Maine Kids VOICE

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 opportunity to strengthen and stabilize families who continue to face significant health and economic challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic. They also provide an opportunity to invest in the long-term recovery of our state, by investing in the programs and services that support the needs of working families, who are raising the next generation of Mainers, and who are the
backbone of our workforce and communities.

Budget - "the change package"

We support and are grateful for the following items in the Governor’s proposed “change package” that represent essential investments in advancing the health, education, and well-being of Maine children and families:
o $187 million to meet the State’s obligation to pay 55 percent of local education costs for the
first time in Maine’s history
o $151 million to further reform MaineCare to advance the health of Maine people and support
the economic recovery of the health sector, including expanding access to preventive and
routine dental care
o Expanding MaineCare and CHIP eligibility to children under the age of 21 regardless of
immigrant status
o Increasing the state Earned Income Tax Credit benefit, and expanding the Child and Dependent
Care Tax Credit, to conform with federal tax code changes in the American Rescue Plan Act
o $1 million to support the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine
Tribal Populations’ work - a good step toward fully funding the critical work of the Commission.

Early Care and Education

Child care (LD 1712). Quality, affordable child care is critical to ensuring parents can work and children get the supportive early learning experiences they need to grow and thrive. Maine can increase the number of children in high-quality early care and education by growing community-based partnership models that support the needs of parents, providers, and young children.

Health, Safety, and Well-being

Post-partum MaineCare coverage (LD 265). The postpartum period is a medically vulnerable period for many women. High-quality care for mothers up to one year after birth helps to identify potential issues and ensure women connect to follow-up care with their physician. Assuring that women who are eligible for MaineCare during pregnancy and birth have continuous coverage postpartum supports positive outcomes for both mothers and their infants.

CHIP expansion (LD 372). The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has a long history of bipartisan support and a track record of success that provides quality, affordable health care coverage to children from low-income households. CHIP ensures these Maine kids can access the routine care they need. Given the high cost of private health insurance, and the impact of the pandemic on employment and thus employer-sponsored health insurance, expanding
eligibility will put health insurance coverage within reach for many more families in our state.

School-based health centers and school-based oral health care (LDs 979 and 1501). School-based health services provide easy access to age-appropriate health care for children at a time and place where they already are - in school - creating a space where education and health intersect. They also eliminate barriers to care that parents face in missing work and handling transportation to get their child to health care appointments.

Support for young people with foster care experience (LD 1091). The transition from adolescence into adulthood is difficult for most young people. For youth who have experienced foster care and may not have permanent family relationships, it is especially difficult. By providing the kind of support to older youth with foster care experience that most young adults need and can access through parents or other permanent adult relationships, we can ensure these Mainers have the best chance of transitioning into adulthood successfully.

Family Economic and Food Security

Free school meals (LD 1679). Children can’t focus on learning when they’re hungry. Yet the current policy for school meals creates stigma and shame for students who rely on those meals for their nutritional needs, and a barrier for students who are not eligible but still experience food insecurity. By providing universal free school meals, we can eliminate barriers to participation, stigma associated with receiving assistance, school meals debt incurred by districts, and ensure kids get the food they need to be able to learn and thrive in school. Take the lead in recognizing the critical role food security plays in the health, well-being, and academic success of our students, by making school meals free for all.

Now is the time to support the conditions that allow all Maine children and families to thrive.
Investment in Maine children and families is not only the right thing to do, so that every child has the
opportunity for healthy development, but it is also the smart thing to do for our state’s long-term
economic success. Working together, we can return not to Maine as it was, but to a Maine that is more equitable, more
resilient, and more united in achieving the vision that all children and families across our state have the
opportunity to meet their full potential.

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:03:31 GMT

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 families. The President’s proposals go back on the Federal Government’s long-held commitments to children in the areas of health, nutrition and education. These drastic cuts targeting programs like Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will adversely affect child development in Maine and there will be serious consequences for years to come.

The proposed budget makes deep cuts to Medicaid funding and allows states to radically restructure this essential program. This jeopardizes access to health care and coverage for the 131,000 Maine children – 4 out of 10 – who rely on Medicaid for health insurance each year. In Maine, almost two-thirds – over 8,000 – babies receive health care through Medicaid at birth. These cuts in addition to the $880 billion in cuts from Medicaid in the recently passed health care bill would be devastating to Maine children and families.

While the budget threatens the health and well-being of children and families on Medicaid, it also cuts federal funding for CHIP by 20 percent. CHIP provides free or low-cost coverage to children who just miss the income eligibility guidelines for Medicaid. It ensures fewer children fall through the gaps as their families move slowly out of poverty. In Maine, over 20,000 children rely on this program for health care coverage. These cuts could either force the state to cover fewer children or shift the cost-burden onto the state budget.

Research shows that children who have health insurance through Medicaid do better than children in similar families that don’t have it: they are healthier, miss less school, are more likely to finish high school, attend college and graduate from college, be healthier as adults, and earn more as adults.

In the President’s proposal, changes include a 25 percent cut to funding for the SNAP program (formerly named food stamps), which puts children at risk of going hungry, becoming sick and struggling in school. As of 2016, over 67,500 Maine children – 1 in 4 – received SNAP benefits. This could change if the new budget passes. Like the cuts to Medicaid and CHIP, it also puts states in the difficult position of either serving fewer Maine kids or finding additional funds in the state budget to make ends meet.

Children whose families benefit from SNAP are more likely to be in good health, develop normally for their age, avoid hospitalization, do better in school, and graduate from high school than children in similar families without SNAP. This is good for children and families, as well as the future of our state.

Other major targets of the President’s budget include early childhood education program vouchers, after-school programs for school-aged students, college work-study programs and many more.

The budget only provides level funding to the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) which allows eligible young children from low-income families to access quality, early learning programs. In Maine, unless funding for child care is increased, 1,964 children are likely to lose their child care . This is particularly troubling since the number of children served by this program has declined dramatically since 2006, while the need has not decreased at nearly the same pace.

The budget also eliminates funding for after-school programs, reduces funding for college work-study programs, and eliminates the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) program with helps youth from particularly low-income households attend college. These major changes affect over 5,000 Maine children served in the federally funded after-school programs, over 7,000 Maine students who receive work-study funding, and over 11,000 Maine students who participate in the SEOG program.

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

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:03:31 GMT

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 university and community college systems have played a critical role in addressing the needs of students and American Rescue Act funds offer an opportunity for continued support to students to help them succeed in meeting their higher education goals.

When the pandemic struck in March 2020, students were midway through their spring semester. Suddenly, traditional college students across the country who had been enjoying the full on-campus experience found everything changed. Most colleges switched quickly from mostly in person learning to mostly remote learning. For many students, the online course experience made it more difficult to learn. ⁱ . For others, online learning was more accessible and had advantages. For some students, the pandemic brought other events that impacted their education, such as job loss, child care demands, and new responsibilities with their families. ⁱⁱ

In Maine, the higher education community, including private institutions, worked to develop a framework for returning to in-person learning safely by the fall of 2020. ⁱⁱⁱ Yet, online learning continues to be an important mode of instruction even as students have returned to living on campuses at the University of Maine System. By the spring semester of 2021 , online courses accounted for 83% of all credit hours of the University of Maine system. This is up from 28% of all credit hours delivered online in Spring 2020. ^iv

Percentage of classes online and in-person at the University of Maine System

College Enrollment Trends

Nationally, overall postsecondary enrollment dropped by 3.5%, or 603,000 students, comparing spring semester 2021 with spring semester 2020. Mirroring this, the undergraduate head count for Maine’s public 4-year college system decreased 3.3%, excluding high school students enrolled in early college ^v . According to Samantha Warren, Director of Government & Community Relations, the University of Maine System offered timely supports to meet their basic and academic needs. These included expanding in-person and telehealth counseling services, providing near immediate reimbursement for room and board when campuses closed, quickly distributing federal student emergency aid, maintaining food and housing for those who did not have a stable home to go to, and establishing hundreds of parking lot Wi-Fi hot spots across Maine. With these supports, 98.5% of students in the UMaine system persisted with their courses when the pandemic struck, slightly exceeding performance from the spring semester of the prior year before the pandemic. ^vi

Maine’s public 2-year colleges had a slightly higher enrollment decline than 2-year colleges nationwide. Comparing spring 2021 semester to spring 2020 before the pandemic, Maine community colleges enrollment decreased 10.6% compared to the national decline of 9.5% at 2-year colleges. ^vii

Looking at both public 4-year and public 2-year colleges in Maine, spring enrollments were down by approximately 2,200 students from 2020 to 2021.

Reasons for the enrollment declines at community colleges during the pandemic are tied to the challenges many of the students faced even before the pandemic. Students at community college are more likely to come from low-income families, to be working in essential jobs, to be parents themselves, and to be juggling work and school than the undergraduates at 4-year public colleges. ^x For these reasons, community college students were disproportionally affected by the pandemic both nationally and here in Maine. Maine Community College System’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Noel Gallagher said “COVID-19 impacted the community college population harder than most. Parents and students lost jobs, already scarce and expensive childcare options disappeared, and community college students who are parents of young children — or caretakers for their elders — are managing complicated home lives.“ ^xi

Like the University of Maine System, during the pandemic, the Maine Community College System shifted to remote learning, and greatly expanded student supports. Tutoring, library and counseling services were moved online, with expanded early morning and evening hours. New technology assistance and aid was distributed so that all remote learners had the technology (computers, hotspots, special dispensation to come on campus if they couldn’t study from home) they needed to access courses. The community college food pantries added curbside pickup. Emergency financial assistance— to help with basic food, housing and transportation costs began right away— and the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges launched a four-year $1M fundraising effort to fund emergency aid at all seven colleges. ^xii

During the pandemic, more women than men lost employment and many women left the labor force to care for children who were not attending schools in-person. ^xiii For this reason, some predicted that more women would leave college than men. ^xiv However, college enrollment among men was already declining before the pandemic, and the pandemic exacerbated that trend.

Men's enrollment declined more than women's comparing Spring Semester 2020 to Spring Semester 2021

A survey by New America ^xviii attempted to uncover the reasons why more men left college when the pandemic hit. Their survey found men were more likely to say they did not want to take classes online; and/or didn’t have internet access or had unreliable internet. Men who stopped attending were also more likely than women to be enrolled in hands-on education such as construction or manufacturing.

2020 High School Graduates Starting College

Maine students who were high school seniors in March 2020 graduated at about the same rate as the year before at 87.5%. ^xix But due to the changing demographics of Maine, there were fewer students in 12 ^th grade, resulting in 460 fewer graduates. ^xx For the fall of 2020, there were 611 fewer Maine high school graduates enrolled in either Maine’s public 4-year or public 2-year colleges. This drop of 11.3% is due to both the impact of COVID-19 and a declining pool of students. ^xxi Nationally, for the fall of 2020, enrollments from high school directly to college dropped 6.8% . ^xxii

Fewer high school graduates in Maine started college within 12 months, Fall 2020 ^xxiii

College Persistence

Nationally, the rate of students persisting to their second year in the fall of 2020 fell from 75.9% to 73.9%, the largest drop since 2012. For Maine high school students graduating in May 2019 and persisting to the second year of college in the fall of 2020, the rates were similar to the national rates, declining from 77.1% to 75.1%.” The final estimates for spring enrollment confirm the pandemic’s severe impact on students and colleges this year… particularly at community colleges,” said Doug Shapiro, Executive Director, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. ^xxiv

Looking Ahead

During the pandemic, online learning greatly expanded at the University of Maine System, and it is likely that online courses will not fall to pre-pandemic levels. New pandemic-related federal funding of $120 million coupled with a $71 million federal grant received in December will increase broadband services in Maine ^xxv ^. This will be helpful for students who are accessing online education from Maine’s most rural communities. That said, for the fall of 2021, Maine public 2-year and 4-year colleges anticipate returning more fully to in-person learning.

To ensure student success, the Maine Community College System as well as the University of Maine System will need to continue offering expanded mental health services, access to adequate food, safe places to study, internet access and other basic supports. Such wraparound supports should also include access to affordable child care. A national study shows that student supports can reduce enrollment declines. ^xxvi

It will be critical to have viable career pathways for young adults who were in high school or college in 2020 and 2021, so they can access good jobs that provide meaningful work at a livable wage. It is noteworthy that Maine plans to use $35 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to support the community college system and build career ladders in healthcare and other vital industries. Also, the Maine Department of Labor has been awarded a separate $5.5 million federal grant to strengthen apprenticeships for specific trades. ^xxvii

As part of the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, to meet workforce development needs in emerging economic sectors, an additional $35 million is slated for the University of Maine from the federal American Rescue Plan. ^xxviii Both the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System have held tuition flat. The need-based Maine State Grant was increased by Maine’s legislature from $1,500 to $2,500 beginning with the fall 2021 semester. ^xxix There is also proposed federal legislation to double the award amounts for Pell grants for college students who are low-income. Data shows that when low-income college students receive additional grants, they are more likely to persist in and complete college — an effect substantially strengthened when grant aid was combined with additional supports. ^xxx These combined efforts to lower costs for students and to provide additional support to students, will increase access to higher education for Maine students who were most affected by the pandemic.

Maine public and community college students have faced the same challenges as students nationally. Hopefully, new investments in the Maine systems that translate to student supports will help keep college students on track toward meeting their education goals, as well as the goals of the Maine economy.

[i] According to the Brookings Institute, a recent study where students were assigned online or in-person learning found that online instruction resulted in lower student performance https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2021/08/13/how-does-virtual-learning-impact-students-in-higher-education/?utm_campaign=brookings-comm&utm_medium=email&utm_content=151311778&utm_source=hs_email

[i] Newark, New Jersey KIDS COUNT, The Impact of Covid-19 on College Students https://acnj.org/newark-kids-count-data-snapshot2-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-college-students/ page 4

[ii] https://1x41tj2qc1b220b18vxszkb1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/higher-ed-reopening-statewide-accessible-share-622.pdf

[iii] UMaine System Enrollment Report Spring Semester 2021 page 4 first table

[iv] UMaine System Enrollment Report Spring Semester 2021 Undergraduate Headcount by Campus (Excludes Early College)

[v] Email from Samantha Warren, Director of Government & Community Relations, University of Maine System

[vi] National Student Clearinghouse, https://nscresearchcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/CTEE_Report_Spring_2021.pdf Table 8b, page 14. and Maine enrollment data from an email from Noel Gallagher, Maine Community College System Director of Communications and Public Affairs

[vii] UMaine System Enrollment Report Spring Semester 2021 Undergraduate Headcount by Campus (Excludes Early College)

[viii] email from Noel Gallagher, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Maine Community College System

[viiii] https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/06/10/final-spring-enrollment-numbers-show-largest-decline-decade

[x] email from Noel Gallagher, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Maine Community College System

[xi] Ibid

[xii] Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book, page 5

[xiii] https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/06/10/final-spring-enrollment-numbers-show-largest-decline-decade and https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/where-did-all-the-community-college-students-go-2/

[xiv] UMaine System Enrollment Report Spring Semester 2021 page 18 undergraduate headcount by gender

[xv] https://nscresearchcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/CTEE_Report_Spring_2021.pdf

[xvi] Ibid

[xvii] https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/where-did-all-the-community-college-students-go-2/

[xviii] KIDS COUNT https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/8865-state-high-school-graduation-rates-2009-2020?loc=21&loct=2#detailed/2/any/false/574,1729,37,871,870,573,869,36,868,867/any/17750,17751

[xviv] KIDS COUNT https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/8865-state-high-school-graduation-rates-2009-2020?loc=21&loct=2#detailed/2/any/false/574,1729,37,871,870,573,869,36,868,867/any/17750,17751

[xx] https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/inline-files/Maine%20Department%20Of%20Education.pdf An analysis of page 6 to compute the public 2-year and public 4 year trends in enrollment right after high school graduation.

