I haven't worked for OCFS for almost 10 years, but was a caseworker for 8 years. What people don't understand about making reports and then claiming "nothing is done" is that may be due to an endless amount of factors.

OCFS may already be aware of the situation and involved in some capacity, or don't have enough in the report to open a case.

They may be trying to do something but aren't able to gather enough evidence I order to file protective petitions. CPS workers are trained how to interview in legally sound interviewing that is able to stand up in court. Sometimes it can be extremely difficult to get a kid to say their parents abuse/neglect them, because even abused/neglected kids can still love their parents, or be terrified of saying something and getting into trouble.

They may have the evidence they think is necessary but the parents attorneys/Guardian ad Lietem/District Court Judge disagrees and the protection order is denied. OCFS can't make decision unilaterally. Parents get attorneys, children get attorneys, and Judges have opinions.

Number one of which includes how insanely overworked and understaffed the agency is. The job is IMPOSSIBLE. It's emotionally and mentally traumatic to the caseworkers. I had near crippling anxiety every single day at work for 8 years. You're constantly yelled at by parents and families for making up stuff and stealing kids and getting "10k bonuses for each kid we steal!", while simultaneously being scrutinized by the general public for not doing enough and not preventing every single child death in Maine.

On top of that, there aren't even enough Foster homes to put kids in that are removed. Caseworker have had to stay with kids in hotel rooms beciae of the lack of foster care home availability.

The public never hears or acknowledges the good stories of rehabilitation and reunification or adoptions. The latch on the sensational negative stories in the media and everyone's anecdotes of how DHHS never does anything.

Beyond that OCFS has massive employee turnover. They are constantly hiring young Social Workers fresh out of college, as their first job. It's brutal work for a 24/25 year old and they burn out, have breakdowns, and take their first opportunity to leave for another job like I did.

The only way to address every single report as thoroughly as possible, is to basically double the work force, pay caseworkers double what they make to make up for what a shit job it is to attract experienced SWs or retain the ones they have. But the general public would likely never be on board with this.

Thats my two cents

20 years ago my sixth grade teacher made a report. A caseworker came to my school and we went into the principals office where they had me remove my shirt to photograph my injuries. Then they sent me home like nothing happened and I never saw that caseworker again.

Things were bad before. I can't begin to explain how bad things got after that report was made though.

I’d guess that Maine is a combo of a lot of rural poverty which contributes to the issue, combined with at least some government/oversight that leads to slightly more reporting, though not necessarily action. Versus a lot of southern states that have the poverty and isolation and basically no governmental oversight at all

This. We're reported someone for child sexual contact and nothing happened. Like...wut.