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Bend the Curve > About Us

Bend the Curve - About Us

The Importance of Bend the Curve

Expectations for services provided by the department, both directly and through community agencies, are changing significantly at the same time as the human and financial resources available for these services. Addressing the challenge of improving services to the Maine individuals, families, organizations, and communities DHHS serves is of imperative importance.

Using the Bend the Curve (BTC) approach to services delivery and how the department does its work will result in effective and efficient, consistent, and high-quality services, that are valued by our customers and are based on standardized, evidence-based best practices with uniform oversight and accountability.

How Does Bend the Curve Apply to me?

Do you --

  • Chase information?
  • Jump through multiple process and decision hoops?
  • Wait a long time for approvals?
  • Get constantly interrupted?
  • Have to have a batch of work before it’s acted on or moved forward?
  • Feel your knowledge and work is not included in planning and decision-making?
  • Find that work gets lost between organizational silos?
  • Encounter multiple understandings about how work gets done?

Then Bend the Curve can help you !

The BTC Team can support you and your colleagues in making the changes necessary to meet the challenges of changing resources and expectations.

What is the purpose of the Bend the Curve Team?

The primary purpose of the DHHS Bend the Curve Team is to provide support, consultation, assistance, and leadership in process and other improvement approaches and activities for departmental staff and work teams as they seek to continually improve their work culture, procedures, processes, and environments – all in order to meet the mission of the department and the expectations of Maine citizens.

Who are Bend the Curve Team members?

They are fellow State employees who have been trained as Continuous Improvement Practitioners. They are knowledgeable about the continuous improvement approach, tools, and implementation.

How can the BTC Team help me?

  • Provide awareness to you and your colleagues about Bend the Curve and Lean continuous improvement.
  • Consult in identifying and defining work processes needing improvement.
  • Identify and evaluate measurable cost and time savings, as well as quality.
  • Assist with the development and monitoring of change/action plans.

What will the BTC approach and methodology help me to do?

  • Problem-solve to improve the delivery of services.
  • Involve the staff who know the work in decision-making.
  • Improve work flow design and implementation.
  • Meet client/customer service expectations.
  • Focus on activities/work that are value-added.
  • Use measurements for improving processes and planning.
  • Implement improvements more efficiently and effectively.

Value Stream Mapping -- A Major Tool

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a visual mapping tool that outlines all the steps in a process and helps to identify ineffective procedures and waste, as well as to develop implementation action plans for making continuous improvements. It develops a better way to --

  • Identify a Current Process State.
  • Design the improved Future Process State.
  • Prepare a Change/Action Plan to move toward the Future State.
  • Implement & monitor the Action Plan.

Setting Expectations

DHHS Vision

Maine people live safe, healthy, and productive lives

Mission Statement

Provide integrated health and human services to the people of Maine to assist individuals in meeting their needs, while respecting the rights and preferences of the individual and family, within available resources.

Guiding Principles


  • Treat consumers with dignity and respect;
  • Deliver services that are individualized, family-centered, easily accessible, preventive, independence-oriented, interdisciplinary, collaborative, evidence-based, and consistent with best and promising practices;
  • Value and support departmental staff as a critical connection to the consumer;
  • Engage staff, stakeholders, providers and customers in a collaborative partnership that continuously seeks excellence in service design and delivery;
  • Balance centralized accountability with regional flexibility; and
  • Align systems, actions, and values toward a common vision.

Department Goals

  1. Protect and enhance the health and well-being of Maine people
  2. Promote independence and self sufficiency
  3. Protect and care for those who are unable to care for themselves
  4. Provide effective stewardship for the resources entrusted to the department

Department Outcomes & Measures

  • High Performing Staff
  • Excellent Provider Partnerships
  • Integrated Services
  • Superior Customer Service
  • Efficient and Effective Administration

Program Objectives -- Program Performance Indicators -- Staff Performance Expectations

For Information:

DHHS Bend the Curve
Office of Lean Management
#11 SHS, 47 Independence Drive
Greenlaw Building, Room 6
Augusta, Maine 04333-0011

Phone: (207) 287-4307
FAX: (207) 287-2665 TTY: (207) 287-6268

State of Maine
Department of Health and Human Services