AUGUSTA - In response to the Casey Family Programs' report concerning the Maine Office of Child and Family Services and several recent child fatalities, Rep. Michele Meyer, D-Eliot, House chair of the Legislature's Committee on Health and Human Services, released the following statement:
"It is the duty of the Office of Child and Family Services to keep the children in their custody safe, and it is my legislative committee's responsibility to investigate the systemic issues that have put children in harm's way and find solutions. In order to do this, we need an objective overview of how the system is currently structured, information on how it is not working effectively and recommendations for improvements. The information that Casey Family Programs provided us with is a critical piece of this puzzle. Between their report, OPEGA's investigation, the department's internal review and the input from the public during legislative hearings, I am confident our committee will have the tools it needs to make effective policy changes that protect the safety and wellness of Maine's children and families."
Meyer, a registered nurse, is in her second term in the Maine House and serves as the House chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. She represents House District 2, which comprises Eliot, part of South Berwick and part of Kittery.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Meyer], c. 812-1111