ME LD891

Amends Maine's Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act to explicitly exclude poverty as a factor when determining willful neglect or abuse of a child

Changes the standard for deprivation of essential needs (food, clothing, shelter, supervision, health care) from general "deprivation" to "willful deprivation," requiring intent rather than circumstance

Requires preliminary protection order requests to document specific services offered to prevent removal of a child from home, including the duration and outcome of those efforts

Adds requirement that courts consider whether the department made reasonable efforts to prevent child removal, including evaluation of specific efforts made and their results

Requires that serious mental or emotional harm findings be diagnosed by a qualified medical provider and result directly from abuse or willful neglect unrelated to poverty