere Pihcintu Multicultural Youth...

Meet Sue Mackey Andrews, 2015 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the fifth in a series of profiles on the 2015 Giraffe Award winners. Each Tuesday leading up to the Champions for Children Event, we will feature a profile on a 2015 Giraffe Award Winner...

Protect Maine’s Federal Preschool Funding

Studies show, preschool works. Let preschool work for Maine.one of 18 states awarded federal Preschool Development Grants,Early learning programs not only benefit individual children and their...

Meet John Woods, 2015 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the fourth in a series of profiles on the 2015 Giraffe Award winners. Each Tuesday leading up to the Champions for Children Event, we will feature a profile on a 2015 Giraffe Award Winner...

Meet Nakia Dana, 2015 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the third in a series of profiles on the 2015 Giraffe Award winners. Each Tuesday leading up to the Champions for Children Event, we will feature a profile on a 2015 Giraffe Award Winner...

Maine's rate of uninsured children increases

Why the increase in uninsured Maine children?MCA’s KIDS COUNTa policy paper...

Meet My Place Teen Center, 2015 Giraffe Award Winner

This post is part of our series of profiles on the 2015 Giraffe Award winners. This week, we are pleased to introduce you to the My Place Teen Center in Westbrook.My Place Teen Center“Our...

Meet Donald Sanders, 2015 Giraffe Award Winner

This is the first in a series of profiles on the 2015 Giraffe Award winners. Each Tuesday leading up to the Champions for Children Event, we will feature a profile on a 2015 Giraffe Award Winner...

MCA Presents: the 2015 Giraffe Award Winners

2015 Giraffe Awards“stick out their necks”Maine author Maria PadianTree Street YouthPihcinthu Multinational Children’s Choir.The winners of the 2015 Giraffe Awards:The Director’s Award will be...

2015 End of Legislative Session Newsletter

Early Care & EducationLD 1054, An Act to Provide Funding for Head Start ServicesLD 977, An Act to Improve Child Care in the StateLD 552 on Home VisitingLD 1267 on working familiesOunce of...

Last Call: Show Your Support for MCA!

Purchase Ad Space in the 2015 Champions Program Today!Deadline for Submissions: September 1, 2015.Advertising Opportunities: Join us in celebrating Maine kids, honoring community heroes and...

From the Intern's Desk: Poverty 101

This is part of a weekly series of posts by Roy Ulrickson III, our Master of Social Work Intern. Opinions expressed may not reflect those of MCA, but we want to encourage an open dialogue with our...

ICYMI: 2015 KIDS COUNT Press Event

2015 KIDS COUNT Data BookMaine Center for Economic PolicyPortland ConnectEDAmerican Academy of Pediatrics United Way of Greater Portland2015 KIDS COUNT Data BookAnnie E. Casey FoundationMaine needs...

AECF Presents: the 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book

Rising tide of economic recovery did not lift all boats, leaving many children shipwrecked.“Maine’s economy is not working for all of our children. Too many kids are living in families where no...

BDN Letter to the Editor: Tax credits reduce poverty

Letter to the editor by MCA Board Member Margaret Leitch Copeland. Read the original letter published in the Bangor Daily News July 17, 2015. I applaudGary Laweryson for his July 8 BDN OpEd, which...

From the Intern's Desk: As our Economy Evolves, So Must our Schools

This is part of a weekly series of posts by Roy Ulrickson III, our Master of Social Work Intern.Opinions expressed may not reflect those of MCA, but we want to encourage an open dialogue with our...

Save the Date | 2015 Champions for Children Event

Featuring the 2015 Giraffe AwardsCelebrate with us!Join us2015 Giraffe Awards.October 27, 2015 | 5:30 pmat the Green Ladle**More information regarding honorees, speakers and event registration will...

Stay Connected to MCA Update Your Info

HUGE THANK YOUYouaction alertsYou made us better advocates for Maine kids, youth and families.our work is not overstay connectedUpdate your information electronicallySign up to...receive new data &...

From the Intern's Desk: Proficiency-based Teacher Ed

This is part of a weekly series of posts by Roy Ulrickson III, our Master of Social Work Intern.Opinions expressed may not reflect those of MCA, but we want to encourage an open dialogue with our...

From the Intern's Desk: Adopting Proficiency Based Standards

This is part of a weekly series of posts by Roy Ulrickson III, our Master of Social Work Intern. Roy will be providing a scholarly analysis and perspective on early child care intervention, social...

