(0 items)
Maine
Kimberly Johnson |
Notable about Kimberly Johnson, the Director of the Office of Substance Abuse in the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services, is her unfailing commitment to make substance abuse services more accessible and effective for the clients of Maine's child welfare system. By forming a strong partnership with the Maine Department of Human Services, Bureau of Child and Family Services, community-based provider agencies, and the University of Maine, Muskie School of Public Policy, Ms. Johnson has been instrumental in creating innovative approaches to intervention in child abuse and neglect cases in families where substance abuse also is present. One innovation places a substance abuse specialist in a district child welfare office that has experienced a dramatic rise in the abuse of prescription medications by adults who then abuse and neglect their children. Another innovation is the development of Safe and Sober Homes for families who need housing and support to stay together. The adults obtain both substance abuse services as well as other services as they work to maintain sobriety. Ms. Johnson's commitment to improved services for families receiving child welfare services stems from her earlier work in the capacity of Director of the Crossroads Substance Abuse Treatment Program, which struggled to provide quality services to parents who needed assistance both in managing their substance abuse issues and in functioning as caring and protective parents. In this setting, Ms. Johnson came to understand that these issues are interconnected and must be dealt with at the same time and with equal urgency if children are to be adequately protected from harm.