In December 2024, the federal court in Maine approved a Settlement Agreement between Maine and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Settlement Agreement is designed to prevent children and youth with behavioral health disabilities under the age of 21 from unnecessarily entering or remaining in out-of-home placements, and to support their successful return to their home.
Through this Agreement, the State is expanding and strengthening the array of community-based services available to children and families. The goal is to ensure that children receive the right services at the right time, close to home, with the support they need to stay safely in their communities.
A key part of the Agreement is improving care coordination, so that families have help planning and organizing services when children have diverse needs or multiple providers. Effective care coordination helps families easily access services and ensures those services work together to support the child’s success.
In 2025, DHHS is building the foundation for these system improvements. Early implementation will begin in 2026, with continued progress throughout the Agreement period.
DHHS is also developing this public education website with updates about the Agreement, planned improvements, implementation progress, and resources for families on children’s behavioral health services. As new information and resources become available, they will be added to the site.
- Understanding Maine Children’s Behavioral Health Settlement Agreement Flyer (PDF)
- Implementation Plan (PDF)
- Data Collection and Analysis Plan (PDF)
If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to send an email to Agreement.cbhs@maine.gov.