Following an investigation of the children’s behavioral health system, Maine’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has determined that the state does not sufficiently provide community-based programs.
The investigation uncovered:
Children are typically segregated into other institutions or the juvenile justice system when they can’t get the services they need;
The state advertises such community-based programs through MaineCare but doesn’t actually provide them in a timely manner;
Children who are eligible for community-based services seem to remain in limbo and at risk of staying in an institution or going into one; and
There is a big push from families to have services available to children at home because of prior abusive, traumatic, or neglect...
