SACO – Republican gubernatorial candidate Peter Cianchette on Wednesday proposed bringing dozens of child and family services now offered by four Cabinet-level departments under one roof, saying it would reduce inefficiency and fragmentation.

Cianchette proposed a new Department of Children and Families as he campaigned in the Biddeford-Saco area. The agency would provide services and programs now spread across the departments of Human Services, Education, Behavioral and Developmental Services and Corrections.

“The state’s current system is unaccountable, uncoordinated and confusing at best, and it’s having a devastating impact on our children and families,” Cianchette said.

Many families are served by multiple systems, meaning that tracking, case management and assessment are frequently repeated three times for one child, Cianchette said.

He also sees too much overlapping of services, and in some cases too many gaps, in what he called “outdated bureaucracies.”

“There is no unified mission for how we serve kids in a comprehensive and coordinated way; it varies from agency to agency,” Cianchette said. “The system has no single point of entry.”

While his campaign said it has not worked out the exact savings that would result, a spokesman said it would provide opportunities to draw additional federal Medicaid money and save costs by eliminating duplication.

Cianchette’s Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. John Baldacci, said he proposed a plan months ago to coordinate under a single budget numerous health and social services if he is elected.

“We’ve worked on this,” said Baldacci. “I’m glad to see others recognize it has to be done.”

Green Independent Jonathan Carter is still working on a social services policy, his campaign said.