In surprising turn, Maine toddlers had nation’s highest vaccination rate in 2014

In a stunning turnaround, Maine has gone from the middle of the pack in vaccination rates for 19- to 35-month-old children to the highest in the nation in 2014, according to new figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More >> In surprising turn, Maine toddlers had nation’s highest vaccination rate in 2014

Statutory change to @parentalrights by Maine Supreme Court is very scary

This is another opinion on the Vaccination issue in Maine.

What happens when a parent’s statutory right to make decisions comes against a court order to the contrary? If the child is in the custody of the state of Maine, the answer is very much up to the judge. 

More >> Statutory change to @parentalrights by Maine Supreme Court is very scary 

How Maine’s childhood poverty was changed by the Great Recession, in one interactive map

The number of American students in high-poverty school districts, as defined by having more than 20 percent of their students below the federal poverty line, increased during the Great Recession from 15.9 million to more than 26 million, according to a new report.

More >> How Maine’s childhood poverty was changed by the Great Recession, in one interactive map

Maine Supreme Court proposes change to juvenile restraint in court

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is seeking comments from the legal community and the public on a proposed rule change that would limit the shackling of juvenile defendants in criminal cases.

More >> Maine Supreme Court proposes change to juvenile restraint in court

Parents, residents unhappy with alleged overcrowding on SAD 27 bus

Parents in St. Francis were well aware their children would be bused to Fort Kent when they voted last week against appropriating local funds to keep the community’s elementary school open. 

More >> Parents, residents unhappy with alleged overcrowding on SAD 27 bus

Back to school is going to keep me busy I'm afraid.

'Super Lice,' Secrecy and Back To School Fear Mongering In Maine

Okay, so the following article is from Florida, but mentions Maine as a state where the problem being discussed is also taking place.  That problem being Head Lice that have developed an immunity to the current treatments that we have for them.

Scientists that study lice populations across the country have reported that the bugs found in at least 25 states have developed into creatures that are quite resistant to common over-the-counter treatments. The researchers reported those findings to the American Chemical Society this week. 

More >> 'Super Lice' Lurk As Kids Head Back To School

Here's another article from Maine, but I had to search it out because it didn't just pop up in the news feeds.

Just in time for the kids to go back to school a new study has found 25 of the 50 states have head lice that have built up a tolerance to normal treatments making them immune. 

More >> Treatment Resistant Head Lice Found in Maine

Fortunately, this is not the end of the world, as according to the article, there are still prescription treatments that are effective, and lice don't carry disease like ticks do, which the media has been going off about as recently as today, but that's not the point.  

The problem is in the way the State of Maine Center For Disease Control will handle it.  They will monitor the situation.  They will identify the schools and families with the head lice outbreaks.  The media will sooner or later jump on it.  School nurses will call parents and parents will go to the doctor for treatment, or shave the kids head so there is nowhere for the little buggers to hide, whatever.  If they don't solve the problem quickly, a social worker might show up to inspect the home and move along the process among other things.

What they won't do is notify the public of where the outbreaks are so that parents can make the schools take preventative measures. The schools will still make all of the kids hang their jackets up together, and all of their backpacks will be stuffed into the same corner.  Who knows what could be lurking in some other kids backpack, head lice, bed bugs, cooties...  (Twilight Zone Theme here)

It will be just like when they failed to notify the public of where the Chicken Pox outbreaks were back a couple years ago, forcing the Propaganda Press Herald to take them to court on a Freedom of Information Act request.  

The Maine CDC has refused to release the names, citing privacy issues, but the newspaper says information about outbreaks of infectious diseases would help the public avoid exposure. 

More >> Press Herald sues to force state to identify schools that had chickenpox outbreaks

And yes, no matter how clean you are, sooner or later your kid will probably come home from school with head lice.   You could get head lice while trying on new cloths at your favorite high end clothing store.  You could get it from the person who sat in the seat on the plane ahead of you when you went on your trip to the Bahama's too.  There is really no way to escape it short of total isolation.

Bwa ha ha ha ha.

Biddeford mayor announces receiving letter about sex abuse allegations

The mayor of Biddeford says he has received new information regarding allegations made against the Biddeford Police Department.

More >> Biddeford mayor announces receiving letter about sex abuse allegations

Our View: The State Shouldn't Trample On Parental Rights

Under Maine law, parents who don’t want their children to be vaccinated can opt out, whether their objections are medical, religious or philosophical. 

But Maine’s highest court recently ruled that parents who lose custody of their children to the state also forfeit the right to make medical decisions for those youngsters – such as refusing immunizations. The court’s ruling is a sound one that recognizes the duty of state officials to do all they can to protect kids in their care. 

More >> Our View: Maine Supreme Court vaccination order protects boy in state custody 

Corrupt CPS/DHHS Maine: CPS HATES GOOD MOMS

Protect Your Family: CPS Hates Good Moms CPS Wastes Time Trying To Kidnap Kids From Non Offending Loving Homes for Adoption Industry While 15 Year Maine Foster Dad aka Scum Abuse Foster Child and Social Worker Negligent For Not Reporting It.

‘No Child’ waiver means Maine can keep $48 million in federal school aid

Maine’s receipt Thursday of a waiver from strict federal education guidelines means state government and local school districts can continue to develop their own plans to improve schools without the risk of losing $48 million in federal funding.

More >> ‘No Child’ waiver means Maine can keep $48 million in federal school aid

Maine court system seeks panel to review guardian complaints

The Maine court system is looking for members of the public interested in sitting on a panel being set up to review complaints made against guardians ad litem. 

More >> Maine court system seeks panel to review guardian complaints

They will probably pick some lawyers or man-haters or something for this as it's usually the fathers who are complaining.  I suggest the guy who does this blog for this pannel, but who am I to make such a recommendation?

