Issue:
It has come to our attention that many peers have had DHHS involvement for themselves or other family members. Involvement with the State is often stressful when being separated from family members, even in good situations. The addition of being required to complete specific tasks or meetings can cause mental health issues to arise and in some cases to become more severe. This situation can cause someone to become aggressive, shut down, make poor choices, create an inability to focus on or understand the wording in documents, become overwhelmed, or give up entirely.
Recommendations:
- Peers should be given an opportunity to have Peer Support provided to assist them through the process that is there for their benefit, not for the states. Extensive peer training could improve the outcomes of state-involved removal of children from homes, to lessen the stress and emotional impact of this unfortunate situation. A peer with Child Protective Services (CPS) lived experience might be preferable.
- This person should be given the same legal protection a spouse would receive so that they could not be compelled to testify. This person would not be a legal advisor to the peer and would not be an informant for the state. They would solely be there as a support person for the individual.
- The State would be required to use mental health information that is current and applicable to the situation.
- Training be provided for CPS State personnel to show that a mental health diagnosis on its own does not mean a parent can’t effectively provide a safe loving home.
- Training of CPS on how to use a Psychiatric Advanced Directive, when in place will be followed by CPS before any separation of the parent and a child/children.
Expected Outcomes:
- Fewer children will be removed from the home unnecessarily.
- The state will more effectively be able to use other options, such as regular home visits, and counseling, parents will engage in skill-building activities, and other community supports to help parents reach their full potential to raise safe and happy children.
- Less trauma due to removal for children, parents, and other family members.
- Our peers would be subjected to less stigma regarding any mental health struggles from CPS personnel.
- More in-home supports for families, such as CIPSS support for our peers who are parents.
To submit feedback, ideas, or a personal story relating to this issue statement, please send it to the CCSM office either by mail at 219 Capitol Street, Suite 7, Augusta, ME 04330, or email at [email protected].
DEADLINE TO RESPOND: Monday, October 7th.