Call for Photo Submissions: MCA Needs Your Help

Learn how you can help MCA get ready for the 2015 Maine KIDS COUNT Data book.1They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Here at the Maine Children’s Alliance, we use research and data to...

Support Head Start: Maine Can't Afford Another Missed Opportunity

LD 977, An Act to Improve Child Care in the Stateone single vote. LD 1054 for Head Start FundingClick here to ask your Legislator to support Head Start funding.investing in early childhood programs...

The State of Early Childhood in Maine: A June 2015 Update

Highlights from our June 2015 Early Childhood NewsletterAn Update on Early Childhood BillsLD 552, An Act To Provide Funding for Home Visiting ServicesLD 977, An Act To Improve Child Care in the...

URGENT: LAST CHANCE TO SUPPORT EARLY CHILDCARE IN STATE BUDGET

CLICK HERE to contact your Legislator NOW! Support Early Childhood Programs!Today, the Appropriations and Financial Affairs committee is set to make critical funding decisions regarding early...

URGENT: Calling All Champions of Maine Children

"It is a huge honor to accept this award. I've worked on a lot of issues in the Legislature but early childhood is the issue closes to my heart." - 2014 Director's Award Winner, Former Rep. Seth...

Maine a national leader in family-style placements for kids in child welfare

New report reveals how Maine can continue its success by providing services to families in crisis and continuing the state’s commitment to kinship careA report released today by the Annie E. Casey...

MCA ACTION ALERT | Protect Early Childhood Programs

CLICK HERE to contact your Legislator NOW! Support Early Childhood Programs!On Thursday, May 7, 2015, the Health and Human Services committee held public hearings on four bills that would increase...

MCA's 5 Minute Guide to Early Childhood Programs

MCA's latest infographic is a 5 minute guide to the importance of Maine’s early childhood programs — home visiting programs, child care, Head Start and Early Head Start, and public pre-K. These...

Maine's Child Care Tax Credit

As April 15th comes and goes, many of us are thinking about taxes. Maine is in the middle of an important discussion about how we structure our tax system. One piece of the system for families is...

Maine’s Congressional Delegation Supports Children’s Health

U.S. Senate voted overwhelminglyvoted for the CHIP funding extensionsupported an amendment...

Early Childhood Advocacy and Legislative Update

Social/Emotional DevelopmentWe had been hearing reports of increasing numbers of very young children being encouraged to leave or expelled from programs because of challenging behaviors they were...

Maine's early childhood programs need your voice

(800) 423-6900800) 423-2900http://legislature.maine.gov/committee/#Committees/HHSShare with them about the importance of investing now in our future by supporting early childhood programs....

Keep the Fund for a Healthy Maine

Fund for a Healthy Maine web site...

Maine’s future rests on how well we invest in our children

The following testimony was submitted by the Maine Children's Alliance:Testimony of Rita Furlow, Senior Policy AnalystMaine Children’s AllianceBefore the Joint Standing Committee onAppropriations...

Get Our Future Passed

HOW WELL THEY END UP DEPENDS ON HOW WELL THEY START OUT.Take Action this week to supportMaine Families Home Visiting ProgramWHAT THEY DO: The Maine Families Home Visiting Program is part of Maine's...

Get Our Future Passed - Action Alert

HOW WELL THEY END UP DEPENDS ON HOW WELL THEY START OUTTake Action this week to supportMaine Families Home Visiting Program...

Public investments reduce child poverty rate

® Measuring Access to Opportunity in the United States,Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM)By using the SPM, the data show that without any government interventions, Maine’s child poverty rate would...

Early Childhood Update

1. Proposed Rules for Public Preschool Programs in MaineThe Maine Department of Education has proposed rules that would create standards for public preschools in Maine. A public hearing on the...

Access to Health Insurance is Good for Kids, and it’s Good for You too!

Below is an important message for early education and care providers from the Administration for Children and Families.With the Affordable Care Act, millions of uninsured Americans now have new...

Half of Maine’s Young Families Struggle to Make Ends Meet

But Public and Private Efforts to Connect Low-Income Families with Early Childhood Education, Job Training and Other Tools Can Remove Barriers to OpportunityAugusta - A new report from the Annie E....

Your Voice Can Make a Difference for Children and Families

Click herePledge to vote for kids!High quality early care and education opportunities,Health insurance,Free school lunches and other nutritional programs,Summer programs,After-school programs, and...

