AUGUSTA, Maine— Editor’s word: The video hooked up to this story was revealed on January 5.
The Maine Division of Well being and Human Providers introduced Thursday its plan to restructure the division of kids and household companies, launch a third-party overview of the division and promote its interim director to a everlasting place.
The Kids’s Behavioral Well being Providers division will transition from the Workplace of Kids and Household Providers to the Workplace of Behavioral Well being, Maine DHHS spokesperson Jackie Farwell mentioned in a information launch.
Beforehand, OBH solely served adults, however the company mentioned it believes the reorganization will permit for a “continuum of behavioral well being companies” from childhood to maturity, in accordance with the assertion.
Maine DHHS additionally introduced plans to launch a overview of third-party administration of the kid welfare division and district places of work, as apparently advisable by a number of members of the Legislature’s Authorities Oversight Committee, supposed to determine areas the place can enhance your “communication course of.” , tradition, management assist”, amongst different areas, with the purpose of serving as a “roadmap” to maneuver ahead.
DHHS additionally introduced the promotion of Performing Director Bobbi Johnson to a everlasting place.
Credit score: Maine Division of Well being and Human Providers
Johnson has labored for 28 years in numerous social work and public service roles and below his mentorship, and can lead the audit as one of many first duties in his everlasting function.
“I tackle this function with deep gratitude for the chance to raised serve Maine households, with a way of urgency to handle the challenges we face, and with the idea that with continued arduous work and dedication, we are able to,” Johnson mentioned on the launch.
Johnson’s promotion to director was praised by Maine Governor Janet Mills.
“I welcome Director Johnson to her new function main the Workplace of Kids and Household Providers. Director Johnson’s deep expertise, empathy and compassion are vital to our continued enhancements in little one well-being,” Mills mentioned. “These enhancements will even embody a restructuring of the workplace to raise its deal with little one well-being whereas higher aligning the supply of essential behavioral companies to Maine youngsters by way of the Workplace of Behavioral Well being. My administration appears ahead to persevering with conversations with households, social employees, policymakers, the Youngster Welfare Ombudsman and different companions about how we are able to proceed to enhance little one well-being and make sure the well being, security and well-being of each little one in Maine”.
This story is growing and might be up to date.
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