KIDS LEGAL
Resource Code Card

Child Abuse and Trauma

The Department of Health and Human Services

To Report Child Abuse or Neglect
Call 1-800-452-1999

Deaf/Hard of Hearing
TTY: 1-800-963-9490

This Maine Child and Family Services line is staffed 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

The Department of Health and Human Services has prepared a Handbook for Parents involved with the State in child protective proceedings and investigations. It is available in both PDF and Microsoft Word formats.

Services:

For a forensic child abuse assessment, contact:
Spurwink Services at 1-888-889-3903, 871-1235

For support provided to children who are exposed to violence or trauma in Washington and Hancock Counties, contact:
Rapid Response at 255-6037

Advocacy:

The court will appoint an attorney for each parent whose children are removed from the parents' home by DHHS after the parent completes a financial affidavit with the financial screener for the courts. (The parent must be income eligible.)

The court will also appoint a guardian ad litem for the child so that the GAL can make recommendations to the court as to what is in the child's best interest.

In some cases DHHS will substantiate a parent or caregiver of abuse or neglect without removing the child from the home. The parent may challenge this substantiation finding.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance has prepared two pamphlets for parents:

Child Abuse and Neglect "Substantiation" in Maine (also available as a pdf pamphlet)

Protective Custody Proceedings: What Can I do if the State is Threatening to Take My Kids? (also available as a pdf pamphlet)

Complaint about DHHS:

Child Welfare Ombudsman Program: 1-866-621-0758