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Maine lawmakers expanded the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit in 2023, allowing an estimated 157,000 dependent adults and children in families with the lowest incomes to receive the full credit for the first time. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 22, 2024

ME lawmakers increase aid for families experiencing deep poverty

Gov. Janet Mills has signed legislation to increase temporary assistance payments to families experiencing deep poverty. Payments will increase by 2…

It is estimated that Mainers facing hunger would need a total of $97,584,000 more income per year to adequately meet their food needs, according to Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Maine food banks meet growing demand as Farm Bill lags

Food banks in Maine are struggling to keep up with demand as the Farm Bill remains stalled in Congress. The bill is renegotiated every five years …

Latino children in Maine fare better than their peers nationwide, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation report. An estimated 70% of Latino children in Maine live in families with incomes at or above 200% of the poverty line, compared to 47% of Latino children nationally. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report finds gaps in child well-being persist across Maine

Children of color in Maine fare relatively well compared to their peers nationwide, but gaps in child well-being persist - according to a new report…

Second-graders in South Portland are designing their own Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons to take part in a popular lesson based on the children's book,

Beyond book checkouts, ME librarians teach “digital citizenship”

School librarians in Maine are teaching students the importance of "digital citizenship." The concept is similar to civics education but helps stude…

Mainers offered family insurance plans through their workplace that cost more than 9.12% of the total family income may qualify for more affordable healthcare coverage through the health insurance marketplace. (Adobe Stock)

MaineCare Recipients Urged to Update Forms to Ensure Coverage

Public health advocates are working to ensure Medicaid recipients in Maine continue to have health care coverage as pandemic-era policies have ended…

Teachers could use the new Maine Climate Hub to teach students about the Gulf of Maine, which is considered one of the fastest-warming ocean regions on the planet. (Adobe Stock)

ME Students Benefit from New Climate Change-Related Education Tool

Educators in Maine will have a new online resource this school year to help them teach what they say is one of the most challenging subjects: climate …

Care provided by millions of unpaid family caregivers across the United States was valued at $600 billion in 2021, a $130 billion increase in unpaid contributions since 2019, according to AARP. <br />(Adobe Stock)

Mainers Celebrate Passage of Paid Family Medical Leave Program

After years of grassroots advocacy, Maine will become the 13th state in the nation to adopt a mandatory paid family and medical leave program…

90 percent of middle and high schools and 84 percent of elementary schools were providing a device for every student, according to a March 2021 Education Week survey of school leaders. (Adobe Stock)

Education Advocates Say Expired Chromebooks Teach Kids the Wrong Lesson

Education advocates say pending expiration dates for Google Chromebooks teach kids the wrong lesson about technology. Software on thirteen models …

A study by the American Institutes for Research showed children who participated in outdoor education programs raised their science test scores by 27%. (Adobe Stock)

Outdoor Education Key to Improving Health of Students, Planet

Congressional lawmakers are considering a bill to help improve the environmental literacy of America's students. Dubbed the "No Child Left Inside …

Maine ranks first in the nation for having the lowest percentage of children in families where the head of household lacks a high school diploma, at 4%, compared to the national rate of 11%, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME Parents Struggle with Lack of Affordable, Accessible Child Care

CLARIFICATION: Percentages of students' reading and math scores were clarified. (12:46 p.m. MDT, June 14, 2023) Maine ranks 12th in the nation on …

From 2008 to 2021, Maine saw a sharp decline in the number of licensed child care providers operating in the state, with Lincoln County alone experiencing a 61% decrease. (Adobe Stock)

Training Underway to Eliminate 'Child Care Deserts' in Maine

A community-development nonprofit is helping to counter the sharp decline in child care providers in Maine by offering the training needed to start an…

Immigrants make up 3% of Maine's total population and 4% of Maine's workforce, including more than 2% of Maine's self-employed business owners, according to the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Lawmakers Consider Expansion of MaineCare to All Immigrant Adults

Lawmakers in Maine are considering a bill to expand MaineCare to all low-income residents, regardless of immigration status. LD 199 would ensure …

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports the national uninsured rate reached an all-time low of 8% in early 2022, with 5.2 million people having gained coverage since 2020. (Adobe Stock)

End of Public Health Emergency Brings Changes to Mainers' Medicaid Coverage

Public health advocates are working to ensure Medicaid recipients in Maine continue to have health-care coverage once pandemic-era policies end this s…

Starting in 2023, parents who are offered family health insurance at work may qualify for affordable health care coverage through the federal marketplace if premiums for that family plan cost more than 9.12% of their total family income. (Adobe Stock)

Maine Increases Rates of Children with Health Insurance

Federal funding during the COVID-19 public emergency helped to further reduce the number of uninsured children in Maine, but as pandemic-era dollars …

All Juul e-cigarettes have a high level of nicotine, but a single Juul pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes, according to the manufacturer. (Adobe Stock)

Efforts to Curb Youth Vaping Fall Short

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S., yet efforts to prevent kids from picking up the habit continue to …

