Maine’s Multidisciplinary Task Force on Children’s Justice
Maine Child Welfare Advisory Panel
June 2, 2017
Location:
DHHS Conference
Conference Room A
35 Anthony Avenue
Augusta, Maine
Attendees: Bobbi Johnson, Susan Clardy, Tracy Leigh, Lyn
Carter, Tracy Cooley, Bette Hoxie, Meg Hatch, Lanelle Freeman,
Jamie Brooks, Jean Youde
By phone: Destie Hohman Sprague, Christine Hufnagel, Debbie
Dembski
Guest: Kate Imbruno
Discussion:
The panel members were provided a flowchart that depicted the
relationship between the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (CAPTA), Children’s Justice Act (CJA), Citizens Review Panel
(CRP), Maine Child Welfare Advisory Panel (MCWAP), Child Death
and Serious Injury Review Panel (CDSIRP), and Maine Justice for
Children’s Task Force (CTF). Panel members discussed connecting
on the flowchart the CRP and MCWAP given that in Maine the CRP
and MCWAP are represented by one panel. The panel discussed
developing a list of tasks associated with the responsibilities of
each panel and having that list of tasks on the back of the agenda
for the meetings.
The panel discussed not meeting in July and August. The panel
discussed Meg Hatch giving a presentation regarding the CACs at
the MCWAP September meeting. The panel also discussed Lyn
Carter giving a presentation regarding DV/CPS at the MCWAP
September meeting. Each presentation would be approximately
30 minutes and there will be approximately 15 minutes after each
presentation for questions and discussion.
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 The panel discussed inviting Susan Riley to the October MCWAP
meeting. Susan would inform the discussion regarding what is
the structure of MCWAP. Is MCWAP an advisory board or an action
board? Susan Riley would be able to help the panel with that
discussion.
Kate Imbruno, Intake Program Manager at OCFS, gave a
presentation regarding Structured Decision Making (SDM). Kate
indicated SDM is a research and evidence based tool developed
by different organizations. The Department is working with a
subdivision of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency
(NCCD). Kate gave a brief overview of the intake department and
the intake process when a report is received. Kate described the
process of developing SDM. The Department had focus groups,
NCCD staff came and spoke to intake staff, district staff, some
central office staff, some mandated reporters and stakeholders.
The Department then developed a work group. The work group
went through each abuse type and had discussions about what
reports would be appropriate for screening in and screening out.
The Department scheduled training in April, 2017. SDM was
rolled out in May, 2017. SDM will unify how OCFS responds to
reports both at the intake level and District level.
Bobbi indicated that the Department had an organization
assessment done through Hornby Zeller. Part of the results of the
organization assessment were that the Department’s door is wide
open and families are being served inconsistently. HZ opined the
Department was serving families who don’t meet the threshold
for the law for child welfare intervention. Bobbi discussed how
reports to intake and the Districts were handled prior to SDM
being implemented. Bobbi and Kate reiterated that SDM will be
tweaked as questions arise from SDMs use. The Department
doesn’t want to miss families that are in need of intervention but
the Department doesn’t want to be serving families that don’t
need intervention.
Bobbi presented the different components of the SDM tool. One
of the big changes in using the SDM tool is the report will under
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 the name of the person that is associated with the concerns
regarding child abuse and neglect. Typically the report was under
the name of the person who was the primary caregiver of the
children. Previously the Department has had a system that is
maternalistic ~ reports have always been written in the mother’s
name. With SDM, the Department is potentially identifying the
household of concern. The panel discussed the scenario of two
caseworkers being assigned to a case, i.e., if the family lives in
two different districts. Bobbi discussed companion reports. SDM
looks at the household of concern.
Kate indicated that there is an electronic data collection tool
through a portal at NCCD. Kate discussed that there is no
definition that fits every situation so NCCD said the Department
should see 5-8% of overrides. Bobbi indicated the override is the
opportunity to make sure children are not falling through the
cracks. Bobbi discussed the Department working on an RFP to
change the alternative response program to a community
intervention service. The Community Intervention Service piece
is not currently in place with the State of Maine. SDM has
removed the option of low moderates being referred to ARP. SDM
looks at how reports are screened out and what are the different
factors that affect the family.
The panel discussed the collateral calls that are being made by
intake staff and how that has changed under SDM. An example of
a collateral call would be the intake staff calling law enforcement
or school to get further detail regarding a report.
The panel discussed DAB reports as is related to SDM. OCFS
started in May, 2017 started making referrals through CradleME.
Bobbi discussed the Department responding to child deaths even
if there are no other children in the home and maybe not
responding if a family that has had CPS involvement in the past
has another child. Bobbi discussed not assuming the worst for a
family. Bobbi discussed balancing State intervention and parents’
rights and responsibilities.
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 The panel discussed the value of community organizations
learning about the SDM model. Bobbi indicated she and Kate are
willing to go out and speak to community organizations.
The panel discussed how the success of SDM will be measured.
Kate indicated the Department is doing interrelated reliability
testing. The Department had two sets of staff look at sample
cases. One set used the tool and one set did not. Kate indicated
that NCCD will continue to provide some level of support and that
is a huge advantage by working with NCCD. The panel discussed
the different ways success could be defined for the SDM project
i.e., not overriding too may reports, making sure the Department
is screening cases in or out appropriately.
The panel discussed the Children’s Justice Act Grant (CJA) as the
NF FTM pilot project related to the CJA grant. The NF FTM pilot
project subcommittee met and decided the Department’s teaming
reboot took into consideration the concerns of the NF FTM pilot
project subcommittee as it relates to parental inclusion in FTMs so
the subcommittee decided not to move forward with the NF FTM
pilot project. Jan indicated to the panel that as part of the CJA
grant application, the Commissioner’s office needed to approve
the projects the CJA grant would fund. Jan and Grace Brace met
with two people from the Commissioner’s office regarding the
projects the CJA grant would fund. The Commissioner’s office had
some questions regarding the NF FTM pilot project. Grace and Jan
indicated to the Commissioner’s office that the MCWAP
subcommittee decided not to move forward with the NF FTM pilot
project. Jan indicated to the panel that in consultation with
Heather Tyler, Associate Director, Grace and Kirsten the CJA grant
funds would be used to fund projects related to the work of the
Children’s Advocacy Centers. The panel discussed having
discussions with the Commissioner’s office early on planning
process in order to determine the Commissioner’s office approval
of an initiative. Bobbi indicated she would discuss the approval
process through the Commissioner’s office with Kirsten Capeless,
Director of OCFS to determine what steps are necessary for
MCWAP in the approval process with the Commissioner’s office.
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 Bobbi shared that she had a goal that the Department would
safely and responsibly have under 1800 children in care at the
end of May. As of June 1st, there were 1799 children in care. Bobbi
is excited the Department is focusing on permanency and the
Department is helping children to get out of the system.
Bobbi will check to see if the SDM information can be
disseminated. Lanelle discussed how a person that hasn’t heard
the presentation may interrupt the SDM information.
The next meeting is scheduled for September 8, 2017 from
9-11, OCFS, Pine Tree Room, 2 Anthony Avenue, Augusta.
The conference call information is: 1-877-455-0244,
conference code 6817834166.

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