The leader of a nonprofit that serves children and families in Texas has been tapped to lead the Maine state agency responsible for child welfare.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew announced Thursday that she is hiring Todd Landry as director of the Office of Child and Family Services. Landry, who starts on April 29, was CEO of Lena Pope in Fort Worth, Texas.
Lambrew says Landry brings "ambition and optimism" to the job as the agency seeks to make changes "to better serve Maine's most vulnerable children and families."
Maine's child protective system came under increased scrutiny last year after two children died from abuse, 10-year-old Marissa Kennedy and 4-year-old Kendall Chick. Those deaths led to a series of investigations and changes.