Latest News
Congress must pass recovery plan to help children
March 4, 2021
The American Rescue Plan — the federal COVID relief proposal currently moving through Congress — has the power to cut child poverty in our nation and in our state by nearly half. In Maine, this means close to 15,000 children would be lifted above the poverty line, and many more would benefit. It’s exactly the kind of bold policy we need to begin making our post-pandemic “new normal” more equitable and give families the chance to rebuild.
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Foster Care System Needs Further Reform
January 13, 2021
The recent lawsuit filed against Maine DHHS alleging the overuse and misuse of psychotropic medications for children in state custody underscores the need for continued vigilance to ensure Maine’s most vulnerable kids are getting the care they need.
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Families in rural Maine struggle to find child care during COVID-19 pandemic
August 31, 2020
Finding affordable, high-quality child care in Maine has been a longstanding issue – but the coronavirus pandemic has brought on additional challenges. Some facilities around the state have had to close or limit capacities, leaving families with fewer options.
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How to prioritize child well-being in safe school reopening plans
August 8, 2020
The state recently announced that school districts in all 16 counties can consider in-person instruction, with “green” ratings based on assessments of COVID-19 risk. Nevertheless, school administrators face the difficult task of coming up with plans that best support the needs of students, while at the same time meeting all the new health and safety requirements. Given limited resources and local circumstances such as facility space, priorities will need to be made.
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As workplaces reopen, Maine parents scramble for child care made scarce by pandemic
July 4, 2020
Twenty percent of Maine's licensed child care programs are closed and some will never reopen, leaving parents looking desperately for slots that were in short supply even before the pandemic.
More from: centralmaine.com →
Report: Maine In Top Quarter for Overall Child Well-Being
June 25, 2020
A national report ranks Maine in the top quarter among states for overall child well-being. The annual Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book shows Maine faring fourth in the category of family and community indicators, including fewer children living in high-poverty areas.
More from: Public News Service →
MCA Stands in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter
June 3, 2020
The Maine Children’s Alliance stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the protests against police brutality and institutional racism. We recognize that it is impossible to meet our mission to promote policies and practices so that all Maine children and families thrive, when racist systems deny opportunity for Black people in our communities.
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Counting everyone in the Census will take the efforts of us all
March 31, 2020
Starting March 16, the US Census began mailing forms to every household in the country. Amidst the current coronavirus crisis, it’s even more important now for everyone to know that it has never been easier or safer to complete the census online, by the phone, or by mail – all without a census taker coming to your door.
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Make sure children are counted in the 2020 Census
February 29, 2020
Data from the 2020 Census will be used to determine federal funding for essential programs and services for young children and families. It is critical that everyone gets counted, so communities get their fair share. That’s why advocates and providers are working to get the word out about the importance of counting everyone in the upcoming census — especially young children.
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Letter to the editor: Expanding child care access will boost Maine’s economy
February 1, 2020
Thank you for your Jan. 9 editorial making the point that the lack of affordable, high-quality early care and education is not just a problem for Maine families with infants and young children. We all need to be concerned about its impact on Maine’s economy today, as well as its implications for developing our future workforce.
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Fewer Maine kids live in poverty. Thank the minimum wage increase.
January 3, 2020
On New Year’s Day, the minimum wage in Maine rose to $12 an hour, raising the pay for more than 170,000 workers in the state. It is the final significant increase in the state’s minimum wage that was set in motion by voters in 2016. Since then the state’s minimum wage has risen incrementally from $7.50 an hour. In coming years, adjustments will align with a measure of inflation. The voter-approved wage increase had immediate impacts.
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We must respond to the health crisis of adverse childhood experiences
December 16, 2019
Maine has the nation’s highest rate of anxiety and the third highest rate of depression among children ages 3-7. It is above the national rate for behavior problems and children diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD).
More from: Bangor Daily News →