[xxi] https://nscresearchcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021_HSBenchmarksCovidReport.pdf

[xxii] KIDS COUNT https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/line/9951-college-starting-within-12-months-of-graduating-high-school?loc=21&loct=2#2/any/false/574,1729,37,871,870/asc/6088,6086,6087/19295

[xxiii] https://www.studentclearinghouse.org/blog/spring-2021-college-enrollment-declines-603000-to-16-9-million-students/

[xxiv] https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/71m-in-federal-funds-will-help-roll-out-broadband-access-for-rural-maine $71 Provides $71 million from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, an FCC initiative to expand high-speed internet in areas that now have little or no access and $120 million from American Rescue Plan, https://bangordailynews.com/2021/03/19/opinion/contributors/american-rescue-plan-includes-historic-broadband-investment-for-maine/

[xxv] https://stradaeducation.org/on-purpose/how-student-supports-can-reverse-enrollment-declines/

[xxvi] https://www.maine.gov/labor/news_events/article.shtml?id=5041424

[xxvi] https://www.maine.gov/covid19/maine-jobs-and-recovery-plan

[xxvii] https://www.mainepublic.org/news/2021-07-23/maine-state-grant-gets-boost-in-funding-officials-students-say-the-impact-will-be-pivotal

[xxviii] https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/recovery-proposals-adopt-proven-approaches-to-reducing-poverty

Federal Update & End of Session Summary

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:48:00 GMT

Monday, July 7th, 2025

Federal News

We’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, like Medicaid (MaineCare) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) . President Trump is expected to sign the Bill in the coming days. We are very worried about what this will mean for our rural hospitals, our low-income neighbors, and Maine’s health system at large. Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) did a great analysis on what to expect here.

In the next few weeks, MCA and our partner organizations will be taking a deep breath, processing, and thinking about what we can do to mitigate harm to our communities. We will lean on each other and into community as we navigate the unknown. Stay tuned for more information from MCA about what to expect and any action steps you can take with us.

Despite the Bill ultimately passing, we’re grateful that every single member of Maine’s Congressional Delegation voted against it - Senator Susan Collins, Senator Angus King, Representative Chellie Pingree (District 1), and Representative Jared Golden (District 2). Your calls, emails, and outreach had an impact. Thank you, for showing up, for speaking out, and demanding that the federal government do its part to support our kids and families.

State News

On the other hand, we’re excited to share that the First Session and the First Special Session of the 132nd Legislature have finally come to a close - woohoo! Our team has been working hard since January to translate our policy priorities into law.

We’ll be honest - this was a tough session. Maine is strapped for cash and is gearing up for major funding cuts from the federal government, which will create a big hole in our state budget. Our friends at the Maine Center for Economic Policy predict that Maine could be short nearly 190 million dollars down the line. We wouldn’t be surprised if the Legislature returns to Augusta in the fall to address this budget crisis.

Our collective advocacy will be critical to ensure we mitigate the worst impact of the federal funding cuts on food, health care, and many more programs and services Maine children and families rely on for their well-being.

That being said, it’s important to celebrate the wins too - and there was a lot to be proud of!

Thank you so much for reading!

If you haven’t already, give us a follow on Instagram , Facebook , and LinkedIn - we’d love to see you there.

If you're interested in supporting our work at the Maine Children's Alliance, you can make a gift here .

🚨Action Alert - CALL Susan Collins today!

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 16:52:00 GMT

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 keep you in the loop about what’s happening at the federal level - here’s what you need to know. We get it, things are moving quickly, the language is confusing, and there’s a lot at stake. MCA is here to break it down for you and let you know how you can make a difference.

First , the U.S. House recently passed its version of the budget bill, which calls for (among many things) billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid (known as MaineCare in our state), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the scaling back of the Federal Child Tax Credit . Our friends at the Maine Center for Economic Policy did a great breakdown here on how these cuts would affect working families in Maine if implemented.

We’re grateful that both of Maine’s Representatives, Chellie Pingree (District 1) and Jared Golden (District 2), heard concerns from our communities and voted against the Bill .

Now, the bill is in the hands of the U.S. Senate, where members can either agree to these cuts or amend them.

��This is where you come in!

☎️Call Susan Collins TODAY! As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins has a significant impact on what the final version of the Bill actually says - and she needs to hear from Mainers like you about why we need to protect programs and services that support our families and communities.

We’re also thankful that Senator Angus King has already expressed opposition to all of these cuts. If you would like to take a moment to thank him or confirm his opposition, please see his contact information here .

�� Please take a moment to call Senator Collins today and urge her to oppose cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit!

Scroll down below to see below phone numbers for all of her office locations, as well as a sample script to use!

U.S. Senator Susan Collins

Website

Send Susan Collins an Email

Phone/Fax Numbers

Augusta: 207-622-8414 / fax 207-622-5884

Bangor: 207-945-0417 / fax 2J07-990-4604

Biddeford: 207-283-1101 / fax 207-283-4054

Caribou: 207-493-7873 / fax 207-493-7810

Lewiston: 207-784-6969 / fax 207-782-6475

Portland: 207-780-3575 / fax 207-828-0380

Washington, DC: 202-224-2523 / fax 202-224-2693

��Script:

Hi, my name is {insert your name} and I live in {insert your town}. I’m calling today to express my concerns about major cuts to MaineCare, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit. These are programs that our working families rely on to thrive in our state, from Down East to Downtown Portland. I’m hopeful that Senator Collins will use her vote to protect funding for these programs.

If implemented, these cuts could close rural hospitals in the County, reduce access to care, health care workers could lose their jobs, food could be out of reach for our kids, and budgets would be a lot harder to stretch for Maine families.

If these cuts are implemented…. [pick any or all of these to lift up]

Please thank Senator Collins for all the work she’s done so far to support MaineCare, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit in the past - we’re grateful for her steadfast advocacy. I hope she continues to stand up for what’s right and protect the resources that keep our families and communities strong. It’s clear she cares deeply about Maine and the people who make this state so special.

I’m worried about what could happen if we go backwards and lose these critical programs we have worked so hard to make sure people can get. Maine is stronger when we invest in the things that really matter, like health care, food, and tax credits for working families.

Thank you for your time, and please make sure that Susan Collins gets this message!

Celebrating the Heart of Our Organization: Rebecca Herron

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 17:28:00 GMT

By Ashleigh Barker, MCA Executive Director

At the Maine Children's Alliance, we know that behind every successful project, every polished event, and every moment of organizational magic, there is a core team member quietly making it all happen. Today, I am honored to celebrate one such person whose contributions often happen behind the scenes but whose impact is felt in every corner of our work: our incredible Office Manager, Rebecca Herron.

Rebecca has been a vital part of the MCA family since 2020, bringing extraordinary dedication, skill, and heart to everything she touches. Whether managing the day-to-day operations that keep us running smoothly, ensuring our communications are clear and professional, or simply being a steady, positive presence for the team, Rebecca’s work embodies the spirit and mission of the Maine Children's Alliance.

Her extraordinary and quiet commitment to perfecting all aspects of our business—from finance to human resources—ensures that MCA operates with the highest level of professionalism and care. Her organizational prowess is matched only by her compassion. Rebecca consistently goes above and beyond to support her colleagues, creating an environment where everyone feels equipped and valued. With her warm smile and unwavering commitment to ensuring the wellness of her colleagues, she fosters a workplace culture rooted in kindness, respect, and support. From onboarding new staff to organizing major initiatives to handling the unexpected with grace and efficiency, she ensures that MCA remains a strong, supportive place to work—and by extension, a stronger voice for Maine’s children and families.

Rebecca's attention to detail, proactive mindset, and warm, can-do attitude make a difference every single day. She reminds us that advocacy doesn't only happen at the podium or in policy meetings; it also happens in the way we care for our mission, for each other, and for the community we serve.

On behalf of the entire MCA team and Board of Directors, I want to extend my deepest thanks to Rebecca for her outstanding work and unwavering commitment. Her leadership behind the scenes is a powerful driver of our success, and we are truly grateful to have her with us.

Please join me in celebrating Rebecca Herron—a shining example of dedication and heart at the Maine Children's Alliance!

Guide to Knowing Your Rights and Promoting Your Safety

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 17:16:00 GMT

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 understand those rights and know what resources are available to support them

Our Commitment to You

To the children, families, partner organizations, and communities we aim to serve:

During this time of uncertainty and heightened anxiety, especially for our immigrant families, Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA) is here. No matter what evolves in this political climate, we remain committed to our values as an organization. This means advocating for all children in Maine to be safe, healthy, nurtured by family and community, and have the opportunity to learn and grow to reach their full potential.

For anyone who may be affected by recent executive orders, below you will find key information to help you understand your rights, develop a safety plan for your loved ones, and know what resources are available to you. MCA will remain a strong advocate for all children and families, fighting for sound public policies and best practices that improve the lives of families. Our priority remains to protect all the children of Maine.

Questions You May Have

Is there anyone I can talk to who can help me get information about my rights?

Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) provides a full range of immigration legal services, available in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Lingala, and Haitian Creole: (207) 780-1593 . This includes full representation for the most complex cases, assistance navigating complicated immigration applications and forms, and consultations and limited representation for other issues.

How can I develop a family safety plan?

Here are 5 Things You Can Proactively Do to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones , developed by the Immigration Justice Center. The Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC) also offers this step-by-step family preparedness plan .

If I am not a U.S. citizen, what are my rights?

Regardless of your immigration status, you have rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. Watch these videos and refer to the multilingual toolkits and training guides below to understand your rights. The National Partnership for New Americans has also produced a live document with legal protection resources and materials  that will be continually updated.

Resources for Families

Direct Hotline: 2-1-1 Maine - for general help finding resources and information

New Mainer Resource Center - Comprehensive guide with Citizenship and Immigration, Counseling and Safety Services, Dental Services, Disability Services, Education and Training, Employment Services, Food Services, Furniture Resources, Housing Services, Legal Services, Medical Services, Social Services, Starting your own Business, Volunteer Opportunities

Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services - Includes behavioral health services, whole family services, resettlement services, youth programs, and immigration services

Maine Access Immigrant Network (MAIN) - Bridges access to health and social services for immigrants and refugees in Portland Maine, providing resource and referral information that is culturally and linguistically appropriate in English, Arabic, Somali, and French to ensure equal access to programs and services for new Mainers from Africa and Middle East

Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition - Rapid Advocacy Multilingual Resources & Language Access

Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services – Case management, interpretation and translation, legal services

Know Your Rights

ILAP Know Your Rights - Available in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Lingala, Haitian Creole

Printable Red Cards - Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Haitian, Hmong, Korean, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Family Preparedness Plan

Step-by-Step Family Prepare dness Plan - Available in English and Spanish

Immigrant Legal Resource Center Know Your Rights Toolkit - Available in English and Spanish

Maine Association of New Mainers (MANA) - Transportation, community wellness, clothing, child + family services

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

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 20:33:00 GMT

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 am thrilled to spotlight one of our extraordinary team members, Melissa Hackett, whose unwavering commitment as a Policy Associate has been instrumental in advancing the well-being of children and families across Maine.

Melissa’s journey with MCA has been nothing short of transformative. Her expertise, strategic insight, and tireless advocacy have profoundly impacted our efforts to champion policies that create brighter futures for Maine’s youngest residents. From analyzing complex data to shaping legislative strategies, Melissa’s contributions embody the heart of our mission: to ensure that every child in Maine has the opportunity to thrive.

One of Melissa’s most remarkable achievements has been her work as the coordinator of the Maine Child Welfare Action Network. Her meticulous research and compelling policy recommendations have informed critical decisions at the state level, helping to align, strengthen, and sustain efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all Maine children, youth, and families. This work has opened doors for countless children and families, providing a space to address some of the root causes of child maltreatment and creating paths to prevention.

Melissa’s dedication extends beyond the numbers and reports. She is a steadfast advocate who listens to the voices of children, families, and communities. Her ability to connect with stakeholders and amplify their stories has been a driving force behind many of MCA’s initiatives. Whether testifying before legislative committees or collaborating with community partners, Melissa’s voice is one of reason, compassion, and unwavering determination.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Melissa is a cherished colleague whose enthusiasm and positivity inspire everyone around her. She brings a collaborative spirit to every project, fostering an environment where innovation and teamwork thrive. Her ability to navigate challenges with grace and resilience is a testament to her character and commitment.

As we celebrate Melissa’s incredible work, we also recognize that her contributions are part of a larger movement to create systemic change. At MCA, we believe that investing in children is an investment in the future of Maine. Melissa embodies this belief in everything she does, reminding us all of the power of dedication and advocacy.

On behalf of the entire team at the Maine Children’s Alliance, I extend my deepest gratitude to Melissa Hackett for her outstanding work and unwavering dedication. Her efforts have made a tangible difference in the lives of countless children and families, and her legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire us for years to come.

Melissa, thank you for being a shining example of what it means to advocate for a better tomorrow. Maine’s children are lucky to have you in their corner, and so are we.

-Ashleigh Barker, Maine Children's Alliance Executive Director

Announcing MCA's 2024 Giraffe Award Winners!

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 13:10:00 GMT

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. Giraffe Award winners are individuals, organizations, and businesses who go above and beyond, demonstrating leadership in making Maine a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

“We are so pleased to honor this year’s inspiring award winners, each of whom plays a unique role in improving the lives of children and families in our state,” says MCA Executive Director Ashleigh Barker.

The winners of the 2024 Giraffe Awards:

Allagash Brewing Company, Business Award . As a Certified B Corporation, Allagash Brewing Company has made a commitment to their employees, the environment, and their community. Some of their most meaningful community partnerships have focused on the health of Maine's youngest. Over the last ten years, they have given over $250k to help end childhood hunger here in Maine, by supporting organizations like Full Plates Full Potential, the Locker Project, Maine Foodscapes, Falmouth Food Pantry, and many more. They have also sponsored a Pediatric Nursing Scholarship at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital since 2012—and they have given well over $500k in that time. They are honored and humbled to be recognized among this wonderful group of likeminded Mainers.

Chris McLaughlin, Individual Award . Chris McLaughlin, MSW, LCSW (he/him/his) is the Executive Director of the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and owner and lead consultant of Inspired Consulting Group, LLC. A lifelong resident of Maine, he obtained both his BA in Psychology (1996) and his MSW (2001) from the University of Maine. Chris has spent more than 25 years as a provider and a leader in behavioral health services for youth and families across a variety of clinical settings. Chris has a passion for teaching and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maine and Husson University in Bangor. Chris is the developer and instructor of the “Inspired Allies” certificate program, which is designed to support professionals across different industries to increase their confidence in providing affirming services to members of the LGBTQIA+ community. He is also co-host of the “Inspired Insights” podcast, dedicated to reducing stigma in talking about wellness and mental health and the lived queer experience. Chris and his husband live in Hermon, Maine with their three dogs, Anna, Becky, and Sawyer.

