Report

in 2004, Maine participated in a multi-state initiative that developed a formula defining school readiness: Ready Family + Ready Communities + Ready Early Care and Education + Ready Schools = Ready Child. 

Over the past 6 years, a greater number of Maine children under age 6 in Maine were living at or below the poverty line than in other New England states. The poverty rate for children under 6 years old in Maine is 20%. 

We offer this guide as a reference to help legislators and other policymakers understand the behavioral health issues facing our children and their families. The Maine Children’s Alliance compiled the observations and recommendations of eight organizations involved with mental health services for Maine children.

This report presents state-level indicators related to the mental well-being of Maine’s children. These indicators are drawn from state and national survey data, and from data from the public systems in Maine that provide mental health, child welfare, education, early childhood and related services for children. 

Fifteen years ago, we both joined a group of visionary people who were committed to strengthening child advocacy inMaine. Our vision became a reality when we incorporated theMaine Children’s Alliance and Ellie Goldberg, our first President and CEO, joined us in a windowless one-room office in Portland. We have come a long way since then.

While the statewide debate over the school consolidation law passed in 2007 as part of the state budget is unresolved – a citizen initiative to repeal the law will be voted on Nov. 3 – the local impacts are already profound. The 25 new school districts represent the greatest change in Maine local governance since the passage of the Sinclair Act in 1957, when the first regional government entities were formed.