If Congress reinstates the Child Tax Credit, a family with one child under six would<br />receive an annual $3,600,, providing significant help to cope with rising food and energy prices. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Relief Payments Not Enough to Help ME Families in Need

With food and energy prices soaring, the one-time $850 inflation relief checks for Mainers could not arrive at a better time, but advocates for low-…

Parents of roughly 36,000 Maine kids have been told by a medical professional that their child has anxiety or depression. (Adobe Stock)

Well-Being Report Highlights Mental-Health Struggles of Maine's Kids

Children's advocacy groups are sounding the alarm about the mental-health challenges of Maine's kids. The 2022 Kids Count Data Book released today …

A report finds nationally, Black and Latino kids were 50% more likely to face incarceration than their white peers in 2019. (mario beauregard/Adobe Stock)

Report: Too Many Youth Incarcerated in Maine, Across U.S.

Almost a quarter-million American children were incarcerated in 2019, and a new report found it is about five times more than states' annual point-in-…

Groups in Maine highlight a need for more funding for early education and care. The current continued resolution is set to expire March 11th. (Alessandro Biascioli/Adobe Stock)

ME Groups: Congress Needs to Pass Fully-Funded Appropriations Bill

Mainers are urging Congress to pass a fully funded, full-year appropriations bill, instead of the stopgap continued resolutions for the various …

Maine has more than 2,000 children in foster care, but not enough families for family placements. (cristalov/Adobe Stock)

Groups: Maine Foster Youths Need More Families Available for Placements

PORTLAND, Maine -- About 2,200 children are in foster care in Maine, and agencies say there are not enough families who are actively able to accept …

Maine is among the first states to pass a bill for free school meals for all students, regardless of household income. (WaveBreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Parents Urged: Complete School Meal Forms Even Though Lunches are Free

AUGUSTA, Maine -- School meals in Maine will be free for all students again this year and into the future, but parents are being urged to fill out …

Nearly 300,000 Maine kids will benefit from the expanded Advance Child Tax Credit. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

ME Parents, Advocates: Make Expanded Child Tax Credit Permanent

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Parents are now receiving fully refundable monthly 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit payments, and advocates for children and families …

Approximately 23% of Maine kids lived in households with a high housing cost burden in 2019, compared with 33% in 2010. (Daniel Jedzura/Adobe Stock)

Report: Child Tax Credit to Benefit More than 90% of Maine Kids

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Child wellbeing in Maine improved between 2010 and 2019, according to a new annual report, but advocates for children and families …

Day One is the only Maine agency that provides an adolescent residential substance-use treatment program. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

Groups Decry Lack of Substance-Use Treatment for Young Mainers

AUGUSTA, Maine - As Maine's legislative session nears an end, groups are urging lawmakers to prioritize making mental health and substance-use …

Maine is one of 20 states that have introduced bills aimed at banning transgender students from participating in school sports. (Michael Chamberlin/Adobe Stock)

Transgender Mainers, Allies Oppose Bill Targeting Trans Student Athletes

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Advocates for transgender Mainers are opposing a newly introduced bill in the state Legislature which would ban trans students from …

The American Rescue Plan would create a $25 billion emergency child-care stabilization fund. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates for Children, Families Say Mainers Need COVID Relief

AUGUSTA, Maine -- As Maine families struggle to recover from the pandemic's economic fallout, advocates for children and families say quick passage …

Nearly a third of households with children nationally reported struggling with mental health, feeling down, depressed or hopeless.(Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Report: ME Families with Kids Struggle with Housing, Health Insurance

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Many Maine kids are struggling during the pandemic with health care, mental health, housing and hunger. Seven percent of Maine …

Advice from Maine Camps that Contained COVID Outbreaks

YARMOUTH, Maine -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is sharing some good news about four overnight camps in Maine, and how they …

The Annie E. Casey Foundation's new Kids Count Data Book places Maine fourth in the U.S. for family and community rankings, but 21st for education, putting the state at 13th overall for child well-being. (mhartford/Creative Commons)

Report: Maine In Top Quarter for Overall Child Well-Being

AUGUSTA, Maine -- A national report ranks Maine in the top quarter among states for overall child well-being. The annual Annie E. Casey Foundation …

Maine is considered the most rural state in the country. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, advocated for specific rural funding in the HEROES Act, which wasn't included in the CARES Act. (Wolfpoint/Creative Commons)

Maine's Rural Students: Left Behind in Federal Stimulus?

