Rep. Meyer: Keeping children safe by keeping families strong

Rep. MicheleMeyer

Guest Columnist

As seen in SeacoastOnline.com

As a Registered Nurse, State Legislator,  parent and grandparent, I know with certainty that supporting families to provide nurturing environments where their children can thrive is critical to their growth and development.  In my four terms of service in the Maine state legislature, three as the House Chair of the Health Human Services Committee, I have proudly advanced and supported legislation, policies and programs that enhance family stability and improve the health and safety of Maine children.

One of the most important ways we can support Maine families is by building out a network of support, where parents feel they have programs, people and places they can turn to when they face challenges. Since parenting can be difficult and hard times can fall on any family, it is critical that supportive communities, accessible programs, and stigma- free assistance are available for every family, wherever they live in our state. 

This is where the concept of “it takes a village” comes in:  the collaborative efforts of state government, child and family well-being focused nonprofits in the private sector and community based innovations like  Mainspring in Kittery. This social services hub/family resource center using a centralized model of care delivered with efficiency and compassion,  empowering those in need to navigate a pathway out of hardship . 

Research consistently demonstrates that community support significantly enhances the well-being and thriving of families, especially when it comes to child development, academic achievement, and overall family resilience. We encourage help-seeking when a strong community partner like Mainspring provides access to resources, fosters a sense of belonging, and offers vital support for families, leading to improved outcomes for children and caregivers. 

At the level of state government, I am proud of the support I have offered in the development of Maine’s Child Safety and Family Well-Being Plan,   which establishes a collective framework for keeping children safe by keeping families strong. Working with the Maine Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Maine Child Welfare Action Network, parents and community partners, we acknowledge the fear and stigma parents face when reaching out for assistance as a barrier to ensuring they can get the help they need, when they need it, to care for themselves and their children.  We developed, and the state funded, a campaign focused on normalizing the challenges of parenting and encouraging and connecting to opportunities for help through a new website: BeThereForMe.org. The website offers places to start to reach out for support for a variety of issues, including healthcare, food, child care, housing and behavioral health. 

As a policymaker dually focused across my years of service  on improving access to and the effectiveness of Maine’s anti-poverty and family support services as well as strengthening child safety and welfare, I introduced LD1877 in the last legislature, providing a 20% increase to  the monthly TANF cash benefit for families who have children and very low incomes, the first increase in 7 years now bringing our state in line with our New England neighbors.  LD393 strengthened behavioral health services for at-risk families and increased support for kinship families. This session, I have sponsored several measures building on previous child abuse prevention work as well as LD1406, making an important statutory distinction between poverty and neglect.  

There is urgent work ahead for the Maine State Legislature, that is clear.  Deep, reckless federal funding cuts to Maine’s social safety net including Medicaid (Mainecare), SNAP, and TANF pose significant risks to vulnerable populations − children, older, and disabled  citizens − and to the broader economy here. 

Through these difficult times,  I will continue my work on behalf of Maine families- improving systems, services, connections and prevention- committed as always to keeping children safe by keeping families strong. Now more than ever before, we must fulfill the promise to build villages of hope, change and transformation, investing in the well-being of all members of society, and creating a Maine where every child has the support and resources they need to thrive.