Child welfare computer system taken down after "suspicious traffic"

The company that runs the state's child welfare services took its entire computer network offline Monday after finding suspicious traffic on it.

In a blog post Wednesday, KVC Health Systems explained its IT team took the network down "within minutes" of spotting the problem. The outage knocked offline employees' email, applications, as well as the shared files. It even affected some phone lines.

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DHHS reviews child abuse cases it contracted out

Maine’s child welfare program is revisiting six-and-a-half months of child abuse reports it received and referred to contractors who intervene in “lower-risk” abuse and neglect cases.


The Office of Child and Family Services earlier this month asked the four contractors who handle those lower-risk cases to comb through their records dating back to last Aug. 31 and re-report to the state many of the families whose cases they were assigned. The state would then review those cases.

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Maine House Passes Conversion Therapy Ban After Fiery Debate

Passions boiled over during a debate in the Maine House over a bill to ban conversion therapy, causing the House speaker to suspend debate at one point so tensions could simmer before members cast their vote.

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Maine House votes to save child abuse prevention program

The Maine House on Tuesday voted to rescue a $2.2 million child abuse prevention program in an effort to overturn attempts by the LePage administration to terminate it.

The bill to save the Community Partnerships for Protecting Children has attracted bipartisan support, with Democratic lawmakers joined by Republican Senate Majority Leader Michael Thibodeau and Republican Sen. Amy Volk of Scarborough. The measure, approved by voice vote, and will now go to the Maine Senate.

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Maine adoption fight pits two families who love a little girl. Only one could take her home.

In a case badly mishandled by the state, two families with legitimate claims and lots of love for a little girl are thrust into an emotionally devastating adoption battle.

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New Tool in Investigating Child Abuse Cases Could Lead to 'False Negatives'

When a suspected case of child abuse or neglect in Maine is reported to the state, it is the state's job to decide whether to open an investigation. A year ago, the Maine Office of Child and Family Services started using a new tool to help caseworkers make these decisions. But some professionals who frequently report suspected abuse say they're worried that the state is no longer investigating all of the cases it should, leaving some children in unsafe situations. 

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Maine's DHHS workers aren't too bright.  So I can see where it would be common where they would screw it up.

On the flip side, I'm sure a lot of families are wrongfully torn apart too.

Lawmakers Consider Bills To Repeal Parts - Or All - Of Maine's 'Proficiency-Based' Education Law

Maine's transition to "proficiency-based" high school diplomas is under increasing scrutiny from parents, educators - and now, lawmakers.  The state Department of Education is proposing a bill that it says would repeal pieces of the law and grant more flexibility to local districts.

Ninth graders in Maine are set to be the first graduating class to receive "proficiency-based" diplomas.  They will have to be "proficient" in up to eight subjects, including math, English and science, in order to graduate. But the policy has been delayed in the past and questioned by key stakeholders.


More >> Lawmakers Consider Bills To Repeal Parts - Or All - Of Maine's 'Proficiency-Based' Education Law

• Teacher finds ‘experimental nature’ of proficiency-based learning concerning
• Frustrated Maine Parents Rally Against Proficiency-Based Learning