Publications

For 25 years, MCA has promoted sound policies and best practices to make sure all Maine children have the resources and opportunity to reach their full potential from birth to adulthood. Our priority issue areas include: Early Care and Education; Health, Safety & Well-being; and Family Economic & Food Security.

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 don’t 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.

This report is in response to RESOLVE Chapter 66, L.D. 1635, 129th Maine State Legislature, Resolve, To Improve Access to Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Services for Children from Birth to 8 Years of Age. This report provides information on the Early, Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit and programs providing early intervention and developmental screening services in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), including work done under the Office of MaineCare Services (OMS), at the Maine CDC under the Maternal Child Block Grant, Public Health Nursing (PHN), Maine Families Home Visiting, and Women and Infants Program (WIC), and the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS). The report also includes information on Child Find under the Department of Education and the early intervention system, including Child Development Services (CDS), Early Head Start, and Head Start.

The census is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau every ten years. The data collected is then used to allocate federal funding to states and municipalities, as well as to determine congressional representation. For this reason, a complete and accurate census is critical for our country and for our state. It will shape the lives of our youngest children at the most critical points in their development - now and for the next ten years to come. 

Growing up in povertycan dramatically impact a child’s life. Child poverty can adversely affect children across all developmental domains, beginning in early childhood and lasting into adulthood. Living in poverty also increases a child’s risk for poor health, cognitive, social, emotional, and educational outcomes. Adults who grew up in poverty are more likely to earn less, to have chronic health issues, and to struggle to maintain steady, stable employment. This is especially true for adults who spent long periods of their childhood in poverty, or periods of their childhood in deep poverty. Therefore, it is critical to the health and well-being of Maine’s children and to our shared future success, that we work to eradicate child poverty in our state.

The KIDS COUNT Data Center allows users to browse data one indicator at a time. To view any number of indicators for a particular geographical area at once, users can create a custom report.

The goal of early childhood advocacy is to improve the lives of children and families by educating legislators and policymakers about the importance of supporting our youngest children. Public officials rely on the advice that well-informed people (like you!) provide. This toolkit is designed to prepare you to advocate successfully and with confidence for policies that benefit young children and their families.

FRAC is the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States. 

The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (CCF) is an independent, nonpartisan policy and research center founded in 2005 with a mission to support access to high-quality, comprehensive and affordable health coverage for all of America’s children and families.

Maine Equal Justice (MEJ) is a nonprofit legal aid provider working to increase economic security, opportunity, and equity for people in Maine. 

For over 40 years, the Maine Women’s Lobby has been an advocate on the issues affecting the lives of Maine women and girls. We work to create a future that is free from violence, free from discrimination, with access to health care, and real economic security.

Maine Together is a nonpartisan coalition of Maine organizations that recognizes the vital role federal domestic programs play in supporting Maine’s economy and people.