Department of Children's Services
James M. Henry, Commissioner

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In-Home Tennessee | Relative Caregiver Program | The Multiple Response Approach

What is the purpose of the Service Array assessment?
The assessment prepares regions for the successful implementation of the In Home Tennessee initiative by involving DCS staff, families, private provider staff, and community partners in using their personal experience and professional judgment to assess core in-home services and practices within their region. The assessment process will help those involved produce a written document called a Resource and Capacity Development Plan, which will be used to establish region goals relating to services provided to families.

How can I get involved with In Home Tennessee and participate in trainings and workshops?
You can call (615) 253-4481 to speak to someone about getting involved.

When do we “start” In Home Tennessee?
As of September 2012, seven regions are in the process of implementing the In Home Tennessee initiative. Implementation includes training for DCS staff and service provider staff. When the first training component (Introduction to In Home Tennessee) is completed, trainees should utilize what they learned to improve their work with families. Trainees will have additional opportunities for skill enhancement by attending skill workshops, participating in practice enhancement sessions with their supervisor and team, and receiving individual coaching from their supervisors. The other five regions will be implementing the initiative according to the timeline established by DCS administration.

Why In Home Tennessee?

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services’ (DCS) in-home services practice needed to be strengthened. Prior focus had been on custodial cases. In Home Tennessee supports the effective engagement of families, providers, and community stakeholders in making available appropriate service interventions for children and their families so that child maltreatment and out-of-home care is reduced.

How is Resource Linkage involved in the regions?

The DCS Resource Linkage Coordinator is communicating with stakeholders and sharing information regarding the successes of the initiative and any areas of need. In one region, a DCS staff member helps lead the Community Advisory Board meetings and In Home Tennessee is an important item on the agenda.

How are regions keeping participants from all parts of the community involved?

Everyone who is presently involved is asked to share information about In Home Tennessee with someone they know and invite that person to become a member of a workgroup or team. We encourage one-on-one communication to motivate and inspire people in the community to participate and believe that this initiative will change lives. There are service provider staff and community members who are taking leadership roles and are an inspiration to others.

Who’s going to pay for this?

DCS has a partnership with the Atlantic Coast Child Welfare Implementation Center (ACCWIC) to provide training, technical assistance and resources to support sound implementation of In Home Tennessee. This partnership began in 2009 and will continue through September 2013.

Unlike some other initiatives undertaken by DCS, this one is a collaboration with private providers and community stakeholders. Families, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, DCS, and for-profit service providers will have to work together to find ways to offer additional services and to provide better service delivery in order to meet the needs of families within the community. Some community groups have received grants and have included the In Home Tennessee initiative as part of their work. Private providers are involved in the service array assessment process and can see where the service gaps are. Hopefully, paid and non-paid providers will be willing to address those gaps by adding to their service options.

How does this benefit me?

Members of the community who participate as workgroup members will play a key role in identifying service needs within the community and working to address those needs. Contracts for services will be written in a clearer language and agencies will be held accountable for their work, so that families get the services that they need. There will be a clarification of what services can be paid through TennCare. Better relationships will be created in the community so that DCS can ask community partners for what is needed and find answers through cooperation. Everyone can be an active participant in achieving the goals of In Home Tennessee.

How will information be received?

In Home Tennessee has a statewide Communications Workgroup and each region has a Communications Team. Vehicles of communication should include printed messaging, the In Home Tennessee website, e-mails, region newsletters, word of mouth at community gatherings, and any other region-specific avenue. Keeping everyone informed as to the progress and roadblocks experienced during In Home Tennessee implementation is everyone’s job. Region and state-level leadership have to ensure that there is open communication regarding the initiative. There has to be a culture of openness. Region leaders know their staff and the stakeholders within the region. Each region’s stakeholder team can decide the best means of communication within and outside DCS.