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community voices

Maine Child Welfare Action Network

The Maine Child Welfare Action Network (MCWAN) formed in 2018 through a collaborative push to identify and elevate key child welfare reform priorities in a letter to the incoming governor. That effort laid the groundwork for MCWAN’s first major publication: the Child Welfare Priority Reforms white paper released in early 2019 outlining priority reforms for Maine’s child welfare system.


Since then, the Network has continued to build momentum, publishing a series of issue briefs and frameworks that guide our collective work and call others to action — including a Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect brief (2021), a Family Reunification Issue Brief (2022), and a Framework for Child Welfare Reform (2022), which was updated in 2023 as our Strategic Child Welfare System Priorities.

Our Vision

MCWAN envisions a Maine where every child grows up in a safe, supportive environment, and families have access to the resources they need to thrive. We believe that child welfare is a shared responsibility, requiring coordinated efforts across communities, public and private organizations, and state agencies.

Our Approach

MCWAN focuses on proactive, community-driven strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect.Our key priorities include:


  • Establishing Measurable Outcomes: Developing clear metrics to assess child safety and well-being.
  • Investing in Supportive Services: Enhancing access to mental health care, substance use treatment, housing, and economic supports.
  • Addressing Workforce Challenges: Supporting the recruitment, retention, and training of child welfare professionals.
  • Improving Cross-System Collaboration: Fostering partnerships among agencies and organizations to streamline services.
  • Prioritizing Permanency and Prevention: Focusing on keeping families together and preventing the need for child protective interventions.


Collaborative Leadership

The Maine Children's Alliance serves as the backbone organization for MCWAN, providing coordination and support for the Network's initiatives. Through collective action, MCWAN connects stakeholders across Maine to drive systemic change and promote child and family well-being.

Center for Parent Leadership and Advocacy (CPLA)

MCWAN's Center for Parent Leadership and Advocacy empowers parents with lived experience in the child welfare system to inform policy and practice. By elevating parent voices, CPLA ensures that reforms are grounded in the realities of those most affected.


Learn more about the CPLA

Get Involved

Join us in our mission to strengthen families and keep children safe. To learn more about MCWAN and how you can contribute, contact Network Coordinator Melissa Hackett at mhackett@mekids.org.

Resources