A leading Maine foster-children’s spokeswoman who’s been railing against the state’s dismal record with juveniles says a new so-called advocate position is simply bureaucratic mumbo jumbo.
“This ‘advocate’ is much like the ‘ombudsman,’ says Sabrina Rose of Presque Isle.
Rose, 31, who’s been traveling Maine promoting her campaign to improve the state’s foster-child program, sees no benefit in simply slapping a new label on a failed approach to allegedly caring for kids.
She’s referring to a bill establishing a new Office of the Child Advocate just approved by the legislature.
The measure, LD 1893, replaces the child-welfare ombudsman with an “Office of Child Advocate.”
“Replacing one position with another identical position, but just re-labeling it to match what they think the audience wants to hear is lipstick on a big ole pig,” Rose told The Maine Wire.
The legislation, now headed for the governor’s consideration, would provide “oversight” and ensure kids receive “timely, safe and effective services.”
Rose has been on the speaking circuit discussing her latest book about being torn as a young child by state child-welfare workers from her single mother and placed in a dysfunctional foster home.
She isn’t buying the “Office of the Child Advocate” word salad, no matter what lawmakers claim they’re accomplishing.
The legislation comes amid a bureaucratic debate about the best way to improve the state’s abysmal record with children.
Sen. Jeff Timberlake, R-Androscoggin, recently began investigating the state’s child-services division.
In the last five years alone, 154 children have died while under state care – more than the previous 14 years combined, according to Rep. Sheila Lyman, R-Livermore Falls.
A particularly ghoulish moment stood out in a recent legislative hearing when, after Lyman highlighted the problem, Democrat Rep. Michele Meyer of Eliot accused her of trying to “manipulate information to make political points.”
“Absolutely disgusting response – disgusting – to blame the person speaking out, trying to gaslight her,” Rose said.
“This is why people are afraid to stand against DHHS,” Rose added. “We’re told that we are the problem, for seeing the corruption.”
Lyman said, “When the people inside the system are telling us this, we should be listening.”
The lawmaker described Maine as the worst in the country protecting at-risk children.
Maine’s New ‘Child Advocate’ Is Simply ‘Lipstick On A Pig,’ Says Outspoken Victim Of Foster System
By Ted Cohen