What happened at the Children's Convention?

Educare Central MaineEarly ChildhoodHealthFamily Economic Security Preparing our Students for the FutureRecent ActionWhat you can doDHHS websiteTimothy.Swift@maine.gov...

2014 Champions for Children

Maine Children's AllianceThe Green LadleMaine Wabanaki-REACHThe Director's Award -- to Representative Seth Berry, a state legislator serving District 67 for eight years and outgoing Majority Leader...

Maine Children's Convention

Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA) released the Platform for Maine's Children at the first ever Children’s Educare Central MaineBingham ProgramBuffet Early Childhood Fundmainekids@mekids.org...

Fighting Poverty: Two Important Workshops on Sept. 10th!

The Bingham Program invites you to two timely and important workshops on Wednesday, September 10th in Augusta. The workshops are free but advance registration is required.Reframing PovertyWednesday...

A learning mind and a loving heart

Five years ago, MCA invited students from the RSU1 school district to join us at the State House for the release of the 2010 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book. One of our guests was Kyle Hietala, an 8th...

Voluntary public preschool to expand in Maine

lawFight Crime Invest in KidsMaine Chamber of CommerceMission ReadinessMaine Women’s LobbyEducation CommitteeEducare Central Maine...

To keep children healthy, Maine must ensure parents have health coverage

Mainers have an opportunity to extend health insurance to almost 70,000 Mainers. When the Legislature reconvenes tomorrow to address the vetoes issued by Governor LePage, one of the votes will...

Race for Results

Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All ChildrenThe report makes four policy recommendations to help ensure that all children and their families achieve their full potential:Gather...

Proposed changes to the TANF program will not improve the lives of Maine children

The Maine Children's Alliance opposes the bills being touted by their proponents as “welfare reform” – LD 1842, LD 1815, LD 1820, and LD 1822 – because we are well aware that TANF, at its core, is...

A fun way to support the Maine Children's Alliance

Margaritas Mexican RestaurantMargaritas will host a Noche Mexicana Fundraiser and donate 15% of pre-taxed food and beverage sales from participating families, friends and supporters to the Maine...

Leaders from Every State Say Act Now to Protect CHIP

sent a letter to the President and congressional leaders...

The Heroes Among Us

MCA's "new" Executive Director, Claire Berkowitz, introduced herself to attendees at the annual Legislative Reception on January 28, 2014 in Augusta. Her remarks are below.MCA’s KIDS COUNT famous...

MCA opposes cuts that would impact children in Maine

Rita Furlow, MCA’s Senior Policy Analyst, recently testified before the before the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, urging them to reject the recommended cuts to...

A bright spot for early learning

Below is an excerpt from a statement released by the National Women's Law Center about the federal budget agreement: As you know, last night, the House and Senate Chairs of the Budget Committees...

Youth “Aged-Out” of Foster Care and under 26 Qualify for MaineCare

January 1, 2014!If you or anyone you know is involved with young adults who may have been in foster care or with the foster care community, help us get the word out that many who are uninsured now...

KIDS COUNT

The following remarks were made by Claire Berkowitz at the KIDS COUNT Press Conference on November 21, 2013.KIDS COUNTSuzanne McCormickDr. Feder Annie E. Casey FoundationClick here to access the...

19th Annual Maine KIDS COUNT Reports Latest Data

Maine kids face adversity in tough economic climate2013 Maine KIDS COUNT Data BookUnited Way of Greater PortlandMaine Chapter of the American Academy of PediatricsMaine’s sixteen countiespublic...

The First Eight Years

The First Eight Years: Building a Foundation for Lifetime SuccessThe reportSupporting parents as they care for their children;Fostering development through access to quality early care and...

94,000 Maine children face food assistance cut in November

94,000 of them children47 million Americans,The House Republican proposal would cut assistance for at least 4 million low-income people, including some of the poorest Americans, many children and...

What was that news about more state cuts????

You might have heard on the news about more state budget cuts affecting children in the offing. Here is the story.Richard Rosen, the director of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Management...

Projected benefits of President Obama's early learning initiative

Raising Smart, Healthy Kids: Expanding Early Education Initiatives with Funding from the Federal Tobacco Tax,benefit 662 Maine childrenCampaign for Tobacco-Free KidsClick here to access the full...

Disturbing continued rise of child poverty in Maine

MECEPhereKey ACS Data Findings for Maine Overall, 14.7% of Mainers (adults and children) live in poverty.More than 1 in 5 children (20.9% of children under 18 years of age) live in poverty in Maine...

