Children’s Cabinet | Office of Policy Innovation & Future

Governor Mills reading Blueberries for Sal to children

“There is no higher priority than our children and. . .it is high time we put children’s health and safety first. I will start with one simple step — calling together the Children’s Cabinet for the first time in years, to tackle these issues.”

Governor Janet T. Mills, Inaugural Address

The Children’s Cabinet plays a vital role in convening and facilitating coordination across State agencies on initiatives and policies that will improve and promote the healthy development of children and youth in Maine.

Photo of Governor Mills and the Children's Cabinet

Maine Children’s Cabinet members include the Commissioners of the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, Public Safety, and Corrections. In collaboration with key staff from each of these agencies, the work of Governor Mills’ Children’s Cabinet is coordinated by staff in the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.

Staff from the Departments comprising the Children’s Cabinet meet regularly to maintain open communication about changes and developments in programming and policies across state agencies for children and youth, coordinate the implementation of specific strategies, and identify new opportunities to collaborate across programs to advance the Children’s Cabinet’s strategies and goals.

The Children’s Cabinet strategic plans lay out two overarching goals:

All Maine children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. (Click here for plan.)
All Maine youth enter adulthood healthy, connected to the workforce and/or education. (Click here for plan.)

For more information about Governor Mills’ Children’s Cabinet, please contact Ana Hicks, the Children’s Cabinet Coordinator, at ana.hicks@maine.gov

Grants

2026 Preschool Development Grant: Birth to Age 5
- The Maine Department of Education, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, was awarded a one-year Preschool Development Grant Birth-Age 5 (PDG B-5) for 2026. This grant focuses on supporting the further development of an early care and education system, including coordinated state governance and a shared vision for early care and education in Maine. For more details about Maine's Preschool Development Grant, Birth to Age 5, explore the 2026 PDG grant application by clicking here.

Past Meetings

January 20, 2026