U Maine » Systems integration

Agency integration, 2016

• Child welfare

  Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS)

  Centralizes child welfare administration services at the state level.

• Integration level

  Separate state-level centralized agencies

• Juvenile corrections

  Maine Department of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services

  Centralizes administration of delinquency services at the state level.

Coordination, 2014

• Uses for coordination
• Does not use for coordination

• Data sharing

  Facilitated through the use of statewide information systems allowing for consistent data sharing between systems.

• Committees or advisory groups

  Multidisciplinary groups that often have regularly scheduled meetings to brainstorm ways to improve systems integration.

• Formal interagency MOUs

  Collaborative agreements to guide systems integration efforts

• Informal interagency agreements

  Commonly based on historical practice, mutual trust, and recognition of the need to collaborate in order to serve dual-status youth.

• Statute and/or rules

  Rules that mandate systems integration efforts

Summary

In Maine, delinquency services are centrally organized by the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC), a state department of corrections agency, and child welfare services are administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Both agencies have data collection systems; and although information sharing is not automated, a state statute exists that requires the sharing of information for youth committed to DHHS or MDOC. Additionally at the state level, a Memorandum of Understanding exists between the MDOC and DHHS to coordinate services to youth who have concurrent involvement in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.

There are also examples of data sharing and coordination for dual status youth at the local level in Maine. Dual status youth are identified at intake by Juvenile Community Corrections Officers (JCCOs). JCCO may take a proactive approach and request a DHS investigation and home study be conducted; these youth are referred to as C-5 youth.

Case management coordination occurs through: sharing case planning information between systems (MDOC, DHHS, and behavioral health); interagency planning meetings; and joint case level meetings.

Court activity is coordinated through: joint hearing appearance requirements for probation officers and social workers; and inter-agency liaisons (behavioral health) and social workers who have specialized case loads.

Reported data