America's Families and Living Arrangements

America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2012Below are some findings from the report.Sixty-six percent of households in 2012 were family households, down from 81 percent in 1970.Over the last 40...

Biennial Budget Restores Head Start Funding

In a major success of the session for the Maine Children's Alliance (MCA) and other children's advocates, the Biennial Budget adopted by the Maine Legislature included a limited restoration of...

ME Ranks #13 in KIDS COUNT

The Annie E. Casey Foundation released its annual KIDS COUNT report on child well-being today and ranked Maine 13th among all the states. Maine ranked 1st in child health and 6th in the overall...

MCA asks Maine's US Senators to support ECE

The President has put forth an ambitious plan that would effectively mitigate some of the damage of the sequester cuts and make high-quality programs for infants and toddlers more available and...

Sign the SNAP petition

Below is an important message from our national partners, Voices for America's Children.Nutrition assistance programs supporting our nation’s most vulnerable families are under attack. Funding for...

A Good Investment

and Maine EarlyLearning Investment Group (MELIG)Path to a Better Future: The Fiscal Payoff of Investment in Early Childhood in MaineExecutive Summary of Professor Trostel's ReportFull ReportReturn...

Universal Pre-K in Maine

Last week, the Maine Children's Alliance and other education groups testified in support of LD 1530 - An Act to Establish a Process for the Implementation of Universal Voluntary Prekindergarten...

Maine's children need tax fairness

Maine's children need tax fairness...

Restore investments in early childhood

The following statement was made by Mary Henderson (MCA's Senior Policy Analyst) during a press conference regarding the restoration of state funds to Head Start, Child Care Subsidies & Home...

Who sticks their neck out for kids?

The Maine Children's Alliance is now accepting nominations for the 19th annual Giraffe Awards, given to those who "stick their necks out for kids."hereThursday, October 3rd,heretstevens@mekids...

Restore funding for early childhood

TESTIMONY OF NED MCCANN, MAINE CHILDREN’S ALLIANCEBefore the Joint Standing Committees on Appropriations and Financial Affairs andHealth and Human Services on the Biennial BudgetMarch 27, 2013Good...

MCA opposes cuts to General Assistance

TESTIMONY OF MARY HENDERSON, MAINE CHILDREN’S ALLIANCEBefore the Joint Standing Committees on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and Health and Human Services on the Biennial BudgetMarch 28, 2013...

National KIDS COUNT Report Shows Decrease in Youth Incarceration in the United States and Maine

Reducing Youth Incarceration in the United States, on a single day Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)No Place for Kids: The Case for Reducing Juvenile Incarceration2012 to 2014...

Sequestration in Maine

The Maine Children's Alliance is a member of the New England Consortium (NEC), a six-state collaborative of child research and policy organizations working to advance policies to reduce poverty and...

Staff change at the Maine Children's Alliance

Many of you have received this news in one form or another, but the Maine Children's Alliance has undergone a staffing change. Our former Early Childhood Specialist Judy Reidt-Parker has accepted a...

State Budget Should Focus on Building a Stronger Middle Class

The Maine Children's Alliance joined our partners Maine Equal Justice Partners, Maine People's Alliance, Maine Women's Lobby and Maine Center for Economic Policy to call upon legislators to pass a...

Impact of 2012-2013 Early Childhood Budget Cuts

2012-2013 BudgetEarly childhood programs took a very large collective hit in the budget passed by Maine’s 125th Legislature and signed into law by Governor LePage in 2012. Now, the waiting list...

Screening and Assessment in Early Childhood Settings

ScreeningAssessment[1]Assessment is an on-going and comprehensive process aimed at understanding and improving individual student and classroom learning.[2][1] EARLY HEAD START TIP SHEET No....

Child Care Assistance Policies

National Women’s Law CenterDownward Slide: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2012thWhere Does Maine Stand?Eligibility:Wait Lists:Parent Co-Payments:Provider Reimbursements:thththQuality for ME,...

18th Annual Champions for Children

At last week's 18th annual Champions for Children event, the Maine Children's Alliance honored distinguished Mainers for their work fighting hard for children. The Champions for Children "Giraffe...

MCA Guide for Voters and Candidates

Guide for Voters and CandidatesClick here for a copy...

