Publications

Slides from the presentation of the 2021 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book to the Children's Caucus. The Data Book, produced every other year by the Maine Children's Alliance, is the only comprehensive report of the physical, social, economic, and educational well-being of Maine children. 

Maine KIDS COUNT, a project of the Maine Children’s Alliance, is part of the national KIDS COUNT® network, a state-by-state effort funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) to track the status of children across the United States. The Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book, produced every other year, is the comprehensive report of the well-being of children in Maine. 

*KIDS COUNT is a registered trademark of the Annie E. Casey Foundation

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a critical program with a long history of bipartisan support and a track record of success that provides quality, affordable health care coverage to children from low income households, who do not meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid. CHIP ensures these Maine kids can access the health care they need to stay on track to become healthy, successful adults.

As we look toward the new legislative session and a challenging biennial budget, we are committed to elevating the voice of Maine children and families who, perhaps now more than ever, are counting on state leaders and policymakers to take action.

Trends in demographic data represent both challenges and opportunities for Maine to achieve the goal of being a thriving place for all to live, work, and play. As the oldest population in the nation, Maine faces the challenges of caring for older adults and meeting its future workforce needs. On the positive side, migration to Maine and shifts in racial representation are contributing to younger communities. By recognizing the trends in our population, we can better plan for the programs, services, and systems – from early childhood education to senior housing - that will ensure greater long-term social and economic prosperity for all of us.

The 31st edition of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT® Data Book describes how children across the United States were faring before the coronavirus pandemic began.

We are all eager to provide an improved academic experience for students this fall, and ideally, for a safe return to classroom instruction. As state and local leaders consider the reopening of schools, there are many important factors that should be considered. In addition to the necessary health and safety considerations of students and staff, it is critical to also address social-emotional and mental health, as well as the needs of specific student populations.

To become successful adults, young peopleneed basic, essential supports like nurturing relationships with caring adults, positive educational environments, and health care, including mental and behavioral health services. When young people have these positive experiences early in life, it shapes their brain development toward good decision-making and impulse control. Yet many young people have Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) that do not support their positive development.

If your area hasn’t received census materials yet, we will deliver them soon. Please respond when you receive yours.

To understand the changes and identify the drivers of the changes in IMR in Maine over the past two decades, a group of partners representing the non-profit, health care, public health and state sectors designed and implemented the Maine Infant Mortality Project. The goals of this one-year project were to identify the drivers of infant mortality (IM) in the state using quantitative and qualitative data and develop recommendations to reduce IM that reflect the populations, cultures and environment of Maine.

MaineAEYC, FCCAM, Maine Children’s Alliance, Maine Head Start Directors Association, and the YMCAs of Maine are committed to the health and wellbeing of young children and all who care for, educate, and work on their behalf. We are writing to request clear guidance from the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) to licensed child care programs regarding emergency funding and policies that can help providers and the families they serve remain financially stable during and after the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

The State of Maine is at an important crossroads in its juvenile justice system, with an exciting window of opportunity. The problems in the system have been well-known for many years, and significant progress has been made in several areas. But over-incarceration continues and years of under-investment in behavioral health and other services has left the state without adequate programs and services to meet the needs of young people.