Deb Hagler, Lifetime Achievement Award . Deborah Hagler, MD, MPH, FAAP has practiced pediatrics in Brunswick, Maine for the last 27 years. She attended Cornell Medical College and obtained her pediatric training at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In 2021 she was awarded the degree of Master of Public Health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University where she focused her studies on child and adolescent mental health and substance use. Dr. Hagler has been an active member of her community since medical school. She is a past president and a current board member of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP] and a board member of the Midcoast Youth Center.

She has been assisting a dedicated team at the Midcoast Youth Center to implement Strengthening Families Ages 10-14, an evidence-based program that decreases family conflict and adolescent substance misuse. She has played an active role in the Sagadahoc Working Community Challenge Team, funded by the Boston Federal Reserve Bank, which is developing and implementing systems change at a community level to address youth depression as a barrier to achieving full potential and employment. Dr. Hagler has enjoyed raising, with her husband of 34 years, a family in Maine and been delighted to watch so many wonderful young people grow up, including her two wonderful, and now young adult sons.

Maine Access Immigrant Network (MAIN), Organization Award . MAIN was originally founded in 2002 as a 501(c)(3) by Mohamud Barre and the resettled Somali community. The organization was initially named Somali Culture and Development Association. Its mission was to embrace the vision of a free-standing community center with staffing to support all Somalis for access to information, resources and services. It was formally renamed to Maine Access Immigrant Network in spring 2014. MAIN has since expanded to serve other African groups, including South Sudanese, Rwandan, Burundian, and Congolese, and continues to expand with services to Middle Eastern and other refugee groups. Maine Access Immigrant Network (MAIN) bridges access to health and social services for immigrants and refugees in Portland Maine. The organization works to build a stronger multicultural community in Portland, and to address refugee health literacy, health care enrollment, and coordination of health care benefits and non-clinical care. MAIN provides resource and referral information that is culturally and linguistically appropriate in English, Arabic, Somali, and French to ensure equal access to programs and services for new Mainers from Africa and Middle East.

Matteo Hardy, Youth Award . Matteo Hardy is an accomplished and passionate youth leader and advocate. He began his journey with the Kennebec County Youth Advisory Board (KCYAB) and later interned with Flavors Hook Kids Maine, where he championed substance use prevention. Matteo also served as a youth specialist on the Maine Recovery Council Prevention Work Group, contributing valuable perspective to substance use prevention efforts. Recently inducted into the National Honor Society, Matteo is a dedicated member of his school and community. He actively participates in his school’s Key Club and is an engaged member of his church community. His love for music is evident in his exceptional achievements: he has sung in the District 3 and All-State Choirs and is a proud member of the Cony Madrigals, the premier vocal ensemble at Cony High School, where he is currently a student.

In addition to excelling in high school, Matteo is enrolled in Maine’s Early College program, demonstrating his commitment to academic and personal growth. He is deeply thankful for the recognition he has received and is excited to continue sticking his neck out for kids.

Rebecca Millett, Legislator Award . Rep. Rebecca Millett served 12 years in the Maine Legislature - eight as State Senator and four as State Representative. She served as a member of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee during her full legislative service including four as chair. Rep. Millett grew up in Maine and attended Portland Public Schools. After graduating from college, serving in the Peace Corps and working in finance in New York, Rep. Millett moved home to Maine in 2000. Upon returning, she served on the Cape Elizabeth School Board from 2004 to 2010 and co-founded a citizens’ advocacy group to support advancements in local education. Rep. Millett is the founder and co-chair of the Maine Legislature's Children’s Caucus. She is grateful to have been chosen to participate in the National Council of State Legislatures’ Early Learning Fellow program and the Early Childhood Policy Academy offered by the Harvard Center for the Developing Child and the Hunt Institute. Rep. Millett served on the New England Board of Higher Education, co-chairing its Legislative Advisory Committee, and Children's Cabinet Early Childhood Advisory Committee and many task forces and commissions.

The awards will be presented at MCA’s annual Champions for Children event, at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell, on Tuesday, December 10 ^th , 2024.

MCA Staff Spotlight: Rita Furlow

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 21:35:00 GMT

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 the organization in 2013, Rita has played a pivotal role in shaping policies that address the needs of Maine’s youngest residents, working tirelessly to ensure that every child in the state has access to essential services and opportunities for success.

As a result of Rita’s focus on advocacy for policies that support children's development, health, education, and overall well-being, she has long been a key player in state-level policy discussions. Rita’s expertise and commitment have been instrumental in advancing MCA’s mission, particularly in the areas of early childhood development, health care access, and education reform.

Rita’s commitment to social justice can be traced back to her academic roots and early career. Rita grew up in Maryland and is a graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and Vermont Law School. These experiences allowed her to explore the intersection of public policy, law, and politics. Her academic background helped shape her perspective on how policies affect vulnerable groups, particularly children. This passion for social change became the driving force behind her professional choices.

As a young professional, Rita gravitated toward roles that allowed her to influence public policy at both the grassroots and governmental levels. Early in her career, she worked both inside and outside of government, working in the Virginia State Senate, a Congressional office, and at a political consulting firm. After moving to Maine in the 1980s, she served as Special Assistant to Maine’s Attorney General. Following law school, she focused on special education and disability law. Rita advocated for children as the Executive Director of the Learning Disabilities Association of Maine and in private practice. She also served as an Advocate for adults with intellectual disabilities in the state’s Office of Advocacy.

These experiences exposed her to the complex issues affecting children and families, from health care disparities to education inequities, and fostered a deep understanding of how policy can either support or hinder child development.

MCA Executive Director Ashleigh Barker praised Rita’s contributions: "A true champion for children, Rita’s work is driven by compassion, intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Her ability to turn policy into real, meaningful change for families has set her apart as a leader. She doesn’t just talk about making a difference—she does it. We’re incredibly fortunate to have her as part of our team."

Over the past decade, Rita has spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for children and families, particularly those in underserved communities. She has been involved in advocating for expanded access to child care and public preschool and supporting the creation of early childhood education programs, such as the Early Childhood Consultation Partnership, First 4 ME, Help ME Grow, and the Child Care Affordable Program. She has also advocated for better access to health care services for children and families, particularly related to maternal and child health issues. Most critically, her work has extended to influencing state budget decisions, ensuring that public resources are allocated to the programs that have the most significant impact to children and families.

Reflecting on her time with MCA, Rita expressed both gratitude and continued determination:

Advocating for public policy changes, particularly at a system level, requires a willingness to commit to the long game. The most difficult part of child advocacy is the frustration of not always being able to make the kind of change that children and families need right now. Also, one of the most important elements of advocacy is relationships because you can’t do this work alone. You need good relationships with partner organizations, lawmakers, and administrators. You also need good relationships and proximity to the children and families that you are representing. Their priorities and voices should always be leading the way forward to change. And it is their needs that will sustain your passion for change. Finally, being a child advocate takes persistence. When it comes to policy change, we usually never get everything we want, so we can’t give up, we can’t quit, and we need to go back for as long as it takes to get the job done.

Rita’s tenure has been marked not only by her policy expertise but also by her deep compassion for Maine’s most vulnerable children. Her colleagues describe her as a tireless advocate, always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that the needs of children are at the forefront of decision-making in Augusta.

As Rita embarks on her 12th year at the Maine Children’s Alliance, she remains focused on the challenges ahead. With growing concerns about child care accessibility, disparities for children with disabilities, and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s development and mental health, her leadership will continue to be essential as MCA works to influence policies that shape the future of Maine’s children.

Her work at MCA has left an indelible mark on the state’s approach to the health, safety and well-being of children in Maine, and her next chapter promises to bring even greater impact to Maine’s children and families.

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

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:52:00 GMT

Rita Furlow, Senior Policy Analyst with the Maine Children's Alliance

The Governor's supplemental budget proposes significant changes for responsibility and oversight of how educational services are provided to young children with disabilities in Maine. For many years, proposals have been submitted to change Child Development Services (CDS), the state’s birth to five system for young children with developmental delays and disabilities. It appears that 2024 may be the year that finally delivers a redesigned system.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the federal law that governs how states and school districts provide early intervention services and special education and related services for children with disabilities from birth to age 21. [1] IDEA authorizes federal grants to states, and through them, local school districts, to provide a “free appropriate public education” (FAPE) to eligible children with disabilities. The law provides partial funding and sets conditions for that funding to ensure the civil rights of students.

There are four parts to the IDEA statute. [2] Part A of the law includes the general provisions, purpose, and definitions. Programs under Part B of the law cover children from ages three to 21. Within Part B, Section 619 of the statute includes provisions specific to serving preschool children ages three to five. Part C of IDEA covers grants to support early intervention services for infants and toddlers, ages birth to age three. Finally, Part D governs discretionary grants to support state personnel development, technology, parent training and information centers (such as Maine Parent Federation), and technical assistance.

The process of locating, identifying, and evaluating children with disabilities and delays to ensure they receive services under the law is referred to as “child find.” Under IDEA, the state entity or school district responsible for “child find” has an affirmative duty to identify and screen children who may need early intervention [3] and/or special education and related services. [4] Children who are suspected of having a disability or developmental delay should be referred for an evaluation to determine if they are eligible for early intervention/special education services.

Members of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee of the Maine Legislature have held numerous hearings and work sessions to consider the Governor’s proposal. This included several presentations from Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin and her staff, a public hearing, and committee work sessions in February and March. The committee agreed to use the language proposed in the Governor’s supplemental budget as the basis for a bill the committee would use to further develop a legislative proposal. LD 345, An Act Regarding Educational Policies and Programs (sponsored by Rep. Brennan) is the concept draft being used for this purpose. A draft of the bill was released on Wednesday, March 21 to subscribers to the Education Committee listserv, and will be reviewed by the Education Committee on Thursday, March 22 ^nd .

Highlights of the proposed legislation developed by the Committee include the following:

The legislation proposed by the administration and further developed by the Education Committee is the strongest proposal we have seen to reform Maine’s early childhood special education and early intervention system. Commissioner Pender Makin reached out to stakeholders in January to discuss the legislation and presented her plan to members of the Education Committee in early February. The addition of language relating to these changes in the Governor’s supplemental budget proposal was also an indication of the administration’s commitment to making changes in 2024. Additional presentations from the Department of Education early in the legislative process have allowed members of the Education Committee to schedule multiple work sessions to further discuss the proposals and develop important amendments that improve the bill.

We are pleased to see strong language to protect children who have not received the special education and related services they need under their IEPs. We are hopeful the language will clearly define the requirements relating to compensatory education and ensure that families can more clearly and easily access needed services.

The transition of CDS regional sites to regional support and service hubs will ensure that staff with expertise in early childhood special education will continue to support children and school districts. We think these hubs could ultimately serve as important links between parents, early childhood providers, and school districts, by filling an important gap in local and regional access to a broader range of early childhood services.

The provision to require the state to develop a centralized billing system to better utilize Medicaid is a critical element for future stability of the system. For too many years the CDS system has been underfunded. As was noted in an independent report from the Public Consulting Group (PCG) on CDS in 2020 , Maine has failed to develop an adequate system to permit CDS and school districts to bill Medicaid/MaineCare for necessary services. As the report stated, “No matter the placement, or designation of lead agency, one theme is consistent across high performing state ECSE programs, and that is adequate funding. The current funding structure leaves federal funds on the table, untouched, which could help offset costs paid by the state for these services.” [5]

While there are some improvements that could be made to strengthen the legislation, we recognize that this will only be the beginning of the transfer of services and responsibility for preschool education from CDS to public schools. It is inevitable that additional changes will be needed as the program is transferred and implemented over the next four years. New legislation will be submitted over time to make these changes.

The proposed legislation almost exclusively addresses changes to Part B services for children ages three to five. Future legislation will still need to address improvements for Part C services for infants and toddlers. Too few children, particularly infants, are identified early in Maine. As was noted in the PCG report, our state has one of the strictest eligibility requirements for Part C services in the country. While the legislation will create a work group to examine these issues, we are disappointed there were no specific changes to amend the state’s eligibility requirement for Part C services.

We hope to see clarifying information about the provision of services for three and four-year-old children in early childhood placements. It is clear that the majority of three-year old children will need to be served in existing early childhood programs. Yet in many parts of the state, there is a lack of available child care options . A 2023 joint policy statement from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services provides recommendations on how states can create inclusive settings for young children through coordination between the state, schools, Head Start, and local child care programs.

It will be necessary to strengthen the governance of Child Development Services. CDS is directed by staff who are Department of Education employees. Yet, the organization is a state intermediate education unit that lacks a governing board. Creating a board that is appointed by members of the Legislature and the Governor would provide accountability, oversight, and strengthen the organization as it changes its focus. We would also like to see additional parent participation on the federally required state Interagency Coordinating Council. Future data collection, monitoring, and reporting needs to be improved and streamlined to provide accessible information for the public and policy makers.

Most importantly, parent input needs to be considered and their experiences should inform this and future reforms. While we were pleased to see the inclusion of regional parent groups as a part of the legislation, the creation of these groups is only optional in each region. There was no opportunity for members of the public to comment on or address this part of the proposal, as it was only developed during the final hours of discussion by the Committee.

We want to acknowledge and thank the numerous staff at Child Development Services who have spent many years supporting children with disabilities and their families. The lack of funding and support from multiple administrations over the past 20 years has resulted in a system that over time has failed to serve many children and families. It is important to separate systems from the individual people who do their best to work within them.

We appreciate that Commissioner Makin provided information to the Committee early in the legislative session and reached out to meaningfully engage stakeholders. Unfortunately, the public, particularly parents of young children with disabilities, deserved a better public process from the Maine Legislature. Without a full two weeks' notice of a public hearing and access to supporting documents, it was even more challenging than usual for parents and providers to participate and ensure their perspectives and insight were considered in the development of this legislation.

We urge the Legislature to improve a good piece of legislation by ensuring that parents in every region of the state can participate in a regional committee to advise how this important system for children with disabilities can be improved. The Legislature should require that parent participation be a key element of these reforms and provide the financial resources to support parent access and input in the nine regional hubs.

We will post updates and links to the proposed legislation over the next few weeks. We encourage you to find and reach out to your legislator or reach out to members of the Education Committee to share your support or concerns about the proposal. If you would like to see a copy of the current amended bill being considered, email outreach@mekids.org. We anticipate the Legislature will wrap up their work – including this legislation - in mid-April.

[1] 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. (2020).

[2] The U.S. Department of Education provides a user-friendly version of the IDEA statute and regulations on their website. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/statuteregulations/

[3] 20 U.S.C. § 1435(a)(5)(2020).

[4] 20 U.S.C § 1412(a)(3)(2020).

[5] Public Consulting Group, Maine Early Childhood Special Education Independent Review, Final Phase One Report, October 30, 2020, https://legislature.maine.gov/doc/4609

Announcing the 2023 MCA Giraffe Award Winners!

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 17:09:00 GMT

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. Giraffe Award winners are individuals, organizations, and businesses who go above and beyond, demonstrating leadership in making Maine a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

The awards will be presented at MCA’s annual Champions for Children event , at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell, on Tuesday, November 14 ^th , 2023.

