Maine, Justice Department enter settlement to improve services for children with disabilities

AUGUSTA, Maine — Officials with the U.S. Department of Justice and the state of Maine announced Tuesday they have entered into a settlement that requires the state to increase community-based behavioral health services for children.

The settlement stems from a lawsuit the Justice Department filed earlier this year that said Maine unnecessarily segregates children with behavioral health disabilities in institutions. Investigators said at the time that the state’s actions violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and the children’s right not to be confined away from their families.

The Justice Department said the settlement requires Maine to make changes that help children remain with families or foster families and avoid emergency department stays and institutions. The department said the changes must also help children move out of institutions and instead receive services at home.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement that her administration and the Maine Legislature have invested $260 million on improvements to children’s behavioral health services. The total number of Maine children in residential treatment has lowered from 290 to 192 for in-state care and 250 to 69 for out-of-state care, she said.