Step Up For Kids Week

Step Up for Kids is an annual event sponsored by Every Child Matters -ECM, a non-partisan, non-profit working to make children a political priority. ECM is a national organization headquartered in...

Maine Children's Alliance Holds First Children's Issues Forum

Last night in South Portland, the Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA) held the first of three children’s issues forums. The event was co-sponsored by the Opportunity Alliance and the Wheelock College...

Children's Issues Forums

Sponsored by the Maine Children's Alliance, and co-sponsored by Educare Central Maine, Opportunity Alliance, Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care, and the Wheelock College Maine Alumni...

Maine School Readiness Report Released

Birth to age 5 is a critical period for a child's future developmentthird annual data report on school readinessMaking Maine Work: Investment in Young Children = Real Economic DevelopmentMaine...

How are the Children?

18.2 % of Maine children continue to live in poverty, median family incomes are down, but more young adults have health insurance coverageAmerican Community Survey (ACS[1][1] Duncan, G. & Magnuson,...

The US Census Bureau is launching a series of data releases starting today, September 12th

U.S. Census Bureau2011 Current Population Survey (CPS)Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011http://www.census.gov/cps/data/IncomeMedian family household income...

KIDS COUNT Infographic Challenge

KIDS COUNT Infographic ChallengeKIDS COUNT Data CenterThe submission period will open on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 and close for voting on Sunday, September 30, 2012. Voting will begin on Monday...

National KIDS COUNT Index Ranks Maine 13th in Child Well-Being

Areas of Concern Include Economic Well-Being & 4th Grade Reading ScoresAUGUSTA, ME. (July 25, 2012) - In the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 23rdKIDS COUNT Data Book, the child well-being index has...

Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)

On June 29, 2012, Five Wabanaki Chiefs and Governor Paul LePage signed an historic mandate to begin the work of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The...

18th Annual Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards

Honoring those who "stick their necks out" for kidsDATE: Thursday, October 11, 2012TIME: 5:30-7:30 pmLOCATION: Freeport Hilton Garden InnHors d'oeuvres, dessert buffet, cash bar and live musicFOR...

KIDS COUNT Policy Report on Kinship Now Available

Stepping Up for Kids: What Government and Communities Should Do to Support Kinship FamiliesKIDS COUNT Data CenterStepping Up for KidsMaine Kids-Kinwww.mainekids-kin.orgStepping Up for Kids...

ACTION ALERT: CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR THIS WEEKEND!

URGE THEM TO PROTECT VITAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND PARENTS!Maine's children, youth and working parents urgently need your help.The Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee is working...

MCA to co-host webinar on Child Welfare Funding Opportunities: Title IV-E and Medicaid

For those that were not able to participate in the Child Welfare Financing Webinar that was scheduled for Friday, April 20th , you have another chance! The webinar was postponed and has been...

Maine receives mixed ratings in The 2011 State Preschool Yearbook

The National Institute of Early Education Research at Rutgers University has released its annual report on pre-K in the United States, “The State of Preschool 2011.”The 2011 State Preschool...

Young Adults Without a High School Diploma Face Tough Odds

stwww.mekids.org/2012kidscountdatabook.php....

Children Living in High-Poverty Communities Surged 25 Percent Over Last Decade

In its first data snapshot of the year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT explores the increased number of children living in America's high-poverty communities. The new snapshot...

Early Childhood Policy Update, February 2012

Supplemental Budget Update:Members of the Appropriations Committee came to agreement on the cuts to this current year budget (that runs through June 30, 2012). The next step will be for these...

Early Childhood Policy Update

Maine Children's Alliance Early Childhood Policy Update January 25, 2012__________________________________________________________The proposed DHHS supplemental budget continues to be the most...

Maine Children's Alliance Early Childhood Policy Update

The Governor's proposed budget cuts to DHHS programs included significant cuts to Head Start, child care subsidies and the home visiting program. These important programs provide very distinct and...

Third Annual Report of Head Start in Maine

AUGUSTA--click hereFor more information contact:jreidtparker@mekids.orgkathyc@kvcap.org...

2011 Champions for Children Winners Announced

Maine Children’s Alliance to Present Giraffe Awards at Annual EventThe Maine Children's Alliance (MCA) celebrates those who “stick their necks out for kids” by presenting Giraffe Awards at its 17th...

Call for Photos of Maine Kids

The Maine Children’s Alliance is seeking new photographs of Maine children to use in our publications and products, such as the Maine KIDS COUNT data book. KIDS COUNT documents the condition of...

