Proposal to create dedicated child welfare department back before lawmakers

By: AnnMarie Hilton

Outlets: Maine Morning Star

Published: January 7, 2026

Words: 580

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 5 days ago

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Maine lawmakers are again considering whether to create a separate department to handle child welfare matters after years of turmoil within the office.

On Tuesday, Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin) introduced LD 555 to create a new Department of Child and Family Services during a public hearing before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee.

The proposal would set the stage to transfer the state’s child welfare system, which currently operates as the Office …

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