The winners of the 2023 Giraffe Awards:

Senate President Troy Jackson, Legislator Award . Senator Jackson is a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, serving as Senate President in his fourth and final term. Senator Jackson has remained steadfast in his commitment to young children by championing legislation to strengthen Maine's child care system. He sponsored legislation to help bring Help ME Grow and First 4 ME programming to Maine, aimed at supporting families and their children’s healthy development. He also championed historic child care investments, recently providing $60 million in the state budget. His leadership was critical to the passage and funding of this historic bill, which will help our state take a big step forward to raise the wages of child care providers and make child care more affordable for working families. Senator Jackson’s dedication to helping children and working families has marked his entire legislative career.

TimberHP, Business Award . TimberHP, the first wood fiber insulation manufacturer in North America, is a Maine-based business supporting the working landscape, sustainable forestry, and the rural economy. After learning of their employees’ difficulties in finding and paying for child care, TimberHP responded by contributing $5,000 in a Dependent Care and Medical Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for their employees who need child care. TimberHP has earned the 2023 Best Place for Working Parents® business designation in recognition of their commitment to supporting working parents through their family friendly policies and practices.

Midcoast Community Collaborative, Community Collaboration Award . The MidCoast Community Collaborative is a new backbone network of community members and organizations – healthcare, behavioral health, schools, community-based organizations, business leaders, families and youth - focused on supporting the growth and development of healthy children, healthy families and strong communities in Lincoln and Knox County. The leadership team has brought together over 60 partner organizations to participate in the Collaborative, with a vision of creating regional partnerships that coordinate, expand, and sustain resources for children, youth, and families.

Crystal Cron, Individual Award . Crystal Cron is the founder and director of Presente! Maine, which works to empower displaced indigenous and afro-Latinx peoples of Maine through survival programs, community power building, cultural celebration, and transformative healing practice. Crystal and the Presente! team have worked hard to ensure Mainers in the Latinx community have food security and access to health care regardless of their immigration status. Over the past year, the Presente! team did additional outreach to pregnant people and people under 21 who gained coverage through MaineCare regardless of their immigration status. They continue to speak truth to power about the barriers people in their community are facing and the systemic solutions to address them.

Safe Harbor Recovery Home for Women and Children, Organization Award . Safe Harbor is a collaborative effort between Healthy Acadia, Downeast Community Partners, Community Caring Collaborative, and Aroostook Mental Health Center, to respond to the impacts of substance use on mothers and children in Washington County. In the early planning stages of 2019-2020, this team remained steadfast that the Maine Association of Recovery residences certified recovery home needed to include children. Safe Harbor took on the task of ensuring moms and their children could remain together in a safe space to help facilitate recovery from substance use challenges. With the partnership and collaboration of the supporting organizations, this home has been able to provide a warm, nurturing environment to many mothers who are healing on their recovery journey with their children, reunified mothers and children, and provided a safe refuge for visitation for mothers and children.

Adryanna Viles, Youth Award . Adryanna Viles became a participant in the Lewiston-based Maine Community Integration program in the summer of 2022, first with their summer program and continued with the year-round youth groups. Adryanna is passionate about speaking up against injustice and advocating for her fellow youth. When she was concerned about certain student needs not being met, she and another young person went to speak to the local School Committee. She has also participated in advocacy efforts around housing equality. Adryanna is president and student representative to the School Committee for her junior class.

Congratulations to this year's winners! The 2023 Champions for Children event, featuring the Giraffe Awards, is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased here . We hope you will join us to celebrate these community heroes on November 14th.

The 2022 Giraffe Award Winners

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 21:34:00 GMT

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. Giraffe Award winners are individuals, organizations, and businesses who routinely go above and beyond, investing time, energy, and talent for the well-being of Maine kids and families. The winners of the 2022 Giraffe Awards are:

Bernstein Shur, Business Award . Founded in 1915, Bernstein Shur is a female-led, New England-based law firm, with offices in Portland, Augusta, and Manchester, NH. Bernstein Shur has become an industry leader in their parental leave policy, providing 16 weeks of paid leave to all new parents (attorneys and staff members) regardless of gender. In particular, the policy provides equal benefits to all new parents because of birth, adoption, or foster care placement. This family-friendly policy provides all new parents with flexibility in utilizing their paid leave time, and the policy benefits are immediately available to new employees.

Senator Cathy Breen, Legislator Award. Sen. Cathy Breen is finishing her fourth term in the Maine Senate. Senator Breen championed the creation of the Early Childhood Consultation program, aimed at reducing the rates of suspension and expulsion of young children, by providing resources and support to teachers and parents of children to address challenging behaviors. In 2022, she sponsored legislation to expand this program statewide. As chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, Sen. Breen provided leadership on many significant achievements, including the expansion of Medicaid; reaching voter-mandated 55% state funding for public PreK-12 education; supporting a budget to include universal school meals; extension of post-partum MaineCare coverage to 12 months; and expansion of Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Charles Mugabe, Emerging Leader. Mr. Mugabe serves as the Program Co-Director of Refugee and Immigration Services at Catholic Charities of Maine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he coordinated a coalition of organizations to help provide COVID-19 social service support for members of Maine’s immigrant communities undergoing isolation and quarantine. More recently, Mr. Mugabe worked to help resettle Afghan refugees arriving in Maine, providing connection and support for housing, food, and benefits. Mr. Mugabe uses his personal experience immigrating to the U.S., to support refugees and asylum seekers in Maine.

Maine School Nutrition Association (MSNA), Organization Award. With over 300 members, MSNA represents school nutrition professionals statewide. Their purpose is to provide healthy meals and promote nutrition education to Maine’s school children to prepare them to succeed. These unsung heroes do the important work of quietly feeding 170,000 Maine kids every day at school, often a child’s most reliable source of nutrition. During the pandemic, school nutrition professionals across Maine went the extra mile by adapting and coordinating meal pickups and bus delivery, to ensure children still had access to school meals.

Spencer McCormick, Individual Award . Mr. McCormick grew up in the small town of Robbinston, raised to value community and volunteerism, while also witnessing the impact of substance abuse and mental health issues on young adults in the community. As a leader of the Calais Skatepark Committee, he has helped to develop a positive, safe, and active place for youth in the greater western-Washington County region. In addition to providing a space for children to advance their skate skills, he works to increase suicide awareness and to stress the importance of social and emotional health. Mr. McCormick’s love of his community is evident through the time and energy he volunteers with youth at the Skatepark, as a member of the Calais Downtown Revitalization Coalition, as a high school wrestling coach, and as a guide for outdoor recreation experiences for students.

Zubeyda Shute, Youth Award. Ms. Shute has been a youth leader of the Young People's Caucus for the past three years. She is an alumnus of Westbrook High School, and a current college student. This past summer she worked across Young People’s Caucus and Gateway to Opportunity, to create a summer internship with the University of Southern Maine’s WMPG radio to create podcasts and digital stories to amplify youth voice and social change. She has continued to function as a mentor to new members of the Young People’s Caucus. Ms. Shute centers her work and her scholarship on racial justice, restorative justice, and women's rights.

The awards will be presented at MCA’s annual Champions for Children event, at Maple Hill Farm, on Thursday, December 1st, 2022. The program will run from 9am-11am. Breakfast will be served. Tickets can be purchased here . We hope to see you there!

MCA Looks Forward

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:31:00 GMT

“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. Existing systems and policies are not working for many children and families in Maine. As the statewide child advocacy organization, the Maine Children’s Alliance must take action to do things differently to advance a shared vision of equity and well-being for all children and families.

MCA has launched a new strategic plan with four top-level goals to guide and challenge us in the coming years. It builds on our efforts underway to advance race equity, deepen advocacy impact, and elevate the voices of those with lived experience. We aim to be an effective leader for change externally, as well as internally within our organization. These ambitious goals will not be achieved by us alone. We are committed to amplifying and aligning our work with partners toward collectively making a meaningful difference in improving people’s lives.

Centering equity and anti-racism . Racism is a barrier to all children and families thriving in Maine; systems and policies that fail some of us, fail all of us. To effectively advance our mission and vision , MCA must address underlying inequities. This is our “equity why.” Building on the foundational work of our board/staff equity task force, the plan guides MCA in “the how” - operationalizing our equity commitment, both internally and externally. As consultant Joanna Shoffner Scott has advised, “the measure is not how much time you spend thinking about these issues, but rather the actions you are taking.” We understand that we may make missteps, but are moving forward with humility, and a recognition that we must act.

MCA has been disaggregating data and highlighting disparities in measures of well-being for children and families since the 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book. Increasingly, we understand the responsibility and power of sharing and interpreting data. Who owns the data, why and how was it collected, who is invisible in the results? Similarly, advocacy in the State House has long been an insider’s game. How can MCA help expand the diversity of the players determining policy priorities, proposed solutions, and strategies? Our plan prioritizes building trusted relationships with impacted communities, as well as assessing our own organizational culture and practices.

Deepening advocacy impact . MCA is focused on transforming critical systems for children and families. This is complex work that cuts across sectors and requires working in collaboration with a growing number of partners and policymakers. MCA will build on our expertise, experience, and recent policy wins to advance outcomes for children and families, particularly related to transforming Maine’s early childhood and child welfare systems. We seek to advance a cross-sector and preventative vision of child and family health and well-being.

Engaging those with lived experience and expertise . With support from a national grant over the last year, MCA is excited to have deepened our relationships with parent advocates and supported their creation of a parent-run, statewide, multi-issue group, the Maine Parent Advocacy Network (MPAN). Parents trying to do the best for their kids, while navigating complex state systems and programs for support, are the true experts. MCA looks to similarly build our relationships with youth engaging in policy advocacy. The 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book will look different, with a plan to elevate a variety of community perspectives, through qualitative data sources and stories. We also continue to grow Voices for MCA , an advisory group of diverse voices that collectively represent the future of child advocacy.

Ensuring MCA’s organizational health . In the coming years, MCA seeks to grow our network, donors, and visibility to bolster our ability to advance this important work. As a small nonprofit with big goals, we hope you will all join us in amplifying the work we are doing. Thank you for your support and engagement as we work together to improve the lives of children, youth, and families across our state.

Finally, be sure to check out MCA’s new look and logo . For those of you who will miss the giraffe, rest assured that she will live on as the face of the annual Champions for Children event and Giraffe Awards.

Stephanie Eglinton, MCA Executive Director

Legislative Session Wrap

Tue, 17 May 2022 17:38:00 GMT

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 security. We are grateful to the administration and legislature for the advances made for child and family health and well-being we can count now as the session has come to an end. See below for a recap of priority legislation and budget items.

Priority Legislative Wins

Early Care and Education . All Maine children birth to age eight and their families should have the resources, opportunities, and support needed to provide young children the foundation to thrive and meet their full potential. To achieve this, MCA advocated for these policy wins:

Investing in the Early Care Workforce

Social and Emotional Support for Children Goes Statewide

Health, Safety & Well-being . All Maine children should have a safe, permanent home, and receive quality physical, oral, and mental health care that is accessible and affordable for their families. To achieve this, MCA advocated for these policy wins:

Strengthening Maine’s Child Welfare System

Improving Access to Health Care for Maine Children

Family Economic and Food Security . All Maine children and families should have access to the resources they need to stay out of poverty and achieve economic stability. This includes safe, affordable housing; free school meals; and improved access to safety net services. To achieve this, MCA advocated for these policy wins:

Improving Supports for Low-Income Families

Unfinished Work

Rarely do advocates win all their policy goals every session. As we take stock of our wins, we also acknowledge the work left unsatisfied, to carry forward and support in the next legislative session. These include:

Improving Maine’s Child Development Services system. Maine must increase the screening, identification, and coordination of early intervention services for our youngest children, so parents and providers can respond early and effectively when there are developmental concerns for children.

Establishing a Paid Family and Medical Leave system that works for all Mainers. The Commission received funding to continue its work and should report a plan out to the next legislature.

Tribal sovereignty . While there were some wins this session in terms of access to clean water and online betting, the work to restore self-government to the tribes in Maine remains ( LD 1626 ).

Investments in Children and Families in the Budget

In addition to this legislation, the bipartisan supplemental budget that passed held additional important provisions for children and families, including:

Child care and Preschool. $12 million to increase wages for providers, by funding Speaker Fecteau’s child care workforce bill. This is a promising foundation for needed investment in Maine’s early care and education system. $5.2 million will support construction, renovation, and expansion of child care facilities. $2.9 million in General Fund dollars will expand public preschool.

Child welfare . $8 million directed to initiatives to support effective casework and services for families involved with Child Protective Services. This includes investment in staffing after-hours coverage.

Education . $30 million into the Education Stabilization Fund to maintain the state’s commitment to funding 55% of education spending. $27 million to fund school meals for all. $20 million to fund two years of free community college for the high school classes of 2020-2023.

Paid Family and Medical Leave . $300k to fund an actuarial study of paid leave policy.

EITC . $27.6 million to increase the maximum benefit for low-income families, though the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The change package also included an important investment of $19.7 million to stabilize the behavioral and mental health sector . These services are critical to ensure children and families have access to the support they need to be healthy.

MCA fought for priority policies and investments to support the well-being of Maine children, youth, and families – many of which resulted in wins that will improve the lives of families across our state. Beyond this summary of our priorities, you can see the final status of all the bills MCA was following this session on our Bill Tracker . Thank you for joining us this session in advocating for what’s best for children and families – we are stronger when we raise our voices together!

Update on MCA 2022 Policy Priorities

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 21:37:00 GMT

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 130 ^th Maine Legislature, MCA has been working hard to elevate the voices and interests of Maine children and families with decision makers. As the session winds down this month, we want to update you on where MCA’s priority bills stand now in the legislative process.

Our priorities this session cross issue areas, including carried-over and new legislation, and provisions in the budget in key areas of child and family well-being. We continue to urge lawmakers to focus recovery and budget investments on strengthening Maine families with the greatest needs and bolstering critical services and programs that will support their ability to thrive.

Early Care and Education

LD 1652 would strengthen Maine’s child care system by increasing wages to improve recruitment and retention of the early care and education workforce. This bill was carried over from last session, is included in the Governor’s proposed supplemental budget, and has passed in votes in both the House and Senate.

LD 533 would expand access to early childhood consultation services that support parents and educators working with children with challenging behaviors. This bill was carried over from last session, has received a divided committee report this session, and awaits further votes in the House and Senate.

A proposed bill from the Maine Department of Education would transfer responsibility for preschool special education services for children ages 3-6 to public school districts. The bill would also eliminate Child Development Services and create a new independent education unit. The legislation received a public hearing and is still in process in committee. More information can be found on the Education Committee website .

Health, Safety & Well-being

LD 393 and LD 1850 would invest in prevention and family supportive services to reduce child maltreatment. These bills were introduced this session, have received divided committee reports, and await votes in the House and Senate.

LD 1960 and LD 1853 would improve capacity, effectiveness, and oversight of the child protection system. These bills were introduced this session and passed in votes in the House and Senate last week. LD 1960 is included in the Governor’s supplemental budget proposal.

LD 372 would increase the number of children with health insurance coverage through expanded eligibility and improved outreach on low-cost children’s health insurance options. This bill was carried over from last session and received an ought to pass as amended vote in committee this session, and recently passed in votes in both the House and Senate. It now goes to the Appropriations Table.

LD 1501 would improve access and coordination of children’s oral health care services. This bill was carried over from last session and waits on the Appropriations Table.

Family Economic and Food Security

LD 1748 would reduce barriers and improve family-centered service delivery of the state’s safety net programs. The bill was introduced this session and received an ought to pass as amended vote in committee. It awaits votes in both the House and Senate.

