An Act to Provide Training, Professional Development and Wellness Supports for Child Protective Services Workers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1013
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MADIGAN, TIPPING, ABDI, CLOUTIER, DHALAC, GRAMLICH, RANA, SHAGOURY, WHITE
Amends: 22 MRSA §4004

Legislative Document
No. 1013
H.P. 649
House of Representatives, March 7, 2023
An Act to Provide Training, Professional Development and Wellness 
Supports for Child Protective Services Workers
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MADIGAN of Waterville.
Cosponsored by Senator TIPPING of Penobscot and
Representatives: ABDI of Lewiston, CLOUTIER of Lewiston, DHALAC of South Portland, 
GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, RANA of Bangor, SHAGOURY of Hallowell, WHITE of 
Waterville.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §4004, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Caseworker training and case loads; alternative schedules.  The department shall 
implement a training protocol for all caseworkers that includes smaller case loads and 
additional supervision during the first year of employment by the department and ongoing 
professional development opportunities for all caseworkers and supervisors of 
caseworkers.  The department shall offer caseworkers options for alternative work 
schedules and telecommuting.
Sec. 2.  Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and 
Family Services training program for child protective services caseworkers.  
The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services shall 
develop and implement a training program for ongoing training and coaching of 
caseworkers that includes mentoring, professional development and wellness supports.  
The program must include the following components:
1.  Smaller case loads for the first year of employment by the department combined 
with additional supervisory hours;
2.  Increased professional development for all caseworkers, administrators and other 
appropriate staff;
3.  Training that includes practices on how racism and implicit bias affect the lives of 
children and methods of addressing structural racism;
4.  Increased training aimed at preparing caseworkers for child protective 
investigations, including job shadowing, mentoring, observations of the process prior to 
the first investigation, legal and court preparation, how to conduct interviews and other 
practical aspects of investigations;
5.  Training from the Office of the Attorney General, when appropriate, on legal issues 
faced by caseworkers; and
6.  Offering flexible work schedules, including telecommuting, alternative schedules 
and job-sharing.  
The Department of Health and Human Services shall include a report on its progress 
in developing and implementing the training program pursuant to this section to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters in the annual case load report due on January 31, 2025 pursuant to Resolve 2019, 
chapter 34.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and 
Family Services to implement a training protocol for child protective services caseworkers 
that includes smaller case loads and additional supervision for caseworkers in their first 
year of employment.  It requires additional ongoing training for all caseworkers and 
supervisors that includes mentoring, professional development and wellness supports.  It 
requires the Department of Health and Human Services to include in its case load report 
due on January 31, 2025, pursuant to Resolve 2019, chapter 34, an update on development 
and implementation of the training program.