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Maine
Statistics on children, youth and families in Maine from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Maine Children's Alliance
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Why This Indicator Matters
Why It Is Important
Children thrive when they have stable homes with their families of origin. When children experience frequent maltreatment at any point during their childhood, it can have lasting effects. That is why it is important to have a robust child welfare system to support children and families in crisis. The state takes custody of children when due to abuse or neglect, a family is not safely able to care for their children. Custody of the state is meant to be temporary until the parents are able to safely care for their children or until a permanency plan through guardianship or adoption can be made.
What The Data Shows
The number of children in the custody of the state of Maine was at a fifteen year low in December 2011.The December 2018 total of 1,791 was above the number in custody in December 2017, but on par with the number in state custody in 2016 and 2015. The rate of youth in state custody is more than twice as high in some counties compared to others.In 2018, four counties had rates above 11 per 1,000 children, (Piscataquis, 13.5; Aroostook 12,2; Kennebec 11,7; and Somerset 11.6) and four counties had rates below 4.5 per 1,000 children, (Cumberland 4.1; York 4.3; Lincoln 4.4; and Knox 4.6)
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Children thrive when they have stable homes with their families of origin. When children experience frequent maltreatment at any point during their childhood, it can have lasting effects. That is why it is important to have a robust child welfare system to support children and families in crisis. The state takes custody of children when due to abuse or neglect, a family is not safely able to care for their children. Custody of the state is meant to be temporary until the parents are able to safely care for their children or until a permanency plan through guardianship or adoption can be made.
What The Data Shows
The number of children in the custody of the state of Maine was at a fifteen year low in December 2011.The December 2018 total of 1,791 was above the number in custody in December 2017, but on par with the number in state custody in 2016 and 2015. The rate of youth in state custody is more than twice as high in some counties compared to others.In 2018, four counties had rates above 11 per 1,000 children, (Piscataquis, 13.5; Aroostook 12,2; Kennebec 11,7; and Somerset 11.6) and four counties had rates below 4.5 per 1,000 children, (Cumberland 4.1; York 4.3; Lincoln 4.4; and Knox 4.6)
Definition and Source
PROVIDER
Definition
The number and rate of children ages 0-17 in the care or custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in December of each calendar year. The denominator is the number of children ages 0 -17 per the population estimates from the Maine Office of Vital Statistics the year before. The numerator is the number of children in state custody at a point in time during the last month of the calendar year. The county is where the child resides after placement into foster care. If a child is placed out of state this is reflected in the total, but not in any county. Also, Maine total includes children where their county of origin is not recorded.The rate is per 1,000 children ages 0-17. These children were ordered into DHHS custody as a result of a child protection hearing where the child is found to be in jeopardy, a juvenile hearing where it would be contrary to the child’s health and welfare to remain in the care or custody of the parents, or a divorce and/or custody hearing where neither parent has been found able to provide a home in the best interest of the child.
Notes
The county is where the child resides after placement into foster care. If a child is placed out of state this is reflected in the total for Maine, but not in any county. It includes children who entered foster care or remained in foster care on the last day of December.
Uploaded March 2019.
Uploaded March 2019.
Last Updated
March 2019