LD 1952 would continue the work of the Commission to create an effective paid family leave system that works for all Mainers. The bill was introduced this session and received an ought to pass as amended vote in committee. It awaits votes in both the House and Senate.

Race Equity

MCA stands with our partners in supporting priority legislation this session to advance the Vision for an Equitable Maine , including healthcare and affordable housing for all, Wabanaki self-governance, and better data for equitable decision making.

Budget

We urge policymakers and state leaders to invest in a budget that recognizes and responds to the unique challenges of the moment, prioritizes the important role that children and families play in our state, and acknowledges ongoing racial inequities that must be addressed.

MCA applauds key provisions in the proposed supplemental and change packages, including:

And we urge legislators to finalize a budget that makes additional investments in the initiatives, programs, and services critical to supporting the health and well-being of children, youth, and families across our state.

Children live in families, families live in communities, and communities make up our great state – each is dependent on the other to achieve shared success. Together, we can create state policies and investments that reflect our values, provide healthy futures for our children, and offer greater opportunity for all . Now is the moment for decision makers to show that commitment through legislation and a budget that invests in Maine families.

Stay tuned for opportunities to take action to support these priorities as they continue to move forward in the legislative process!

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

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 17:41:00 GMT

Helen Hemminger, Research and KIDS COUNT Associate

What is the Census and why does it matter?

By law, the Census is used to allocate federal funding, as well as to determine Congressional representation. When kids aren’t counted, communities don’t get their fair share of federal dollars for Head Start, school lunch, public health insurance, housing, child care and various other programs and services that help young children. For this reason, a complete and accurate census is critical. Yet 2020 was an extraordinarily difficult year to conduct the once-every-ten years Census. The pandemic, as well as natural disasters and a political climate that made immigrant populations fearful to complete the federal Census, all contributed.

Challenges for an accurate count in the 2020 Census

While many activities to encourage households to complete the Census were already finished when the pandemic struck one month before the official count day of April 15, 2020, COVID-19 certainly changed how the US Census Department did their work, as well as how organizations like ours promoted the Census. Because of the pandemic, there was a delay in the non-response door-to-door part of the US Census operations, and that was especially important in Maine, since Census forms are not allowed to be mailed to post office boxes. With an older and more rural population, some households in Maine also lacked internet access or the know-how to complete the Census online . The pandemic also affected non-profit outreach strategies to reach typically undercounted populations, including plans to set up mobile hot spots, organizing Census stations at libraries, and sending Census information packets home from school with students. The shift to online created new opportunities , however, including distribution of information through food bank boxes, childcare and other social service organizations, doctors’ offices, and social media.

Maine Children’s Alliance promotion of the 2020 Census

MCA worked for over 18 months to engage and recruit credible messengers to promote the importance of counting all young children in the Census. MCA staff gave presentations to targeted audiences, totaling approximately 2,380 people, who were then able to promote the Census to an additional 70,000 people. Other outreach efforts included opinion pieces in the press and a physical mailing to pediatricians, midwives, and obstetricians. MCA worked with the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children to send monthly emails to child care providers and coordinated additional Census activities with the League of Women Voters.

New boundaries for Maine’s federal house districts

The US Census released apportionment counts in April 2021 based on the population data collected from Census 2020, and as expected Maine did not gain or lose federal representation as a result. In September 2021, the Maine legislature was able to quickly decide new boundaries for House District 1 and House District 2. Notably, Maine was the second state to enact congressional redistricting and did so by a unanimous vote of the Maine House and Senate.

How Maine’s population changed from 2010 to 2020

National and State level population and household counts based on the Census 2020 are available now on the Census data webpage . According to the US Census 2020 Maine profile , Maine’s population grew 2.6 percent from 2010 to 2020. Furthermore, every county in Maine and the state overall grew more diverse.

More than three times as many people in Maine self-identified as two or more races; there were 64,710 people in 2020 categorized as two or more races, compared to 20,941 in 2010. While the population of white alone in Maine declined by 2.2 percent, the number of people identifying as white or white in combination with another race, grew by 1.2 percent. The American Indian population declined in Maine by 8.0 percent, (from 8,568 to 7,885 people) but the American Indian alone or in combination with another race, grew by 81.3 percent, with American Indian/white growing from 8,729 to 23,177 from 2010 to 2020. More comparisons between 2010 and 2020 can be found at the US Census Interactive Comparison Tables.

Concerns about the extent of the undercount in the nation and in Maine

The US Census is still conducting tests to understand the magnitude of the undercount. One concern is that young children are still among the most undercounted populations. Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and other people of color are also disproportionately undercounted. Despite the pandemic, the self-response rate nationally increased slightly from 2010 to 2020 , probably due to adding the option in 2020 of completing the Census online. Maine’s 2020 self-response rate increased as well, at 58.2 percent, up from 57.4 percent in 2010. Those who did not self-respond were counted through non-response follow-up (door-to-door), as well as by matching administrative records, but the most complete and accurate results come when respondents complete the Census themselves.

A Georgetown University researcher predicts that based on self-response rate data for 2020 , the groups that were undercounted in previous Censuses including Black, American Indian, Hispanic, foreign-born, renters, people with low incomes and children under age five, are all likely to have been undercounted in the 2020 Census. According to Urban Institute's Microsimulation of Census 2020, the estimated undercount of the overall population in Maine is 0.29 percent compared to the national average of 0.5 percent. The estimated undercount of young children in Maine is 3.6 percent, compared to the national average of 4.86 percent. There are also concerns from an equity standpoint, since the Urban Institute projected that Maine’s undercount of Black individuals was 5.67 percent, compared to a national average of 2.45 percent.

The Democracy Funders Committee's Maine state level report provides an overview of philanthropic efforts to promote the 2020 Census within and across the 50 states. For Maine, the report found that urban communities along the coast of southern Maine where much of Maine’s population lives, as well as some communities near the Canadian border, had self-response rates higher in 2020 than 2010; meanwhile, in many very rural areas, where households often have post office boxes instead of street addresses, the self-response rates were lower in 2020 than in 2010.

Looking ahead: Lessons learned to apply to Census 2030

The Democracy Funders Committee produced a summary from all the states about the Census promotion including funding, structure, successful strategies, enabling conditions and challenges. This document can guide the promotion of the 2030 Census. Important considerations for an accurate count include financial support for outreach efforts by trusted messengers, utilization of technology and communications like social media, and the inclusion of communities who are historically undercounted in the planning and implementation of Census efforts.

Meet Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 17:21:00 GMT

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 Giraffe Award Winner and showcase how they “stick their neck out” for Maine children, youth, and families. This week, we are pleased to introduce you to Wabanaki Public Health .

Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness (WPH) is committed to supporting the well-being of the Wabanaki people. Their programs and services focus on the essential needs and particularly impactful issues for their community members. With the onset of COVID-19, WPH mobilized to meet the emerging needs of community members, focusing on access to clean water, food, care packages for older adults who were experiencing isolation, and mobile smudging ceremonies to promote culture and connection.

Drinking water has long been an issue facing Wabanaki communities. This was exacerbated by quarantine restrictions. In response, clean water became a critical part of WPH's Covid-19 response. They have focused on distributing bottled water and dedicated staff to hauling water from wells to people’s homes to supplement.

WPH opened an emergency food bank with apples and potatoes, with donations from Ricker Hill Orchard and local potato farmers. Since the food bank opened, they have distributed over six thousand pounds of apples and fifteen thousand pounds of potatoes across the five communities.

WPH has also been providing Elder Care Packages. The care packages were created to provide older adults in the community with the basic necessities, so they didn't have to risk their health by going out for those items themselves. In addition to essentials like water, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer, engaging activities like puzzle books were included in the package. Given the potential toll on mental health due to isolation, WPH started a program community members could call to connect with other community members, as a means of supporting each other through community cohesion — one of WPH's greatest strengths.

During the pandemic, Wabanaki people have not been able to safely gather for sacred events. Even under these circumstances, WPH found ways to hold ceremonies with social distancing guidelines. WPH has delivered mobile smudging ceremonies, where a vehicle moves through the community, dispensing medicines as it goes. These ceremonies offer an important opportunity to heal and connect community members and are broadcast and recorded for those who can't attend.

Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness will be awarded the 2021 Organization Giraffe Award for their work to support the health and well-being of Wabanaki people on November 4th at our Champions for Children celebration.

We hope you will join us - next week - for the 2021 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event !

Meet Victoria Siering, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 20:13:00 GMT

Victoria Siering is a sophomore at Woodland Jr/Sr High School, while also being very active in her community, having dedicated a cumulative 700 hours of community service. Victoria began contributing in her community when she started pageants, where the Maine Academic Scholarship Pageant focused on getting girls out in their community helping others, along with doing presentations at schools to raise awareness about their platform. Victoria loves being on the stage, but she loves helping others more. In her free time, she can be found hanging out with friends, playing soccer, cheerleading, or playing softball.

Last January, Victoria lost a classmate to suicide. She knew she needed to do something to let students know they are not alone and that they matter. COVID-19 was wreaking havoc on the students and they were struggling mentally. It was hard not being able to hangout with friends or to even be in school. When they did return back to school it was not the same. Victoria felt strongly that there needed to be an open discussion, and that students need to understand that it is okay if you are struggling. If the word is out there and students know where to turn when they need help we could save a life. She wished William had known how much people cared about him.

Victoria bought keychains that said “Your Life Matters” in memory of William and added lifesavers and a card with the number to the suicide hotline. She handed them out to every student in the school, as well as William's family and others who were close to him but did not attend the school.

Victoria Siering will be awarded the 2021 Youth Giraffe Award for her initiative to support the mental health needs of her classmates and her ongoing service to her community on November 4th at our Champions for Children celebration.

We hope you will join us for the 2021 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2021 Giraffe Award winners.

Meet cPort Credit Union, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 14:00:00 GMT

cPort Credit Union was founded in 1931 as the Federal Employees Credit Union of Maine. At the time, it was only the third credit union in the state. Since then, the credit union has grown significantly, with five branches in Portland, Augusta, and Scarborough. It has also changed names to reflect its membership, from what was once government employees, to now being available to anyone who lives or works in Cumberland, Kennebec, Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, or York counties.

cPort has shown a commitment to providing personalized services and connecting with the communities they serve. In particular, cPort has been a leader in lending and financial services for New Mainers .

The Indus Fund is a community-supported microloan program for the immigrant community in Maine. Through this program, cPort is able to offer below-market interest rate microfinance loans to service the needs of small business owners within the immigrant community of Maine.

Recognizing a need, cPort also created the citizenship loan to help New Mainers finance their path to U.S. citizenship. A cPort Citizenship Loan helps cover costs associated with reaching citizenship and helps to establish credit.

cPort Credit Union will be awarded the 2021 Business Giraffe Award for their commitment to providing financial opportunities for all Mainers in their communities on November 4th at our Champions for Children celebration.

We hope you will join us for the 2021 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2021 Giraffe Award winners.

Amber Lombardi, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:24:00 GMT

I have a long-standing passion for public health and oral health. I dreamed of having a mobile dental clinic for the last 13 years where I could meet people where they are at and help break down barriers to quality oral health care. I wanted to give my neighbors a reliable dental home they count on/a place that will advocate for their oral health needs and overall basic needs. I believe that every child should have access to quality care from their first tooth that carries on throughout adulthood.

For Amber, the dream of a mobile dental clinic started taking shape in September 2020, with a decision to design a custom-built model in Maine, including state-of-the-art equipment and a mobile x-ray unit. A month later, Mainely Teeth was started to offer access to dental care to those in need. By November, Mainely Teeth was up and running and serving the community. The Miles for Smiles program was initiated as a non-profit at the same time.

Mainly Teeth's mission is to break down barriers to oral health care and provide access to quality, compassionate dental care to individuals, families, and communities. Core to this mission is the belief that quality oral health care is a basic human right, not a privilege. Mainely Teeth works to offer compassionate dental care, breaking down barriers and creating better access to quality preventive care. Mainely Teeth operates with the understanding that a visit to the dentist can be a stressful situation for children. Amber takes her time with her youngest patients, explaining the tools and processes to alleviate any fear. She also works closely with an occupational therapist to help address any challenges or special needs children receiving care may experience.

Amber is a graduate of the University of New England, a Master of Public Health candidate at Southern New Hampshire University, and a member of the American Dental Hygiene Association.

Amber started Mainely Teeth to bring community access to quality dental care, recognizing the large gap between private and government-supported insurance. She works closely with her patients to create a plan to achieve overall oral health. Her greatest hope is that her mobile clinic will make it more accessible for those in need. She loves working with children and has also been providing care in Maine schools for the past year.

Amber Lombardi will be awarded the 2021 Individual Giraffe Award for her passion and commitment to providing accessible, quality oral health care to children in our state on November 4th at our Champions for Children celebration.

We hope you will join us for the 2021 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2021 Giraffe Award winners.

Meet Lori Moses, 2021 Giraffe Award Winner

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 15:38:00 GMT

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 2021 Giraffe Award Winner and showcase how they “stick their neck out” for Maine children, youth, and families. This week, we are pleased to introduce you to Lori Moses .

Lori Moses was the Executive Director of Catherine Morrill Day Nursery for the past 10 years, and has worked as an administrator of several other child care centers in Greater Portland since the late 1990's. Lori was responsible for securing and managing the program budget, leading the national accreditation process reflecting best practice and working in partnership to maintain contracts with the Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Portland Public Schools, the City of Portland, and the United Way.

For many years, Lori has been actively involved in making Maine’s early care and education system better through participation in many collaborations, serving on boards and advisory committees, and often in leadership roles. Lori has been guided in her work by a passion about the field of early childhood education, understanding the impact the early years have on the trajectory of a child’s lifetime success.

Prior to her role as a child care center administrator, Lori worked as a trainer and facilitator, supporting parents and providers through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Child Care Connections, University of Maine at Augusta, and Maine Roads to Quality. Lori has a solid understanding of Maine's child care system, working with family child care providers, school-age care providers and public pre-k.

Lori has devoted her time to being a leader in several community-based initiatives focused on improving outcomes for children and families. She is an active member of the early childhood component of Portland ConnectED's cradle to career initiative on Starting Strong’s Leadership Team, the School Readiness Workgroup, and Portland Works for Kids. She has also participated in the Early Learning Nations project with the National League of Cities, the Greater Portland Workforce Initiative, and the Developmental Screening Initiative Group.

A staunch advocate for children and families and early care and education practitioners, Lori has often been called upon to testify in Augusta and in Portland, while also working to make children a national priority through her role as the Maine Field Director of "Every Child Matters." Lori represented the Alliance for the Children's Care, Education and Support Services (ACCESS), on Maine's Child Care Advisory Council as well as the Maine Children's Growth Council. She was active in the Start ME Right initiative, and continues to participate with the advocacy work of Right From The Start coalition and the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children's Public Policy Committee, working to change the landscape of child care in Maine.

Lori Moses will be awarded the 2021 Individual/Lifetime Achievement Award for her many years of dedication to providing and advocating for high quality early care and education in her community on November 4th at our Champions for Children celebration.

We hope you will join us for the 2021 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2021 Giraffe Award winners.

Maine College Students and the Pandemic

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 13:19:00 GMT

Helen Hemminger, Research and KIDS COUNT Associate, Maine Children's Alliance

Maine’s college students – like students of all ages – were profoundly affected by the pandemic. The declines in college enrollment in Maine reflect the trends nationally. Maine’s public university and community college systems have played a critical role in addressing the needs of students during this unprecedented time. Federal funding from the American Rescue Act offers an opportunity for continued support to help students meet their higher education goals.

