About Us

Program Philosophy

The Maine Caring Families (MCF) Program believes children who show signs of behavioral difficulties resulting from past abuse and neglect, and children with disabilities and/or delays can live and grow with nurturing families in our communities. MCF provides a statewide system of therapeutic homes where children in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) custody may achieve emotional and physical well-being. MCF provides support and training to Therapeutic Foster Parents who are key members of a multi-disciplinary team that develops and implements treatment and services. The service plan is tailored to the individual child, based on his/her strengths and needs. MCF is respectful of culture and diversity, both in philosophy and practice.

Organizational Structure

The Maine Caring Families (MCF) program is a public/private partnership between the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), and contracted support agencies. MCF is a statewide program, administered in Augusta. MCF was designed to provide regionally based therapeutic foster care for certain children in the Department's custody.

Regional Coordinators, employed by DHHS, are responsible for the operation and management of the program in their geographical area, and for co-facilitation of foster parent support groups. There are currently nine Regional Coordinators (two in District 5) who cover five regions across the state.

Support Workers, employed by contracted private agencies, are responsible for the coordination of services, including case management, development of behavioral strategies/interventions, and co-facilitation of foster parent support groups. Community Care is the contracted support agency for northern Maine (Piscataquis, Penobscot, Hancock, Washington and Aroostook Counties). Spurwink is the contracted support agency for southern Maine (Somerset, Kennebec, Waldo, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Franklin, Oxford, Androscoggin, Cumberland, and York Counties).

MCF foster parents are licensed and trained by DHHS and are responsible for providing therapeutic foster care.

Children Served

A Maine Caring Families child is one who shows signs of mild to moderate behavioral difficulties and or one who has disabilities and/or delays. Therapeutic Foster Parents can manage these behaviors, disabilities and/or delays in a family setting with added supports including behavioral plans, parenting advice and outside services. MCF children exhibit behaviors that may include, but are not limited to:

• Behaviors that require concrete, consistent follow through with consequences/ behavior management plans;
• Behaviors that can be managed in a family setting with innovative parenting techniques;
• Behaviors that require added supervision;
• Or, a child may have physical/ medical disabilities or developmental delays that can be managed in a family setting with additional supports, or the child may require special education services and/or speech therapy, occupational therapy or physical therapy that requires at home follow through.

These children will be matched with a selected family who can meet their needs. MCF parents will receive additional training that will assist in improving children's functioning in a family setting.