Foster parent Melanie Blair called on the state Wednesday to listen to those who work in the child welfare system to prevent future child deaths.

About 30 people gathered outside the State House to demand a culture change at the Department of Health and Human Services and for renewed consideration of a bill to split the department up to improve care for children.

“How can a government agency charged with doing what is in the best interest of the children, keeping them safe and emotionally well, complete such a task without transparency, honesty and communication?” Blair asked.

The press conference highlighted 29 child deaths last year, a state record. Of those, 11 were deemed accidents, four were classified as natural, four were related to unsafe sleep, three were sudden unexpected infant deaths and seven were listed as ‘others.’

In 27 of 29 cases, the family was involved with child protective services before or during the child’s life, “even when the cause of death was natural, accidental, suicide or undetermined,” according to DHHS.

The 29 child deaths do not include four deaths that are being investigated as homicides.

“We’re asking for accountability, we’re asking for transparency, we’re asking for an end to a culture that’s built on resistance, denial and excuses,” said Sen. Bill Diamond (D-Windham).

In response, the department issued a lengthy statement that outlined many recent changes, including adding 16% more caseworkers in the last four years; overhauling caseworker training; adding new services for families to prevent neglect and abuse and recruiting more foster families, according to spokeswoman Jackie Farwell.

Farwell noted that the state budget allocates an additional $10 million and that there are new laws on the books “that will directly improve systems to promote the safety of children.”

“There is no higher goal for the Department of Health and Human Services than protecting the lives and wellbeing of Maine children,” according to the statement. “From our child welfare caseworkers on the front lines to the department’s leadership, we are committed to doing everything we can to keep children safe.”

The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee also met Wednesday to discuss whether the committee will be able to review confidential child protective records. Chris Taub, chief deputy attorney general, said he believes the law would allow the committee to review confidential records in executive session.

He also recommended that the lawmakers direct the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability to review sensitive documents and then synthesize the information to identify areas for improvement.

Rep. Amy Arata (R-New Gloucester) said she would like to be able to review records that go beyond those related to homicides. In particular, she said there have been instances of child deaths caused by co-sleeping that involved parents “with a history of substance abuse.”

“When they knew there was substance abuse going on, how did they make the decision to let the infant stay with the parents?” she said.

Outside at the rally, the grandmother of Maddox Williams, 3, whose mother has pled not guilty to depraved indifference murder, detailed her experiences with DHHS and the court system. Victoria Vose raised Maddox for more than two years before he was placed with his mother.

“March 7 (2021) was the last day I saw my grandson alive when I left to start a new job at 5:50 a.m.,” she said. “Maddox matters. Every child matters.”

Diamond and Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Turner) said the state should consider removing the Office of Child and Family Services from DHHS because the department is too big to be responsive. Diamond acknowledged some efforts toward reform, including giving more funding and power to the ombudsman’s office that investigates complaints about the child welfare system.

Diamond and Timberlake called for a change in culture and said the department should be willing to accept input from foster parents and others who regularly work with the department to make improvements.

Timberlake said as a member of the Government Oversight Committee, he hopes he can work with the department to find solutions. He said splitting up the department will add accountability and improve communication.

“I may be a grumpy old farmer but I love kids,” he said. “I’ll fight to the end of the world for them.”