When the pandemic struck in March 2020, students were midway through their spring semester. Suddenly, traditional undergraduate college students across the country who had been enjoying the full on-campus experience found everything changed. Most colleges switched quickly from primarily in-person learning to mostly remote learning. For many students, the online course experience made it more difficult to learn . For others, online learning was more accessible and had advantages. For some students, the pandemic brought other challenges that impacted their education , such as job loss, child care demands, and new responsibilities with their families.

In Maine, the higher education community, including private institutions, worked to develop a framework for returning to in-person learning safely by the fall of 2020. Yet, online learning continues to be an important mode of instruction even as students have returned to living on campuses at the University of Maine System. By the spring semester of 2021, online courses accounted for 83% of all credit hours of the University of Maine system. This is up from 28% of all credit hours delivered online in Spring 2020 .

Percentage of classes online and in-person at the University of Maine System

College Enrollment Trends

Nationally, overall postsecondary enrollment dropped by 3.5%, or 603,000 students, comparing spring semester 2021 with spring semester 2020. Mirroring this, the undergraduate head count for Maine’s public 4-year college system decreased 3.3% , excluding high school students enrolled in early college. According to Samantha Warren, Director of Government & Community Relations, the University of Maine System offered timely supports to meet their basic and academic needs. These included expanding in-person and telehealth counseling services, providing near immediate reimbursement for room and board when campuses closed, quickly distributing federal student emergency aid, maintaining food and housing for those who did not have a stable home to go to, and establishing hundreds of parking lot Wi-Fi hot spots across Maine. With these supports, 98.5% of students in the UMaine system persisted with their courses when the pandemic hit, slightly exceeding performance from the spring semester of the prior year before the pandemic. ¹

Maine’s public 2-year colleges had a slightly higher enrollment decline than 2-year colleges nationwide. Comparing spring 2021 semester to spring 2020 before the pandemic, Maine community college enrollment decreased 10.6% compared to the national decline of 9.5% at 2-year colleges. ²

Looking at both public 4-year and public 2-year colleges in Maine, spring enrollments were down by approximately 2,200 students from 2020 to 2021.

Reasons for the enrollment declines at community colleges during the pandemic are tied to the challenges many students faced even before the pandemic. Students at community college s are more likely to come from low-income families, to be working in essential jobs, to be parents themselves, and to be juggling work and school, than the undergraduates at 4-year public colleges. For these reasons, community college students were disproportionally affected by the pandemic both nationally and here in Maine. Maine Community College System’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Noel Gallagher said, “COVID-19 impacted the community college population harder than most. Parents and students lost jobs, already scarce and expensive childcare options disappeared, and community college students who are parents of young children — or caretakers for their elders — are managing complicated home lives.“ ⁴

Like the University of Maine System, during the pandemic, the Maine Community College System shifted to remote learning, and greatly expanded student supports. Tutoring, library and counseling services were moved online, with expanded early morning and evening hours. New technology assistance and aid was distributed so that all remote learners had the technology (computers, hotspots, special dispensation to come on campus if they couldn’t study from home) they needed to access courses. The community college food pantries added curbside pickup. Emergency financial assistance — to help with basic food, housing and transportation costs — began right away, and the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges launched a four-year $1M fundraising effort to provide emergency aid at all seven colleges. ⁵

During the pandemic, more women than men lost employment and many women left the labor force to care for children who were not attending schools in-person. For this reason, some predicted that more women would leave college than men . However, college enrollment among men was already declining before the pandemic, and the pandemic exacerbated that trend.

Men's enrollment declined more than women's comparing Spring Semester 2020 to Spring Semester 2021

A survey by New America attempted to uncover the reasons why more men left college when the pandemic hit. Their survey found men were more likely to say they did not want to take classes online, and/or didn’t have internet access or had unreliable internet. Men who stopped attending were also more likely than women to be enrolled in hands-on education such as construction or manufacturing.

2020 High School Graduates Starting College

Maine students who were high school seniors in March 2020 graduated at about the same rate as the year before at 87.5%. But due to the changing demographics of Maine, there were fewer students in 12 ^th grade , resulting in 460 fewer graduates. For the fall of 2020, there were 611 fewer Maine high school graduates enrolled in either Maine’s public 4-year or public 2-year colleges. This drop of 11.3% is due to both the impact of COVID-19 and a declining pool of students. Nationally, for the fall of 2020, enrollments from high school directly to college dropped 6.8%.

Fewer high school graduates in Maine started college within 12 months, Fall 2020

College Persistence of Recent High School Graduates

Nationally, the rate of recent high school graduates persisting to their second year in the fall of 2020 fell from 75.9% to 73.9%, the largest drop since 2012. For Maine high school students graduating in May 2019 and persisting to the second year of college in the fall of 2020, the rates were similar to the national rates, declining from 77.1% to 75.1%.

Looking Ahead

During the pandemic, online learning greatly expanded at the University of Maine System, and it is likely that online courses will not fall to pre-pandemic levels. New pandemic-related federal funding of $120 million coupled with a $71 million federal grant received in December will increase broadband services in Maine. This will be helpful for students who are accessing online education from Maine’s most rural communities. That said, for the fall of 2021, Maine public 2-year and 4-year colleges anticipate returning more fully to in-person learning.

It will be critical to have viable career pathways for young adults who were in high school or college in 2020 and 2021, so they can access good jobs that provide meaningful work and a livable wage. It is noteworthy that Maine plans to use $35 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to support the community college system and build career ladders in healthcare and other vital industries. Also, the Maine Department of Labor has been awarded a separate $5.5 million federal grant to strengthen apprenticeships for trades.

As part of the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan , to meet workforce development needs in emerging economic sectors, an additional $35 million is slated for the University of Maine from the federal American Rescue Plan. Both the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System have held tuition flat. The need-based Maine State Grant was increased by Maine’s legislature from $1,500 to $2,500 beginning with the fall 2021 semester. There is also proposed federal legislation to double the award amounts for Pell grants for college students who are low-income. Data shows that when low-income college students receive additional grants, they are more likely to persist and complete college — an effect substantially strengthened when grant aid was combined with additional supports. Efforts to lower costs and to provide additional supports will increase access to higher education for Maine students who were most affected by the pandemic.

Maine public and community college students have faced the same challenges during the pandemic as students nationally. These unprecedented times call for increased access to mental health supports and financial aid for students and an investment in public higher education institutions themselves. Quality in-state public higher education is what all our young people deserve and is essential to growing Maine’s economy.

1. Email from Samantha Warren, Director of Government & Community Relations, University of Maine System

2. National Student Clearinghouse, https://nscresearchcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/CTEE_Report_Spring_2021.pdf Table 8b, page 14. and Maine enrollment data from an email from Noel Gallagher, Maine Community College System Director of Communications and Public Affairs

3. Email from Noel Gallagher, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Maine Community College System

4. Ibid

5. Ibid

6. Ibid

Legislative and Appropriations Wrap

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 19:24:00 GMT

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; yet it only reinforced the need for advocacy for policies and investments that support the health and well-being of children and families across our state. Read on for more information about some of the key wins from this session!

Early Care and Education

All families should have the resources, opportunities, and support necessary to provide our youngest children with the nurturing relationships and environments necessary to establish a strong, healthy foundation and meet their full potential.

With the passage of LD 1712 , we expand to five new sites a model of high-quality child care within an early childhood system with regional coordination and no wrong door for families to access services. This community-based approach will open new, high-quality child care slots for infants and children; support families through parent education and home visiting; and grow a stronger early education workforce through coaching and professional development. It also establishes the Help Me Grow model, to promote healthy child development by supporting families and providers to connect children to critical supports.

Early intervention can help children make progress toward developmental milestones, be more prepared for kindergarten, have more positive interactions with peers, and reduce the need for services during their school years. Yet in Maine, too many children have not been receiving interventions early enough or without lengthy waits. With the passage of LDs 135 , 255 , and 386 , Maine will begin to restructure Child Development Services to better support our youngest children to grow and thrive in a healthy way.

Health, Safety, and Well-being

Setting up a child for a healthy future starts with a foundation of good maternal and infant health, affordable comprehensive child health care coverage, and a safe, stable family and home.

High-quality care for mothers after birth helps to identify potential issues and keeps women connected to follow-up care with their physician. The passage of LD 265 will ensure that women who are eligible for MaineCare during pregnancy and birth will have continuous coverage postpartum for up to a year, to support positive outcomes for both mothers and their infants.

Prevention-focused supportive services and resources for families give them the best opportunities to prevent crisis and provide a safe home environment for their children. The passage of LD 497 will ensure there is a plan for child abuse and neglect prevention services in Maine to support and strengthen families and prevent maltreatment.

Brain science shows us a child’s early educational experiences play a significant role in their development in the early years, which can impact short and long-term outcomes. The passage of LD 474 establishes limits on the use and duration of exclusionary discipline in pre-K to grade 5 to keep students connected to the support of their school environment.

It is important to child and youth safety that policies are in place to decrease access to firearms . With the passage of LD 1392 , the state will produce an annual report on firearm injuries and fatalities, which is critical to the development of policy solutions to increase safety. And with the passage of LD 759 , Maine will establish safe storage and child access prevention best practices in statute.

Family Economic and Food Security

When families have opportunities to be successful and meet their basic needs, children thrive, and so does our shared economy.

Providing universal free school meals can eliminate barriers to participation, stigma associated with receiving assistance, school meals debt incurred by districts, and ensure kids get the food they need to learn and thrive. Through the funding for free school meals through LD 1679 , Maine is now one of only a few states taking the lead in recognizing the critical role food security plays in the health, well-being, and academic success of our students.

Paid leave gives new parents time to bond, increases breastfeeding success, increases likelihood of immunizations and check-ups, and increases the likelihood of both parents returning to work. LD 1559 will create a Commission to study and make recommendations for implementation of a paid family and medical leave program in the state– finally passed and on the Governor’s desk.

At its core, the TANF program is intended to ensure children have their basic needs met. Research has shown that strict full family sanctions cause harm to families, disproportionately cutting off families with the greatest challenges and those more likely to be in deep poverty. By lifting the full family sanction , LD 78 will make TANF more effective in helping children and families address the challenges of poverty.

Equity

Lawmakers must know whether policy will contribute to racial disparities and inequities when they are consideration legislation. LD 2 establishes the use of Racial Impact Statements to create a process for requesting and incorporating the information necessary to assess the racial impact of policies.

Through the passage of LD 1034 , we make a critical investment in the work of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations . This organizing body will help us keep race equity centered in policies and move us closer to the goal of creating equal opportunity for all Mainers to achieve success.

Providing early and equitable care for both mother and child is essential to getting all babies off to a healthy start. Yet in Maine, racial disparities persist in the rates of women who receive timely and adequate prenatal care . Passage of LD 1113 has created an important opportunity for the Permanent Commission to study and develop policy and practice solutions to address this issue.

Important components of the budget “change package” and state American Rescue Plan funds:

Budget ( LD 220 )

Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan ( LD 1733 )

Carried Over

We look forward to continuing work on the following priority bills to secure their passage and funding, carried over to the second session of the legislature.

LD 372 , An Act To Provide Maine Children Access to Affordable Health Care

LD 1652 , An Act To Build a Child Care System by Recruiting and Retaining Maine's Early Childhood Workforce

LD 1550 , An Act To End the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products

LD 979 , An Act To Expand Maine's School-based Health Centers

LD 1091 , An Act To Improve the Long-term Outcomes for Youth Transitioning from State Care by Raising the Upper Age Limit for Voluntary Support Eligibility

LD 1501 , An Act To Protect Oral Health for Children in Maine

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

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 19:20:00 GMT

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 – child poverty in our nation could be cut in half.

Many provisions in the plan will make a significant difference to the health and well-being of Maine children and families and we look forward to engaging in the implementation of funding in our state. The child tax credit expansion alone is expected to lift 10,000 Maine children from poverty and impact many more. To support child care, the law includes $40 billion, with an estimated $119 million coming to Maine. Elementary and secondary schools will receive additional funding to reopen safely. Families will also benefit from stimulus payments, expansions to child nutrition programs, housing assistance, health care coverage and more.

Though the ARP provisions are temporary, they provide a framework for future policy discussions about what it takes to improve equity and ensure that all families have the ability to thrive. This moment is an opportunity to demonstrate how family-friendly policies and programs are a sound investment in the improved well-being of all Americans.

KEY PROVISIONS AND FUNDING FOR MAINE

Child Care - $24 billion for Child Care Stabilization grants, $1 billion for Head Start, and $15 billion for the Child Care and Development Blog Grant program. This money will help support both providers and parents who have struggled during the pandemic. The estimated funds for Maine are $119 million.

Tax Credits – In 2021, the Child Tax Credit will be $3,000 per child over age five and $3,600 per child under age six. It will be fully refundable, so that those with the least earned income - and thus the greatest need for financial support - will also benefit. This change alone will cut child poverty by about 45 percent, and combined with other provisions in the law, child poverty will be reduced nationally by over 50 percent. The law also expands the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to $4,000 for one child or $8,000 for two or more children. Importantly, this tax credit is also fully refundable. In Maine, 229,000 children or 91 percent of all children, will benefit from the expansion of these tax credits .

K-12 School Funding - The Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief (ESSER) Fund received $122.74 billion and public K-12 schools received $125 billion to safely reopen and operate. For Maine, that amounts to $540,077 in additional funding to help schools during the pandemic .

Child Well-being - $3 billion for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which includes early intervention services for young children with disabilities. There is also $150 million for home visiting programs, and $1 billion for TANF for basic assistance for low-income families.

Nutrition - The SNAP benefit increase of 15 percent will extend through September 2021. Pandemic EBT is extended through the summer, providing money to replace meals 22 million children would otherwise receive through school meals.

Housing - $21.55 billion in Emergency Rental Assistance for rent and utilities for families who need support. In Maine, that amounts to an additional $150 million in housing assistance . The law will also help families with costs associated with housing, like additional money for home heating. In Maine, the LIHEAP program will receive $84 million .

Earned Income Payments – $1,400 payments to every individual with a Social Security Number (including children whose parents do not have one). This allows for an additional 2.2 million children with SSNs to receive payments in this round of federal relief. The payments phase out for higher income households. In Maine, 659,989 households will receive this support.

Unemployment - The law extends the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) to $300 until September 6th. In Maine, the extension of benefits will impact 27,748 workers experiencing unemployment .

Healthcare – The law invests $35 billion for premium subsidy increases for individuals who buy coverage on the ACA marketplace. It removes the 400 percent federal poverty level limit on subsidy eligibility. And it subsidizes 100 percent of COBRA premiums. There is also an option for states to extend Medicaid coverage to twelve months for women postpartum. ( Health Provisions in House Relief Bill Would Improve Access to Health Coverage During COVID Crisis )

Other provisions in the law providing critical support to children and families, include funding for vaccines, testing, health workforce, state aid, and extension of paid sick and FMLA leave tax credits. This is an important down payment on the health and well-being of families across our country who continue to struggle through this pandemic and resulting economic crisis. The next step should be working to make many of these important supports permanent, for the good they will do to strengthen American families and our shared economy.

