Betsey Grant, the owner of Tiny Tikes Daycare in Trenton, has been embroiled in a prolonged battle with the state of Maine over delayed payments for services rendered to foster children. She represents a growing number of child care providers experiencing similar frustrations. Last month, officials initiated an investigation into these payment delays from the Department of Health and Human Services.
“We rely on these providers to care for foster children, yet we are failing to compensate them promptly,” stated Sen. Jeff Timberlake. “These delays are not only distressing for the providers but create instability for the children involved.”
Grant’s experience with the department involved numerous communications and legislative intervention to secure about $30,000 owed for her services to foster children. Despite recognizing the debt, the state’s responses were perceived as dismissive, according to Rep. Nina Milliken.
From 2019 to 2023, Grant’s daycare supported over 50 foster children. Records reveal that she was reimbursed approximately $130,000 during a specified term. However, she still faced significant delays on payments, prompting raised concerns. State officials attributed these delays to administrative hiccups, such as incomplete invoices and personnel changes, as seen in communications reviewed by The Monitor.
The personal apologies extended by state employees for the processing delays were of little solace to Grant, who worried about the fate of unclaimed reimbursements without persistent follow-ups.
Maine, grappling with a child care crisis, has seen a significant reduction in providers in recent years. This scarcity particularly impacts the provision for foster children, with only a small fraction of licensed care facilities accommodating them. Financial pressures from administrative delays exacerbate the already thin operating margins for these providers.
Child care operators have voiced dissatisfaction regarding protracted reimbursement times, with some expressing that delayed state payments force them to reconsider their business practices. Senator Timberlake contended that the bureaucratic requirements and lack of transparency are burdensome and unnecessary.
Despite a substantial total reimbursement of $13.5 million for foster care services during specific periods, the state has maintained ambiguous records, citing substantial costs and time requirements to extract invoice data. This opacity further fuels frustration among providers and legislators alike.
Kaitie Gilmor, operator of Laugh and Learn Academy, detailed how tardy payments have hindered her business after adopting her child via the foster system, noting similar frustrations shared by fellow caregivers.
Issues with the state’s technology, particularly the new Katahdin software system, have been partially blamed for these delays. Nonetheless, some lawmakers, like Senator Timberlake, argue the problem likely extends beyond mere technical glitches.
Repeated troubles with reimbursements lead some providers to make significant business adjustments or cease services, impacting the availability of care for foster children. Financial reasons have driven many to reconsider their participation in state subsidy programs.
Nicole Johnson, proprietor of Golden Sun Childcare, is one such provider. Delays have led her to absorb costs to keep her business afloat. Ironically, outreach from the state to assess owed reimbursements coincided with media interest, highlighting ongoing administrative confusion.
Faced with increased financial pressure, multiple child care facilities have been forced to close their doors to foster children or shut down entirely. For Grant and others, delayed payments only compound the inherent challenges of running care facilities, with many reconsidering their future in the challenging yet crucial service of foster child care.
