tn.gov/dcs @TN_DCS @tn_dcs@TNdcs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FY 2019

Highlights

Childrenin the

State’sCare*

ChildAbuse

HotlineCalls

Adoptions &SubsidizedPermanentGuardianships

Extension ofFoster CareYouthServed

9,177 5,300

1,506

133,248

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. . . . . .In May, Commissioner Nichols set a goal for all DCS staff

to be trained in the Stewards of Children™ sex abuse prevention training. 100% of existing staff were trained by the identified time. DCS has since been named a Darkness to Light Partner in Prevention™ for 2020-2021.

The Officeof Juvenile Justice

provides funding to preventyouth from entering DCS custody.

In FY 2019, 30 grants totaling $4.8 millionwere awarded to juvenile courts and community

service agencies serving 4,977 youth at risk of enteringstate custody for delinquency, truancy and other offenses.

On July 1, 2019, new legislation wentinto effect that is aimed at reducingyouth incarceration by instituting thefollowing:• Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is setting upevidence-based services that aim to prevent youth from entering custody.• Requiring the juvenile courts to usestandardized risk and needs assessments.

*Current data, as of 12/9/19

Child custody increased 15% fromJune 30, 2016 to June 30,2019. In

response to the upward trend, theDepartment has implemented

“Project ChildStat,” an intensive,deep-dive into custodial root causes,coupled with cross program problem

solving to remove challenges andbarriers to permanency.

1,075 1,045 1,033

856 866

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

1,100

1,200

Jan-

16

Apr-

16

Jul-1

6

Oct

-16

Jan-

17

Apr-

17

Jul-1

7

Oct

-17

Jan-

18

Apr-

18

Jul-1

8

Oct

-18

Jan-

19

Apr-

19

Jul-1

9

Juvenile Jus�ce Custody

6,751 7,041

7,604 7,698

8,433

5,000 5,500 6,000 6,500 7,000 7,500 8,000 8,500 9,000

Jan-

16

Apr-

16

Jul-1

6

Oct

-16

Jan-

17

Apr-

17

Jul-1

7

Oct

-17

Jan-

18

Apr-

18

Jul-1

8

Oct

-18

Jan-

19

Apr-

19

Jul-1

9

Foster Care Custody

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746

In 2019, DCS collaborated with the Dept. of Mental Healthand Substance Abuse Services and the AdministrativeOffice of the Courts to establish five new SafeBaby Courts (bringing the total to 12) to provide specialized treatment andwrap around services to familieswith children age zeroto three.

Specialized Drug Teamswere created in East TN to

address the increased caseloads ofdrug exposed infants, working closely

with local hospitals and substance abusetreatment agencies to ensure infants are safe

when parents or caregivers are impacted by addiction.Expansion of these Drug Teams to other regions is underway.

FosterHomesServingTN Children

Children Servedby Relative

CaregiverProgram

3,700