Center on Budget Policy and Priorities, Analysis of Maine Children Benefiting from Tax Credit Expansions in the American Rescue Plan

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

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 21:45:00 GMT

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 on state leaders and policymakers to take action.

Our priorities span issues important to the health and well-being of children and families, divided into three "bucket" areas: Early Care and Education/Health, Safety & Well-being/Family Economic & Food Security.

Early Care and Education
All families should have the resources, opportunities, and support necessary to provide our youngest children with the nurturing relationships and environments necessary to establish a strong, healthy foundation and meet their full potential. To achieve this goal, lawmakers should prioritize:

1) Increasing the number of children in high-quality early care and education settings , by growing early learning community-based partnership models that support the needs of parents, providers, and young children.

2) Improving the screening, identification, and coordination of early intervention services for our youngest children, so parents and providers can respond early and effectively when there are developmental concerns for children.

3) Improving and expanding the early care workforce , through increased pay, benefits, and educational opportunities.

Legislation: An Act To Create an Early Care and Education Program To Support Children's Healthy Development and School Success , President Troy Jackson

Legislation: An Act To Build a Child Care System by Recruiting and Retaining Maine's Early Childhood Workforce , Speaker Ryan Fecteau

Health, Safety & Well-Being
Setting up a child for a healthy future starts with a foundation of good maternal and infant health, affordable comprehensive child health care coverage, and a safe, stable family and home. To provide this, policymakers should prioritize:

1) Increasing the number of Maine children who have health insurance coverage through improved outreach efforts on low-cost options and expansion of eligibility, to ensure more children can get the care they need.

Legislation: An Act To Provide Maine Children Access to Affordable Health Care , Senator Anne Carney

2) Improving outreach and engagement with families in contact with the child welfare system , with an emphasis on prevention-focused supportive services and resources that give families the best opportunities to prevent crisis and provide a safe home environment for their children.

Legislation: An Act To Strengthen Supports for Families and Children through the Development and Implementation of a Prevention and Early Intervention Program , Representative Colleen Madigan

Family Economic & Food Security
When families have opportunities to be successful and meet their basic needs, children thrive, and so does our shared economy. Maine should ensure all families have the resources and are supported by essential systems and structures to reduce hardship and provide families with the ability to thrive. To protect family economic security, decisionmakers should prioritize efforts to:

Expand affordable housing . Legislation: An Act To Comprehensively Address Homelessness and Affordable Housing in Maine , Representative Victoria Morales

Provide free school meals . Legislation: An Act To Address Student Hunger through a Universal Free School Meals Program , Senator Troy Jackson

Ensure paid family leave . Legislation: An Act Regarding Paid Family Medical Leave , Senator Matthea Daughtry

Improve access to family-centered support programs . Legislation: An Act To Protect Children from Extreme Poverty by Preserving Children's Access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Benefits , Representative Michelle Meyer

The Budget We urge policymakers to invest in a state budget that recognizes and responds to the unique challenges of the moment, prioritizes the important role that children and families play in our state, and acknowledges ongoing racial inequities that must be addressed. In particular:

The critical systems of child care and education must be adequately funded to meet the increased academic, emotional, and mental health needs of children during these challenging times.

Children live in families, families live in communities, and communities make up our great state – each is dependent on the other to achieve shared success. Together, we can create an economy that reflects our values, provides healthy futures for our children, and offers greater opportunity for all.

You can track these priority policies - as well as many other bills relating to children and families we're also following - through the legislative process on our Bill Tracker . You can also find and reach out to your state legislators to talk about the issues important to you and your families here .

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

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 18:57:00 GMT

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 Pain Points and the Urgent Need to Respond , a 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how families are faring during the COVID-19 crisis.

This KIDS COUNT report examined data from weekly surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that demonstrate how families across the country are challenged to meet basic needs during this global public health crisis while managing school, work and mental health. The Foundation finds the concurrent health and economic crises are exacerbating trends that show vulnerable families are unable to fulfill basic needs.

In assessing food security, the ability to make rent or mortgage payments, health insurance status and mental health concerns, the Foundation identified four pain points for children and families that require immediate action for relief and an opportunity to build a more equitable future. Key findings include:

Additionally, in a survey conducted by Washington University in St. Louis, a third of those with children reported they are less likely to return to work because they lack child care (32%). Without child care, an enormous portion of the nation’s workforce could be sidelined from being able to support their families, which could hold the country back from returning to full economic strength.

The report recommends that federal and state lawmakers provide relief grants to ensure center- and home-based child care providers are able to survive the pandemic. Lawmakers should also work to increase access to high-quality and affordable care for families, and improve wages and working conditions for the child care workforce.

The report shows how urgent state and federal intervention is to the health and well-being of families with children. In Maine, the worst effects of food insecurity were mitigated by the robust response of the already existing statewide network of food pantries. The state also took action to provide substantial financial support to schools in reopening safely, and ensured funds were available to provide needed housing assistance.

While the percentages of families experiencing hardship in Maine appear relatively low compared to other states and the national average, they still represent significant numbers of children and parents in our communities who are struggling most during this crisis. The Maine Children's Alliance urges policymakers to prioritize substantial additional federal funding necessary to mitigate the worst-case scenarios of hardship still being caused by the pandemic.

In closing, the Annie E. Casey Foundation calls upon policymakers and child advocates to unite across differences and put a COVID-19 response at the top of 2021 agendas to ensure that children have what they need to survive and thrive. In an adequate response, decisionmakers should:

“America’s children are in crisis,” said Annie E. Casey Foundation President and CEO Lisa Hamilton. “All across the country, families with children are struggling to overcome an unprecedented convergence of emergencies. If we don't work together to address this crisis equitably in terms of both short-term relief and long-term recovery, an entire generation of children will face long-term effects.”

Meet Hannaford, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 21:00:00 GMT

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 2020 Giraffe Award Winner and showcase how they “stick out their neck” for Maine children, youth, and families. This week, we are pleased to introduce you to Hannaford .

Hannaford has made a significant commitment to eradicating child hunger in Maine and across the Northeast, with both food and financial donations. The Scarborough-based chain is working to establish food pantries in 90 schools across Maine and other nearby states as part of an initiative called Fuel Kids at School. During the COVID crisis, Hannaford has also stepped forward to help provide hunger relief.

In 2019 alone, Hannaford directly donated more than 24.4 million pounds of food to pantries, meal programs, and food banks, including more than 9.7 million pounds of food just in Maine. And in response to the pandemic, since March 2020, Hannaford has donated $1.25 million to COVID-19 relief efforts.

Hannaford also recently announced a commitment of $1 million and pledged to establish food pantries at schools across the Northeast. The Fuel Kids at School initiative is intended to directly address childhood hunger by bringing food into schools and Head Start programs where children can choose fresh and healthy foods. Here in Maine, $300,000 has already been given to Good Shepherd Food Bank to create pantries in 30 Head Start programs.

“The correlation between access to nutritious food and early childhood development and learning makes Head Start locations the ideal match for our next phase of school-based pantries,” said Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “We know that expanding our pantry sites to serve pre-school-aged children and their families will play an important role in ensuring a bright future for Maine’s youngest citizens.”

Hannaford also stepped forward to make shopping safer for at-risk customers using SNAP benefits to purchase groceries during the COVID-19 crisis, by extending their “to-go” curbside pickup service. By expanding their Point of Sale systems to enable EBT payments car-side, Hannaford was able to offer a safer and more convenient process for Mainers concerned about shopping indoors given the health concerns of COVID-19.

Hannaford will be awarded a 2020 Giraffe Award for its significant efforts to address food insecurity and child hunger in Maine on November 17th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2020 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event !

Meet the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 23:16:00 GMT

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 Giraffe Award Winner and showcase how they “stick out their neck” for Maine children, youth, and families. This week, we are pleased to introduce you to the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition.

The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition has become a leader in advocating for and providing support to the diverse immigrant communities in Maine. As the number of immigrants and refugees in Maine grows, it is important to understand the needs and priorities of immigrants and how to ensure their inclusion and integration into daily life. This is at the core of the work that MIRC does on behalf of immigrants in Maine.

MIRC was founded by the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project in 2005 and has since grown from 20 to 69 members throughout the state. What began as a small, yet vibrant coalition has transitioned into a thriving, immigrant-led non-profit organization.

As the convener of a statewide network of organizations – mostly led by people of color – MIRC represents diverse ethnic communities across our state. The coalition is committed to working to create and support programs and policies that promote inclusion and integration for immigrants in Maine communities.

MIRC has also stepped forward in very specific moments of need to support immigrants in Maine. Last summer, when hundreds of asylum seekers arrived in Portland from the southern border, MIRC took the lead in addressing their needs. They organized everything from cooking and serving familiar food, creating activities for children, collecting needed clothing, and moving families into suitable housing.

Most recently, MIRC also brought the voice of Maine immigrant families to the COVID-19 crisis. They advocated for direct resources into immigrant communities, the use of cultural brokers, access to testing, and translation of materials. They recognized early on that immigrant families were at greater risk for contracting the virus, as they are more likely to live in multi-generational families, in close quarters, and in jobs where they are in more direct contact with the public. MIRC utilized their voice and leveraged their leadership to advocate for resources directly to impacted immigrant communities.

The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition will be awarded a 2020 Giraffe Award for its commitment to inclusion and equity for immigrant children and families in Maine on November 17th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2020 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2020 Giraffe Award winners.

Meet Steve Meister, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 19:04:00 GMT

Throughout his career, Dr. Steve Meister has continuously sought ways to innovate services on behalf of children and families. His efforts have ranged from taking on challenges of behavioral health and family problems within pediatric care, to meeting the needs of underserved children and youth in foster care, to leading child traumatic stress resource development, to guiding program and policy development within regional and national health care reform.

As Steve has been a leader in advocacy on the state level, he has also encouraged others to lead. He is well known by his colleagues for his eagerness to share information and to work in collaboration, as well as to offer himself as a mentor to others.

Within Maine General's Pediatric Rapid Evaluation Program (PREP), Dr. Meister helped evaluate service models from around the country and identify what would work best for Maine children entering foster care. The PREP started by him led to the development of statewide medical and psychological evaluations of all children coming into foster care.

Recognizing a gap in services for children who experienced trauma, Dr. Meister developed and served as Principal Investigator for the Mid-Maine Child Trauma Network, a community practice center of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). He contributed to the development of a Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress Toolkit. He now contributes to a second NCTSN community practice center at Maine General, focused on evidence-based trauma treatment.

Along the way, Steve completed a master’s degree in public health and brought this to a position as Medical Director for Child and Family Health in the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. There, among other things, he was active in advocating for best practice screening services for children with autistic spectrum disorders and advancing children’s health care reform.

As chair of the Maine Child Death and Serious Injury Review Panel, Dr. Meister spearheaded the development of a comprehensive model for safe home delivery in Maine. And as part of the steering committee for the Coalition for the Advancement of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Steve was pivotal in getting the state to update its review of youth behavioral health services in Maine.

Steve has also been a guiding force within the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, serving as both member and President. During his tenure, the Maine chapter was recognized particularly for its community-based initiative to address adverse childhood experiences and advance the Maine Resilience Building Network. Now as the Medical Director with the Edmund N. Ervin Pediatric Center at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Dr. Meister continues in his lifelong service and advocacy for children and their families.

Steve Meister will be awarded a 2020 Giraffe Award for his lifelong work and commitment to improving the quality and access of health care for Maine children on November 17th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2020 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2020 Giraffe Award winners.

Meet Abdul Ali, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 19:08:00 GMT

Abdulkadir Ali is an Ethiopian-American social activist, who brings his voice and experience to advocate for racial and criminal justice here in Maine. From human rights to community leadership, Ali is working to address issues that continuously occur in silenced communities caused by systematic oppression.

Ali is an Artistic Director with Maine Inside Out, an organization that uses theater to engage communities around the subject of incarceration. He also works as an organizer with Maine Youth Justice, an organization that brings people of all backgrounds together to address the failures of the criminal/juvenile justice system, while working to advance reform.

Ali works in partnership with the Young People's Caucus, which connects policy decision makers with young people to discuss and learn about topics that are important to youth. He also participates in Opportunity Scholars at the University of Southern Maine, which creates a bridge for formerly incarcerated young people to access post-secondary education. As a formerly incarcerated young man, Ali works tirelessly as an activist and organizer on behalf of Maine's most vulnerable populations.

Ali stands out as a prominent and rising voice on issues impacting youth, and especially youth of color, in our state right now. Through artistic expression, engagement, and advocacy, he is making sure that the lived experience of youth are represented at tables where decisions are being made that will impact them, and are part of driving needed change.

Abdul Ali will be awarded a 2020 Giraffe Award for his passion and commitment to advancing racial, social, and juvenile justice in Maine on November 17th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2020 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2020 Giraffe Award winners.

Meet Camelia Babson-Haley, 2020 Giraffe Award Winner

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 20:36:00 GMT

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 2020 Giraffe Award Winner and showcase how they “stick out their neck” for Maine children, youth, and families. This week, we are pleased to introduce you to Camelia Babson-Haley .

Camelia Babson-Haley has been with Youth and Family Outreach since March 2000 and Executive Director since 2009. YFO is a high-quality early care and education center with a mission to serve diverse families in downtown Portland. For two decades, Camelia has led with heart, always putting the needs of children and their families in the center. She is also known for mentoring her staff, many of whom are new immigrants to Maine.

Camelia has been in the field of early childhood education since 1989. During that time she has seen more than 500 children head off to public school with the tools they need to succeed on their educational journey. From a lab school in Nevada, to a Head Start in Maine, to a parent cooperative in Georgia; Camelia has experienced a diversity of programming that set the stage for her work at YFO.

In 2009, Camelia skillfully brought YFO quickly out of a recession and now successfully manages the annual budget and endowment. She is an active part of the community both as a business and an industry leader. Each year Camelia actively seeks the resources necessary to meet the needs of staff, families, and children that YFO serves. She does this through the acquisition of both public and private funds, as well as by maintaining a partnership with the United Way of Greater Portland .

Camelia is known in the community as a collaborator and actively seeks out beneficial partnerships, such as the University of Southern Maine, Portland Public Schools, and The Opportunity Alliance. She has maintained national accreditation with the National Association for the Education of Young Children for Youth and Family Outreach since 2003.

In particular, Camelia was able to quickly and thoughtfully respond when the pandemic hit in early March. When it was clear YFO would need to close, she went above and beyond to support her families and staff with diaper deliveries, informal food banks, and connections to resources. Since reopening in June, Camelia has navigated health and safety protocols, while also ensuring the high quality care children and families of YFO depend on now more than ever.

Camelia Babson-Haley will be awarded the 2020 Individual Award for her many years of service to providing high quality child care and support for the early care workforce on November 17th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2020 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2020 Giraffe Award winners.

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

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 21:38:00 GMT

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 the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 created an immediate need for significant support to an unprecedent number of families experiencing sudden job loss or employment uncertainty. For many, this was the first time they were experiencing this level of hardship and need for support. Fortunately, federal waivers have made it possible for safety net programs to become more flexible and adapt to the needs of families navigating this crisis, making assistance more accessible to those in need.

Even as states have taken advantage of flexibilities to reach more families, without further state and federal action, these waivers will end when Maine’s state of emergency ends. Extended aid should be attached to measures of economic stability rather than set deadlines. Otherwise, families will suffer, and the economy will face a longer, slower recovery when we emerge from this crisis.

