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DHHS Caseworkers Are Concerned That Problems With The Agency Are Putting Kids At Risk

BDN

For months the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, or OPEGA, has been investigating Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). 

The inquiry follows the death of two children at the hands of caregivers – Kendall Chick and Marissa Kennedy. On Sunday, Portland Press Herald journalist Eric Russell reported that caseworkers within the department feel restricted in their ability to help children

Russell spoke with Ed Morin about the article and the DHHS investigation.

OPEGA has yet to make public its findings regarding the investigation into the department. Gov. Paul Lepage says he will propose legislation to address these issues, but those details have yet to be made public.

Additional reporting by Willis Ryder Arnold.

Ed is a Maine native who spent his early childhood in Livermore Falls before moving to Farmington. He graduated from Mount Blue High School in 1970 before going to the University of Maine at Orono where he received his BA in speech in 1974 with a broadcast concentration. It was during that time that he first became involved with public broadcasting. He served as an intern for what was then called MPBN TV and also did volunteer work for MPBN Radio.