145 child welfare workers pen letter of no confidence in agency leadership

Maine: Recently, 145 child welfare workers in Maine have raised serious concerns about their agency’s leadership. They feel that the current director, Bobbi Johnson, isn’t listening to their worries about keeping kids safe.

These workers, including caseworkers and aides, signed a letter expressing no confidence in Johnson. They pointed out that children in state custody are not being properly cared for, and their safety is at risk. The letter was sent to Governor Janet Mills and the DHHS Commissioner, asking for immediate changes.

As of September, over 2,500 kids were in state custody, a number that has been rising. The workers are particularly worried about the practice of placing children in hotels or emergency rooms, which they believe is not a safe or suitable option.

In response, the DHHS Commissioner backed Johnson, saying she has been supportive and has visited offices to hear from staff. However, the workers feel that the leadership is not addressing their concerns effectively.

The letter also highlighted specific safety issues, like staff being untrained to handle certain situations and the risk of burnout from long shifts. This isn’t the first time these workers have spoken out; they’ve previously raised issues about understaffing and high caseloads.

Despite attempts to reform the system, many feel that not enough has been done. A recent federal audit showed that many child abuse cases in Maine didn’t meet best practices, raising further alarm about the state of the child welfare system.