The essential needs of parents who have been out of work, many of whom have used up savings to get through, continue to experience hardship, even as we move toward economic recovery in our state. According to the most recent Household Pulse survey data , 36% of parents surveyed in Maine cited having difficulty paying for usual household expenses. The economic need of families is clear and ongoing.

One critical measure of economic security is the unemployment rate . In Maine, unemployment is up significantly as of this time last year, 6.9% vs 2.9% (August 2020). For many, the federal Unemployment Insurance weekly payments issued over the summer provided needed financial support during the crisis. But since Congress let those benefits expire without passing legislation to provide additional support, many are still experiencing loss of employment and income, now with fewer resources to support their basic needs. Additionally, the state’s unemployment figures are an undercount of the number of impacted people, since they only count those actively looking for work (this was temporarily waived during the height of the crisis). Approximately 18,000 people have left the workforce since March and are neither unemployed nor working . With many schools reopening in remote or hybrid scenarios, parents have faced difficult professional and financial decisions about whether to return to work or stay at home with their children; something that has particularly impacted women , and something that is surely reflected in the number of individuals who have left the workforce during this crisis.

Housing stability is another critical measure of family economic security. The most current data offers a bleak picture of how renters are faring during this crisis. Approximately 20% of surveyed Maine households cited experiencing a likelihood of eviction or foreclosure . For several months of the crisis, Maine Housing Authority offered a COVID-19 Rent Relief Program to help Maine families avoid getting behind on rent. On average, requests for aid were for 1-2 months. The rent relief program has paid rent for 2,140 households and another 1,848 are approved and pending . Unfortunately, this assistance program ended on September 30 ^th, even as many Mainers are still out of work, out of savings, and behind on rent. SNAP (Food Supplement Benefit) is a proven, effective tool in addressing food insecurity , allowing recipients to stretch their food dollars, so they don't have to choose between putting food on the table and meeting their other basic needs. Among the flexibilities employed by the state during the pandemic, SNAP participants have been able to receive the maximum monthly benefit. For families with children, having access to SNAP – particularly with schools closed or operating on atypical schedules that has reduced the consistency of access to school meals – ensures they are getting a steady, nutritious supply of food that is essential to their healthy growth and development. For children with SNAP, peak enrollment levels in Maine were in May of 2020 .

For low-income families, the MaineCare state health insurance program provides access to affordable health care . This is especially important right now for those who may be newly eligible due to changes in employment and income. With 52% of children in Maine receiving health care coverage through a parent’s employer , job losses during the pandemic likely destabilized health insurance coverage for many Maine children. Yet, child enrollment in MaineCare has only increased 7% between February and August ( Office of MaineCare data, provided on request 9/30/20 ). It is critical that the state conducts outreach and ensures public awareness around available low-cost health care options, like CubCare (Maine’s CHIP program), MaineCare, or the Marketplace. Children having health insurance coverage is essential to ensuring they get the routine care they need to grow and develop in a healthy way.

The TANF (Temporary Assistance for Families) program provides important financial assistance for families with children who are temporarily unable to provide for themselves. During the pandemic, the 60-month lifetime limit implemented in 2012 and the family sanction have been waived. This was an important step to removing barriers to enrollment for those most in need of basic assistance right now. For families with children applying for TANF, the greatest number of new applicants was in April, while enrollment for families with children peaked in May .

The WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program provides nutritious foods, information on healthy eating, and health care referrals to low-income women, infants, and children birth to age 5. During this crisis, WIC has been able to utilize flexibilities to safeguard the health of participants, such as allowing virtual rather than in-person visits. By the end of August, the program also shifted statewide from paper coupons to EBT cards (eWIC). This should reduce stigma for participants, as well as allowing them greater flexibility in spending. Like many of the safety net programs, WIC saw its greatest overall enrollment increase in April. That number steadily decreased from April to August, where the number stood at pre-pandemic levels ( State Office of WIC, provided on request 9/22/20 ).

While it is important to understand the numbers being served in these assistance programs, it is also important for us to consider the overall need , as represented by the total numbers of applicants for each program . For MaineCare, SNAP, and TANF, the significant peak application period occurred in weeks in April, with 1,988 applicants, 2,005 applicants, and 340 applicants, respectively.

So many of us are struggling during this crisis and these programs provide critical sources of support to help weather these challenging circumstances. Additional financial assistance from Congress, as well as the extension of program waivers, should be a top priority right now . With the economic crisis likely stretching into the foreseeable future, providing this access to ongoing assistance for essential needs like housing and food, will help mitigate the worst kinds of hardship too many families will otherwise face now and during the period of slow economic recovery.

The health and well-being of children and families in our state is at great risk right now. And when children and families are struggling, our communities and shared economy suffer. It is critical that the federal and state governments continue to make aid available to the children and families who are experiencing the greatest hardship right now. By investing in families now, we can stabilize and strengthen the parents and children who represent our current and future workforce and give them the best opportunities to emerge from this crisis prepared to thrive and succeed.

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

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 19:03:00 GMT

Right from the Start

First4ME,

The First4ME legislation

real time supply and demand data matching systems

Child Care Resource and Referral agencies

Shared Service Alliances

average hourly wage for a child care worker in Maine is $13.51 an hour

most also not receiving benefits

Maine Roads to Quality

the T.E.A.C.H. program

Governor Mills proposed a $5 million bond

understand early childhood brain science

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

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:15:00 GMT

Framework for Returning to Classroom Instruction

Yet a recent national poll

American Community Survey

the July 15 ^th report from the Governor’s Economic Recovery Committee

Child Care is Essential Act

Child Care for Economic Recovery Act

The Child Care System in Crisis

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 19:22:00 GMT

national survey

to 75% of the market rate of a child's tuition.

research

recent article from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

A national survey of over 800 parents by the Bipartisan Policy Center

Bureau of Labor Statistics

need consistent relationships with caregivers

2018 Maine Child Care Market Rate Study

Executive Order from the Governor

Lower Revenue from Tuition Payments + Higher Costs = Disaster for Child Care

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

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 16:27:00 GMT

Young people suffered academically and emotionally

the negative impact was even more pronounced.

Return to Classroom Instruction Framework

offered guidance

While significant investment and improvement was made in the spring to facilitate broadband access for students learning remotely

In Maine, the average age of a teacher is 55

will most certainly require increased spending to implement

9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen

A Blueprint for Back to School

Playbook for School Reopening

COVID-19 Update: State Policy Responses and Other Executive Actions to the Coronavirus in Public Schools

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

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 20:02:00 GMT

brain science tells us that teens and young adults have not reached maturity

No Place For Kids,

The reduction of the number of juveniles incarcerated in Maine during the first month of the pandemic was more than any other state

the drop in admissions to youth detention in two months matches the reduction in admissions to juvenile corrections over the last 13 years

Maine has no cases of COVID-19 in youth who are incarcerated

Maine Juvenile Justice System Assessment & Reinvestment Task Force

Center for Children’s Law and Policy

Vera Institute of Justice

comprehensive system assessment

a blueprint for Maine to end the incarceration of girls

Black youth is more likely to be incarcerated than a white youth

Black Mainers Are Being Hit Hard by COVID-19

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 21:26:00 GMT

while the total number of COVID-19 cases of white men and women slightly more than doubled, the number of cases of Black men and women increased by a factor of 12

they represent an estimated 1.3 – 2.1 percent of the total population

the largest in the country

COVID-19 in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups

Let's Talk About Racism

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 21:18:00 GMT

Talking About Race

Parenting: Difficult Conversations, Talking Race with Young Children

Talking to Children About Racial Bias

Beyond the Golden Rule. A Parent's Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice

12 Anti-Racist Books Recommended by Educators and Activists

Anti-Racism For Kids 101: Starting To Talk About Race Book Collection

31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism, and resistance

Black History Movies that Tackle Racism

Maine behind in 2020 Census response rates

Tue, 19 May 2020 18:31:00 GMT

as of May 4th, over 100,000 Maine households had not yet received their census forms

Census Bureau’s Response Rate Map

Update Leave (UL) field operation

The 2020 census will determine how much federal funding states and localities receive each year for the next 10 years

Supporting Children and Families During the COVID-19 Crisis

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 20:08:00 GMT

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

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 21:01:00 GMT

based on U.S. Census SAIPE 1 year data

The poverty rate for children in Maine in 2018 is 14.8%

here

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

committee’s report

model

here

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

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 15:47:00 GMT

an additional 62 new child welfare staff positions at OCFS in her budget proposal

LD 821

LD 1526

report

this strategic framework

Key Measures Child Welfare Dashboard .

here

MCA Welcomes New Executive Director

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 16:38:00 GMT

Meet Stephanie Bratnick, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 17:25:00 GMT

Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services

Stephanie will be awarded the 2019 Individual Award in recognition of the significant contribution she has made to supporting and empowering survivors of sex trafficking, on November 7th at our Champions for Children celebration.

We hope to see you this Thursday at the 2019 Champions for Children and 25th Anniversary Celebration!

Meet Bath Savings Bank, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 16:01:00 GMT

Bath Savings Bank will be awarded the 2019 Business Award in recognition of the community-focused charitable work they do in support of children and families in need in Maine, on November 7th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2019 Champions for Children and 25th Anniversary Celebration ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2019 Giraffe Award winners.

Meet Adelaide Lyall, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 19:40:00 GMT

This past summer she interned with the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP), and is currently a freshman at Penn State, where she plans to double major in Political Science and International Relations.

Adelaide Lyall will be awarded the 2019 Youth Award in recognition of her contribution to improving the juvenile justice system in Maine, on November 7th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2019 Champions for Children and 25th Anniversary Celebration ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2019 Giraffe Award winners.

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

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 18:40:00 GMT

Unified Sports

The Maine Principals' Association and Special Olympics Maine will be awarded the 2019 Organization Award for their collaboration in developing and supporting Unified Basketball in Maine, on November 7th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2019 Champions for Children and 25th Anniversary Celebration ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2019 Giraffe Award winners.

Meet Elinor Goldberg, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 18:57:00 GMT

Children's Health Insurance Program

Elinor Goldberg will be awarded the 2019 Director's Award for her important role in the formation and success of children's advocacy through her work at the Maine Children's Alliance, on November 7th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2019 Champions for Children and 25th Anniversary Celebration ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2019 Giraffe Award winners.

Meet Helen Blank, 2019 Giraffe Award Winner

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 18:56:00 GMT

Helen Blank recently retired as the Director of Child Care and Early Learning at the National Women’s Law Center, where she worked on child care and early education issues for sixteen years.

Previously, Ms. Blank served twenty-four years as the Director of the Child Care and Development Division at the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF). While at CDF, Ms. Blank spearheaded a variety of efforts to enact and fund landmark early learning legislation focusing on child care, Head Start, preschool, and after-school. She organized and led the campaign for the passage of the Child Care and Development Block Grant . Additionally, she developed a guide for implementation of the legislation that was widely used by state policymakers and child care leaders. In 1991, she led an effective campaign to convince the Bush administration to issue regulations for the Child Care and Development Block Grant that allowed states to use the new federal funds in the best interests of children. She was also a leader in efforts to expand and improve the child care provisions in welfare reform, subsequently developing a guide to assist states in implementing the provisions. Recently, she led efforts to win the largest increase in child care funding in history.

While at CDF, she created and led the Emerging Leaders Program for emerging leaders in early care and education and at the National Women’s Law Center, co-directed the Progressive Leadership and Advocacy Network (PLAN) for emerging leaders focusing on issues affecting low-income women and their families.

Prior to her work at CDF, she spent two years at the Child Welfare League of America where she was instrumental in the enactment and funding of child welfare reform legislation. Working with the National Child Nutrition Project , she directed a model food stamp outreach campaign in the Washington metropolitan area that increased food stamp participation and resulted in major improvements in the administration of the program in several local jurisdictions. In addition, she helped advocate for replication of this campaign in a number of states.

Ms. Blank is a member of Teach for America’s Early Childhood Advisory Board, the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Advisory Committee, All Our Kin, the Child Care Food Program Sponsors’ Forum, and the SEIU ESF.

Helen Blank will be awarded the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award for her many years of service to improving quality and access to early childhood care and education on November 7th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2019 Champions for Children and 25th Anniversary Celebration ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2019 Giraffe Award winners.

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

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 18:55:00 GMT

The State of Child Care in Maine

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:59:00 GMT

The changing demographics of Maine

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 18:05:00 GMT

Comparing 2010 to 2018 population changes for all ages

The effects of declines in child population have been profound, particularly for schools in Maine. According to the Maine Department of Education, more than 60 schools in Maine — mostly elementary and middle schools — have closed since the 2008-2009 school year because of enrollment declines . 70 other schools have been consolidated or reconfigured, resulting in at least one less school when the change was made. As S.A.D. 13 Superintendent Virginia Rebar noted , “ in rural areas, because of a lack of mills or larger businesses that offer employment, it’s difficult to maintain a number of schools when you don’t have the student population .” According to the National Center of Education Statistics , Maine’s public school enrollment declined by 39,000 students , or 19 percent, even including the pre-kindergarten classes for four-year-old’s that mostly weren’t present in 1990.

scrambling to hire bus drivers

critical work shortage for direct service positions

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

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 14:35:00 GMT

Convention of the Rights of the Child

1997 Flores agreement

While city officials debate where the funds will come from and how they will be spent to support these families

Over $800,000 have been raised in donations, and around 1,200 people have volunteered to help

sleep on concrete with the lights on, eat the same nutritionally deficient meals each day, older children caring for the younger

Legislative Roundup!

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 20:36:00 GMT

The Children's Caucus continued this session, co-chaired this time by Sen. Rebecca Millett and Rep. Sawin Millett, giving lawmakers an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of issues in early childhood, through guest speakers who are experts in early childhood areas of health and well-being. Through the caucus, legislators can acquire the best data and information to inform their consideration of early childhood bills that come before them in the Legislature.

Right From the Start

legislation which will create a statewide voluntary early childhood mental health consultation program

A bill to convene a stakeholder group

Children's Cabinet

legislation implementing a special early childhood advisory council

expansion of MaineCare

LD 1

Lead Poisoning Control Act

expand access to lead screenings

public schools to test drinking water

legislation to improve oral health

ban the practice of "conversion therapy

bill proposing the removal of the religious and philosophical exemptions for childhood vaccines

highest number of pertussis cases in the nation

these four childhood hunger laws

caseload limits for child protective caseworkers

LIFT and STEP bills

guarantee paid sick time

Maine Work Tax Credit

proposed Governor's budget

The National 2019 KIDS COUNT Data Book is out!

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 18:12:00 GMT

Overall, children are doing better today than they were 30 years ago: Of the 16 areas of child well-being tracked across four domains — health, education, family and community and economic well-being — 11 have improved since the first publication of the Data Book in 1990.

Growth Spurt : The nation’s child population added more than 9 million kids since 1990. Half of this came from three states: Texas, Florida and California. In Maine, the child population declined from 1990 by 18%, tying for the largest decrease with Vermont .

Location Matters : In terms of overall child well-being, six of the 10 top-ranked states are in the Northeast - including Maine, which saw a improvement from 16th to 9th place in one year . States in Appalachia, the South and Southwest — where families have the lowest levels of household income — are at the bottom of the overall rankings.

Diversity Data : Nearly half of the nation’s child population (47%) are now kids of color. At the local level, every state reported a higher proportion of non-white kids compared to three decades ago.

www.aecf.org/databook