In September, the U.S. Division of Justice sued Maine for unnecessarily putting dozens of kids and teenagers with disabilities in establishments, together with hospital emergency departments, in-state and out-of-state residential therapy facilities, and the state's juvenile jail. . The lawsuit claims Maine officers have failed to take care of a strong community-based array of behavioral well being providers that stop institutionalization.
The lawsuit's claims got here as no shock to households who’ve been struggling to seek out help and providers for his or her youngsters with behavioral well being issues for years.
The Bangor Each day Information plans to proceed masking the impression this disaster is having on Maine youth, their households and their communities, and we want to hear from individuals who have been instantly affected.
Take into account sharing as a lot or as little data as you want under. A journalist might contact you, though we is not going to publish something with out your permission. We acknowledge that your experiences could also be delicate and troublesome to debate, we want to hear them and can defend your privateness except you give us permission to take action.
Callie Ferguson is an investigative reporter for the Bangor Each day Information. He writes about legal justice, policing and housing. Extra by Callie Ferguson