MCA Unveils Updated Website

New Site and Social Media Add Ways to ‘Give Maine Kids A Voice’As you can see, the Maine Children’s Alliance has a newly redesigned website, which features easier navigation and more tools to...

Home Visiting in Maine To Receive Federal Funding

Maine's home visiting programs to benefit from federal funding. Department of Health and Human Services announces $224 million to go toward evidence-based home visiting.http://www.hhs.gov/news...

Prof. Heckman On Early Childhood Investment

Nobel Laureate Prof. James Heckman writes to the Senate "Supercommittee" about how early childhood investments lead to deficit reduction. http://www.birthtofivepolicy.org/Portals/0/pdfs...

MCA and Partners Join For Census Data Release

Maine Children's Alliance (MCA) collaborated with Maine Center for Economic Policy (MeCEP), Maine Equal Justice Partners (MEJP) and Maine Community Action Association (MCAA) to host a press event...

American Community Survey Data Release

Latest Census Data Paints Bleak Picture for FamiliesPoverty Numbers Particularly High For Maine’s Youngest ChildrenAUGUSTA, ME (September 22, 2011)—Families continue to feel the effects of the...

MCA and Coalition Partners Analyze Census Data

Maine Children's Alliance joined with Maine Center for Economic Policy and Maine Equal Justice Partners to release this information about the latest Current Population Survey numbers:New Census...

Maine Children's Alliance Welcomes New Vice President

We are pleased to welcome Ned McCann who joins the Maine Children's Alliance this month as our new vice president. Ned will be an important addition to our organization, helping MCA President/CEO...

Annie E. Casey Foundation: 2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book

AUGUSTA, Maine (August 8, 2011) – On August 17, 2011, the Annie E. Casey Foundation will release its 22nd annual KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a national and state-by-state report that includes key...

A balance of cuts and revenues needed to resolve default crisis

By Dean Crocker and Christopher St. John, Special to the BDNThe Aug. 2 deadline to raise the nation’s debt limit is just days away. Without question, Congress must raise the debt limit. Failing to...

Testimony from State Budget Hearings 2011 Released

This is a compilation of testimony given during state budget hearings during the month of April, 2011. Various Maine Children’s Alliance staff and affiliated organizations spoke at committee...

Maine Children's Alliance Calls for Giraffe Award Nominations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAUGUSTA, Maine (May 25, 2011)—The Maine Children’s Alliance is now accepting nominations for the 17th annual Giraffe Awards, given to those who “stick their necks out for kids....

Maine Children's Alliance's Elinor Goldberg Retires from Decades of Child Advocacy

Expansion of Maine’s Medicaid program to include what was initially called “Cub Care”. Now known as SCHIP, her leadership has expanded health care coverage to Maine’s children;MCA and its KIDS...

A Guide to Challenges in Children's Mental Health: The Views of Maine Stakeholders 2011

The Mental Health Data Book: A Guide to Challenges in Children's Mental Health: The Views of Maine Stakeholders 2011 is offered as a reference to help legislators and other policymakers understand...

2011 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book Released

The Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA) released the 17th annual Maine KIDS COUNT data book yesterday at Portland High School. KIDS COUNT serves as a valuable resource to policymakers, educators,...

Recession Takes Its Toll on Maine Children and Families 17th Annual Maine KIDS COUNT Reports Latest Data

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPORTLAND, Maine (March 17, 2011) – The number of Maine children living in poverty has increased, according to the 17th annual Maine KIDS COUNT data book released today.Effects...

Maine Children’s Growth Council Report on School Readiness

This report was developed for the Maine Children’s Growth Council by the Maine Children’s Alliance. The Maine Children’s Alliance advocates for sound public policies that improve the lives of all...

2010 Maine HEAD START Report

Head Start provides early care and education, as well as health, nutrition, mental health, social and family support to low-income families with children from prenatal to five years old. 2010:...

A Guide To Challenges In Children's Mental Health: The Views Of Maine Stakeholders - 2010

The Maine Children's Alliance is pleased to present the viewpoints of seven Maine organizations whose work is critical to the mental health of Maine's children. This presentation is not meant to be...

Maine Children's Mental Health Report

THE MAINE CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE (MCA) IS PLEASED TO PRESENT this expanded Children’s Mental Health 2010 Report made possible by a grant from the Maine Health Access Foundation. This report presents...

