Title

"this just in" piece about a new Maine law passed in April called "An Act to Pro

Authors

Sharon Bass

Source

Portland Phoenix

Date

9-15-2000

Pages

8 B

Abstract

"this just in" piece about a new Maine law passed in April called "An Act to Provide Services for Children in Need of Supervision" that provides for the involuntary commitment of homeless teens deemed unable to take care of themselves. Quint of Portland and Paul Vestel, the director of St. Michael's Center in Bangor, a day treatment center for troubled adolescents, are two members of a statewide committee charged with establishing rules for the involuntarily commitments. Quint and Vestal profoundly disagree in principle about involuntarly commitments. Quint believes the behavior of some kids is so self-destructive and life-threatening that there is no alternative, while Vestal insists on being shown the statistics that demonstrate that being homeless has lead to any kid's death. The oversight committee will have to address these concerns and also determine how kids will be transported for treatment, what kind of facility will be used, what kind of treatments will be offered.

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