State House Republicans are joining calls for reform at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) after 145 unionized workers issued a letter of no confidence in the leadership of Bobbi Johnson, director of the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS).
The audacious letter, rare to see from government employees, criticizes systemic issues under Johnson’s tenure, which they argue compromise the safety and well-being of vulnerable children in Maine.
[RELATED: Director of Maine’s Worst-in-the-Nation Child Welfare System Finally Resigns…]
The issues highlighted in the letter have been at the forefront of Maine politics for more than a decade, as dysfunction within the agency has been broadly panned on both sides of the aisle, yet a solution has remained elusive.
The letter follows the resignations of other DHHS leaders, including former DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew, who stepped down in May, and DHHS’ child welfare director, Todd Landry, who stepped down in Nov. 2023.
Signed by caseworkers, community care workers, and case aides, the letter alleges a pattern of ignored concerns and poor policy implementation, including the controversial use of hotel accommodations for children in state custody. Staff claim this practice exacerbates trauma for children and imposes undue burdens on employees, who are required to supervise these placements in addition to their regular duties.
Amanda Walker, a Cumberland County caseworker, described Johnson’s policies as detrimental to workers’ personal lives and the children’s emotional stability. “We’re not able to provide them the consistency and emotional support they need,” Walker said.
The letter comes in the wake of a federal audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Inspector General, which found that Maine’s child welfare system failed to meet key federal requirements in 94% of reviewed cases. The state has also seen a series of child fatalities in recent years, prompting heightened scrutiny.
[RELATED: Child Welfare Ombudsman Reports Continued “Decline in Child Welfare Practice” for 2023…]
Republican legislative leaders echoed these concerns. Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) called the ongoing issues “unacceptable” and urged the Mills administration to prioritize child welfare reforms.
“Protecting our most vulnerable children should be OCFS’s fundamental mission,” Stewart said.
House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) described the workers’ letter as a testament to “horrific failures” within the system.
Johnson, a 28-year veteran of OCFS who succeeded Landry earlier this year, has faced mounting criticism over her leadership. Landry resigned after his tenure was marked by more child fatalities in three years than in the preceding seven.
Despite the criticism, Governor Janet Mills and her new DHHS Commissioner, Sara Gagne-Holmes, have defended Johnson, citing her dedication and leadership.
“The allegations and personal attacks are meritless,” said Ben Goodman, Mills press secretary, in a statement to other media outlets.
Union leaders and Republican lawmakers are urging Mills to allocate additional resources to OCFS in the upcoming biennial budget, but that may be challenging considering the state is looking at nearly a $1 billion revenue shortfall thanks to over-spending and lackluster revenue forecasts.
How many of the cases are children of illegal aliens, and illegal aliens themselves? They might present very difficult situations for the DHHS workers to ameliorate. I seem to recall that our Governess Mills, has said that we need 75,000 illegal aliens to come into Maine to take jobs from Maine’s existing work force.
“Johnson, a 28-year veteran of OCFS who succeeded Landry earlier this year…”
May I be so bold to suggest that a career bureaucrat is exactly why we have this despicable mess in the first place. Incompetent employees such as these hacks wouldn’t last 28 days in a well run private sector business. Imagine the waste and corruption that would be exposed if Maine had its own version of DOGE.
Until Mills is out of office, replace with a Republican, don’t expect any reform in DHHS or any other government agency!
Democrats at every level have proven their incompetence. As long as they are in power, the incompetence and withering decline will continue.
“dedication and leadership” – Kinda says it all. However Aunt Janet defines dedication and leadership translates into “I’m doing the best that I can. Now live with it.” The problem, as with everything JayJayJanet does is a lack of insight and a deplorable relationship with innovation. Yes it is going to require some out of the box thinking and the courage to try the untested. But Janet finds that unnerving. Just keep up the retaliatory approach. Force staff to remain silent, take their bumps and bruises until they can find another job.
Just one more fiasco from the Mills administration and the “go along” Democrats.
Sit back if you would and watch as the Mills folks unravel all the progress made by her teams.
A Maine democratic voter was overheard saying good thing we do not have subways here in Portland
And Mills wants to be our next Senator!!!
Let me guess after a nationwide search, this is the best if the best.
“including the controversial use of hotel accommodations for children in state custody. Staff claim this practice exacerbates trauma for children and imposes undue burdens on employees, who are required to supervise these placements in addition to their regular duties”
As opposed to teachers who are imposed the undue burdens of doing the DHHS workers in addition to everything else?
Governor Joe Brennan put it best almost 45 years ago — the state should never let social workers be licensed. The state allowed it in the mid ’80s and we’ve had problems ever since!
Instead of hiring people with common sense and an understanding of children, such as middle-aged women who have raised 4-5 children of their own, they are hiring social work majors who have have been fed four years of politicized garbage and are totally clueless.
I think that EVERY ONE of them should be fired, with the state starting over with random people who are good with children.
DHHS caseworkers live to take children away. They need to justify their existence