The Value of Family, Friend & Neighbor Care in Maine

The Value of Family, Friend & Neighbor Care in Maine - An Issue BriefThe search for child care can be a daunting task for parents. Above all else, parents need to know that their child will be...

Maine Children's Growth Council Report on School Readiness

This report provides an overview of the state’s early childhood system and highlights the strengths as well as some areas in which improvement is needed....

Smart Health

School-based medical clinics across maine get a chance to prove their worthIt's just after lunch at Foxcroft Academy, in Dover-Foxcroft and the tiled halls ring with the clamor and din of teenagers...

our blog

Explore stories, insights, and updates that highlight the policies, people, and data driving progress for children and families across Maine.

Federal Update & End of Session Summary

🚨Action Alert - CALL Susan Collins today!

Celebrating the Heart of Our Organization: Rebecca Herron

Guide to Knowing Your Rights and Promoting Your Safety

Celebrating the Remarkable Contributions of Melissa Hackett: A True Champion for Maine’s Children

Announcing MCA's 2024 Giraffe Award Winners!

MCA Staff Spotlight: Rita Furlow

Needed change is on the horizon for Maine’s Child Development Services

Announcing the 2023 MCA Giraffe Award Winners!

The 2022 Giraffe Award Winners

MCA Looks Forward

Legislative Session Wrap

Update on MCA 2022 Policy Priorities

Census 2020: Key Takeaways from the Decennial Census Count in Maine

Meet Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Victoria Siering, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet cPort Credit Union, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

Amber Lombardi, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Lori Moses, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

Maine College Students and the Pandemic

Legislative and Appropriations Wrap

Maine College Students and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The American Rescue Plan is the significant investment in children and families necessary to meet the unprecedented needs of the moment.

Elevating the needs of Maine children and families in policy and funding in 2021

New report reveals children and families struggling during COVID-19 and recommends ways to respond

Meet Hannaford, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Steve Meister, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Abdul Ali, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Camelia Babson-Haley, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

Safety net programs in Maine provide critical support during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond

Building a Better System of Child Care for Families, Educators, and the Economy

Child Care is an Essential Part of Our School and Economic Reopening Plans

The Child Care System in Crisis

Back to School: Key considerations and options for a safe and supportive reopening of classrooms in Maine

How Maine was able to respond quickly to reduce the number of youth in corrections during the COVID-19 crisis

Black Mainers Are Being Hit Hard by COVID-19

Let's Talk About Racism

Maine behind in 2020 Census response rates

Supporting Children and Families During the COVID-19 Crisis

Child poverty rates in Maine remained relatively unchanged for 2018, though wide disparities are evident by county

The Child Welfare System in Maine: An Update on Reforms and Improvements

MCA Welcomes New Executive Director

Meet Stephanie Bratnick, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Bath Savings Bank, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Adelaide Lyall, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Maine Principals' Association and Special Olympics Maine, 2019 Giraffe Award Winners

Meet Elinor Goldberg, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Helen Blank, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Percentage of Children Living in Concentrated Poverty in Maine Remains Below National Averages

The State of Child Care in Maine

The changing demographics of Maine

MCA statement on child detention and family separation at the southern border

Legislative Roundup!

The National 2019 KIDS COUNT Data Book is out!

Maine Children's Cabinet Holds First Meeting

The State of Preschool 2018

Keeping Kids in Families: New Data on Trends in Foster Care Placements

The 2019 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book is here!

Maine Children's Caucus Welcomes Representative Ruth Kagi

Attendance Matters: Every Day Counts for Maine Children in Schools

Protect Immigrant Families: Opposing the Proposed Public Charge Rule

Meet Osgood, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Megan Perry, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Charlie Harrington, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet the Susan Curtis Foundation, Camp Susan Curtis, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

Meet Karen Heck, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

MCA Statement on Appointment of Mary Mayhew to Director of Federal Medicaid Program

Meet Kathy Colfer, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner

Senators Should Keep Maine's Youth in Mind When Voting on Kavanaugh

Child poverty rates down, latest data shows

OPEGA Report Hearing on TANF - MCA Testimony 7.26.18

KIDS COUNT 2018 Data Book Release

MCA statement regarding family separation at the US border

Maine Children's Caucus Welcomes Speakers on Opioid Crisis in Maine

Big Wins for Kids in the 2018 Omnibus Bill!

Maine Children's Caucus Welcomes the Maine Children's Trust

MCA Welcomes New Staff Members!