Governor Janet T. Mills (D), Addresses the 200 or so at the First Aannual Housing Conference at Oean Gateway Portland, Earlier This Year.

Governor Janet T. Mills (D) announced today that the State of Maine and the US Departmet of Justice (US DOJ) have reached a settlement agreement in the September 9, 2024 lawsuit US of America v State of Maine.  Maine is one of several states where the US DoJ had issued findings or pursued other legal action related to compliance with the Americans with Disabialities Act for children’s behavorial health services.

The agreement requires that the State will increase the availability of community-based behavorial health services for children, while also honoring families informed choice for services outside of a family home.  The agreement also includes long-term commitments by the State to provide timely assessments of children’s health needs and care coordination, guided by wrap-around principles, to all children covered by the agreement, restore wrap around services for children with high acuity behavorial health needs, reduce waii lists for behavorial health services and reduce the need for short-term stays in hospitals and other institutional settings based on behavorial health needs.

In collaboration with the Legislature, the Mills Administration has budgeted $2.2 million to streamline the assessment of youth’s ability for medium and high intensity services, implement multi-dimensional family therapy that will be delivered in home, and MUCH MORE!