RUMFORD, Maine - Rural communities in Maine are watching Congress to see if they'll fare better with getting federal economic relief than they have …

Nearly 2 million children age five and younger were missed in the 2010 census. (AdobeStock)

2020 Census: Maine's Kids Need Counted, Too

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Amid the chaos of the coronavirus pandemic, Maine families are being reminded about an important civic duty. Households now are …

Critics charge that Long Creek, Maine's prison for juveniles, is not organized or staffed to deal with the real needs of those young people. (Richard Ross/AECF)

Task Force Finding Maine Juvenile Justice System Dysfunctional

AUGUSTA, Maine - The task force looking at Maine juvenile justice is finding signs the whole system is upside down. Jill Ward, project manager of …

Maine was the only state in the Northeast that blocked Medicaid expansion, which explains part of why it had the highest rate of children who were uninsured in the region last year. (LMMiller9/Pixabay)

Maine: Highest Rate of Uninsured Children in Northeast in 2018

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine had the highest rate of uninsured children in the Northeast in 2018, according to new findings. The Georgetown University …

Nine thousand Maine children live in areas of concentrated poverty, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Many Maine Families Have Bounced Back from Recession, Out of Poverty

AUGUSTA, Maine — The number of Maine children living in concentrated poverty is back to pre-recession levels, according to a new data snapshot …

Maine ranks 33rd in the nation for enrollment of 3- and 4-year-olds in early childhood education, according to a new report. (Lisa Maruna/Flickr)

Maine Improves in Child Well-being, Lags in Education

AUGUSTA, Maine — A new report calls for continued work to improve access to early childhood education in Maine. The state ranks ninth …

More than 4,000 parents and caretaker relatives have signed up for MaineCare Expansion this year. (BewitchingGrace/Creative Commons)

Maine Ranks Low in Increasing Insurance Rate for Mothers

AUGUSTA, Maine – According to a new report, Maine ranked among the five worst states in decreasing the uninsured rate for women of childbearing …

Maine ranks among the highest states for placement of children and teens in foster care with relatives and families. (Juhan Sonin/Flickr)

Report: Maine Leads in Placing Foster Youth with Families

ELLSWORTH, Maine – A new Annie E. Casey Foundation report shows that more young people in foster care have been placed with families than in …

Maine has public-health advisories against eating fish from 14 bodies of water contaminated with mercury. (pxhere)

Moms Oppose Changes to EPA Mercury Rule

AUGUSTA, Maine - Do your job, protect our kids. That's the message dozens of mothers from 15 states took to Washington, D.C., this week. The …

About 94 percent of young people in foster care in Maine earn a high school diploma or GED by age 21. (pxhere)

Young Adults Face Struggles Leaving Foster Care

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine is doing relatively well in helping young people in foster care transition to adult life, but there's room for …

Only 8 percent of young parents in Maine have an associate degree or higher. (pixabay)

Maine’s Young Parents Need a Helping Hand

AUGUSTA, Maine — Young parents in Maine are facing major obstacles to providing for themselves and their children, according to a new report…

The percentage of children in Maine without health insurance has increased since 2010. (pxhere)

Maine Trails Other New England States in Children’s Well-Being

AUGUSTA, Maine – The latest figures on the well being of children show Maine ranks 16th in the nation, and children's advocates fear trouble …

While rallies such as this one in support of the Affordable Care Act in 2017 helped save it, expect more rallies and protests as court battles over its protections heat up. (Ted Eytan/Flickr)

Long Battle Ahead over ACA Pre-Existing Conditions Provision

AUGUSTA, Maine – It promises to be a long, bumpy road ahead for the Department of Justice, which essentially is arguing against the Affordable …

Studies show that SNAP benefits help families purchase healthier diets. (nadinheli22/Pixabay)

Report: Food Assistance Reduces Health Care Costs

AUGUSTA, Maine – A new report links access to SNAP benefits to improved health and lower health care costs. The paper, published by the …

Some Internet-connected toys have been hacked, revealing personal data. (Terence Ong/Wikimedia Commons)

Report Says Some Toys Pose Privacy Risks

AUGUSTA, Maine – The holiday shopping season is getting started, and a new report can help consumers avoid toys that can be hazardous to …

In Maine, 100,000 fewer people are getting assistance with food, shelter or medical care than in 2011. (Steve Baker/Flickr)

Unfortunate Cautionary Tale of Poverty in Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine – The United States is making headway in the fight against poverty, but it’s progress not being felt in Maine. A new …

Advocates say improving access to opportunities for kids of all backgrounds is important because they represent tomorrow's workforce. (Nesstor42u/Morguefile)

Some Maine Kids Facing Racial, Ethnic Roadblocks

AUGUSTA, Maine – Children of color and those living in immigrant families face persistent challenges that make their road to success more …

While much of the nation is making gains in getting health insurance for more children; Maine is missing out and still has 12,000 uninsured kids. (Pinterest).

Maine Treading Water on Children's Health Insurance Coverage

BANGOR, Maine – A new report from Georgetown University finds fewer than five percent of children nationwide are uninsured, but Maine is not …

Maine is one of the New England states considered a bright spot for improving children's access to free summer meals. (USDA)

Maine Credited for Major Improvements Getting Summer Meals to Kids

AUGUSTA, Maine – Nationwide the number of lower-income children getting access to free summer meals is down, but Maine is bucking that trend…

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