The Mission of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services is "to join with individuals, families and communities to encourage and assist people with developmental disabilities, mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders to achieve good health and meaningful living".

Case management services to children have increased by 70% since 2000;

The number of children placed in out-of-state treatment has been reduced by 46% in 1999 and 2000;

In partnership with the Judiciary and Corrections Department, an innovative drug court program has been established to treat youth with substance abuse problems.

In 1999, over 4,000 Maine youth were victims of child abuse and neglect - an 18.4% increase from 1998

Hospital discharges of children ages 0-19 years for mental health or substance abuse diagnoses, 1999:

In 1999, 309 children aged 0-14 years used services of licensed alcohol and drug abuse treatment providers; a rate of 1.31, which represents a 5.4% decrease from 1998.

In 1999, 949 youths aged 15-19 years used services of licensed alcohol and drug abuse treatment providers; a rate of 10.6, which represents a 1% increase from 1998.

As of December 2000, 2,956 children aged 10-17 were in the care or custody of the Department of Human Services.

There are currently 20 School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) serving youth in Maine. Direct state support for the centers totaled $210,000 in fiscal year 1999. Beginning in 2001, funding will increase to $663,000 annually.

(One or more types of maltreatment can be recorded for each child victim-numbers below refer to the 4,157 children)

There is a scarcity of licensed mental health professionals in Maine - there were 1,939 mental health professionals providing services to Maine people in 1999; this translates to a rate of only 1.6 mental health professionals for every 1,000 Maine persons. This figure does not specifically cover just youth.

*per 1,000 people

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(in hours per week)

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