I will name two GAL's who should be booted from the GAL List though.

Judith Plano and Chris Dilworth.  Judith is a father hater who sides with the mothers, and Chris Dilworth will sign off on the states request to terminate a parents rights, just to get the GAL contract which he can keep until the kid turns 18.

Maine GALert

http://megalalert.blogspot.com/

Maine Gets Three-Year Reprieve From No Child Left Behind Requirements

The state of Maine has won a three-year waiver from the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, which governs federal education policy for elementary and secondary education. The reprieve is drawing praise from state officials and educators.

More >> Maine Gets Three-Year Reprieve From No Child Left Behind Requirements

Maine tries to stop woman from fighting for her stolen child

Before you read this article, please understand that the woman who kidnapped her kids had her kids kidnapped by DHHS first.  She was trying to get them back.

A Maine woman convicted in February of kidnapping two of her children and driving them to South Carolina has asked to leave the state to engage in a custody battle. 

More >> Woman Who Kidnapped Kids Asks to Leave State

And if you would like to read more about Beth and her fight for justice... 

http://terrifyingcpstales.weebly.com/beth.html

• Woman convicted of abducting her kids asks to leave Maine

Maine court rules state could order child’s vaccination against mother’s wishes

The state acted legally when it ordered immunizations for a child in its custody against the mother’s wishes, Maine’s highest court ruled Tuesday. 

More >> Maine court rules state could order child’s vaccination against mother’s wishes

Maine takes the ethically dubious approach of using children as lead detectors

Isn't it just wonderful how the Propaganda Press Herald is looking out for the health and well being of our children while milking and inflating a health issue that would require property owners to shell out thousands of dollars to fix thus inflating rents and making it hard for people with kids to find housing?

• Our View: Maine strategy on lead should focus on prevention

I have already covered this issue during this recent propaganda awareness campaign against old housing, but there was a paragraph in this article which is concerning to me.

Instead of screening homes for the toxin, Maine takes the ethically dubious approach of using children as lead detectors. Once a child is identified as lead-poisoned, then the state conducts a home inspection, relocates the family if necessary and works with the property owner to fix the site.

First of all, the state does not relocate the person.  They force the Landlord to do it.  And what they call "working with the property owner to fix the sight" involves loans that the Landlord will ultimately have to pay back, adding potentially thousands of dollars in costs which will go back on any future renters.

More concerning than that, however is the line, "Instead of screening homes for the toxin, Maine takes the ethically dubious approach of using children as lead detectors."   

Enough said.

That nasty foster kid molester from Belfast Maine was indicted

A longtime foster parent from Belfast was indicted last week by the Waldo County Grand Jury and charged with gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact against a 9-year-old foster child.

More >> Belfast man accused of abusing foster child indicted

Another OUR OPINION brainwashing attempt: Maine’s work with juvenile offenders breeds success

This sounds great and all, but they're probably more likely putting them in group homes and psych wards where they give them psych meds and call them better and sell the stupid people on what they want them to think works.

The state is producing fewer young inmates, giving youthful offenders a better shot at future success.  

More >> OUR OPINION: Maine’s work with juvenile offenders breeds success

The state does not make a good parent.  Never has and never will.  A few successful social programs aren't going to change that.

Juvenile detention center’s closure a sign alternatives worked

The closing of the Mountain View Youth Development Center marks an important turning point in how Maine treats its youngest offenders. Instead of sending children to a detention center, Maine has aggressively pursued alternatives, which is better for the kids and for taxpayers.

More >> Juvenile detention center’s closure a sign alternatives worked

Now they're going to harp on it until landlords stop renting to people with kids.

Now they're going to harp on it until the sheep scream out, "keep our kids safe" and the landlords stop renting to people with kids due to the liability risk.

The twin cities' rates of childhood lead poisoning remain at least three times the statewide rate, despite education efforts aimed at landlords.

Lead poisoning hazards live on in Lewiston-Auburn’s rental housing

Westbrook police have dropped the child endangerment charges against a mom who let her young daughter play alone at the park.

Westbrook police have dropped the child endangerment charges against a mom who let her young daughter play alone at the...
Posted by WMTW-TV on Thursday, August 6, 2015

Good, I was hoping that Maine wasn't going to give into the helicopter parent mentality.  It's the police's fault if the town isn't safe.  It should be the parents decision to let their kids play outside or not.  Not the police.

I haven't come across any related articles yet, but will post them as soon as I do.

The Maine Lead Paint Panic

So I've come across 2 articles with one coming from many different sources, as if it were released as a press release.  These articles have to do with the led paint issue, which I've brought up before.  This is certainly an issue that warrants some concern, as would anything that effects the health and well being of our children.

They like to fluff the problem to cause a panic though.  So here we go.

Experts know the solution is to remove lead paint from homes or maintain it so it doesn't chip, peel or break down, but officials have taken a cheaper approach that means lead poisoning will persist. 

More >> Despite state law, thousands of Maine children still suffer from lead poisoning

The problem I have with this is the way the state handles it.  When your doctor reports the issue to the state, they invite themselves into your home.  They inspect it thoroughly.  If you don't comply, they report you to Child Protective Services.  Either clean up the problem or face having the place condemned.  For homeowners it's very expensive to do.

Also, this woman, Susan Lee, from the CDC who calls you to inform you of the oncoming invasion is not very nice.

Most children with lead poisoning are from poor families who live in lower quality apartments.  The state does not help these people relocate to safer housing.  Nor are there any incentives for landlords to provide it, and it therefore becomes harder for people to find affordable rents.  Nor are there very many lead free homes in Maine.  Therefore we're all screwed.

• Lead poisoning: Problem for Maine kids that won't go away