DCS Talks

Latest Episodes:

DCS Talks to Tristen Slough about Transitioning to Adulthood Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

DCS Talks About Transitioning to Adulthood in this edition, Tristan Slough discusses the importance of transitioning youth from DCS custody to adulthood. Tristan spent time in DCS custody and speaks from first hand experience. He currently serves as a Peer Support Worker with Monroe Harding. Tristan shares his wisdom as he outlines the key principles of preparation and planning for our youth.

DCS Talks to our Director of Permanency Planning, Lindsay Coleman about Full Disclosure Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

Join DCS Talks to discuss the importance of Full Disclosure with Director of Permanency Planning, Lindsay Coleman. When a child comes to the attention of the DCS and is potentially in need of out-of-home care, DCS takes responsibility to engage the family in identifying relatives or kin who may support the child and family. As part of the process of building a team around the family, DCS informs caregivers about the different types of legal permanency options and provides relatives or kin the Disclosure of Legal Permanency Options Video and the Guide to Full Disclosure of Permanency Options. Ms. Coleman provides information about this process, resources, where to find the video and discusses ways relatives and kin help to reduce trauma for children who are in the care of DCS.

DCS Talks About Finding Families through Diligent Searches Jun 06, 2020

Show notes

Diligent search is a process through which child welfare agencies recruit, retain, and support foster and adoptive families that reflect the ethnic diversity of children and build family teams. In this edition we will interview two subject matter experts on the topic of diligent searches in child welfare, first we talk to Alicia Wright who provides direct service to children and families as a case manager and supervisor she lets our listeners know about what conducting diligent searches for families is like for her and her team and why they are important and then we continue the discussion with the Director of Permanency Planning at DCS, Lindsay Coleman who has served in many program areas at DCS during her career and she provides our listeners with a global perspective of diligent searches as well as key points about building support networks when a child is in full guardianship at the department, Lindsay also raises awareness of the importance of diligent searches as the pertain to teenagers and young adults who age out of foster care.

DCS Talks to Vanderbilt's Center of Excellence about Roots of Resiliency Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

In this edition of DCS Talks, DCS Assistant Commissioner, Julie Rotella interviews Jon Ebert, PsyD and Tarah Kuhn, Ph.D., psychologists from the Vanderbilt Center of Excellence, to discuss the virtual sessions, Roots of Resiliency that are currently being offered weekly for parents to ask questions, gather resources and interact around shared experiences.

DCS Talks about Mandated Reporting in Tennessee May 12, 2020

Show notes

DCS Talks about the laws around mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect in the state of Tennessee. This discussion lets the listener know that it is everyone's responsibility to report child abuse and neglect. Listeners will also be informed about what to expect when they call the child abuse hotline and how to make a report.

DCS Talks with Julie Rotella LCSW about Child Abuse Factors in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month Apr 28, 2020

Show notes

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. join DCS Talks pod-caster and Assistant Commissioner of Administrative Services, Julie Rotella, LCSW as she discusses factors that contribute to child abuse and neglect. Did you know that two-thirds of children who were abused DO NOT grow up to be maltreating parents? Learn about this information as well as resiliency strategies to mitigate the potential of child maltreatment.

DCS Talks to Program Director, Tony Nease about the Child and Family Services Review! Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

The Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) is a review process including an assessment and case reviews for the Children’s Bureau to monitor state child welfare programs and compliance with federal regulations. Program Director, Tony Nease explains the process and it supports the DCS principles of Safety, Permanency and Well-Being.

DCS Talks with Independent Living Specialist, Katie Butler and former foster youth, Kayla about navigating life after being in foster care Nov 12, 2019

Show notes

Katie Butler, MSSW serves 8 counties in the East region as the Independent Living Program Specialist. Ms. Butler works with youth ages 14-23 that were in foster care to promote their safety and well-being as they transition into adulthood. Ms. Bulter is a social worker who started with DCS in 2006 as a member of one of the first cohorts of the DCS Title IV Tuition Assistance program after graduating from the University of Tennessee. She served in Anderson County Foster Care from June 2008- February 2012 and has served in her current role as ILPS since.

Kayla is a former foster youth that has accessed Opportunity Passport, Federal IL Wrap Funding, Educational Training Voucher as well as Youth Villages LifeSet and Extension of Foster Care Services from the time she was 16 to now 21. While learning how to navigate life outside of foster care, Kayla has started her post-secondary education in the medical field, while always maintaining employment, stable transportation and housing. Kayla has faced ongoing barriers after 18, but has never given up and proves this by her positive presence to this day.

DCS Talks with Mary Rolando about Adverse Childhood Experiences and Building Strong Brains Nov 12, 2019

Show notes

Mary Rolando is the Adverse Childhood Experiences Innovation Director at the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Ms. Rolando came to DCS from the Vanderbilt University Center of Excellence for Children and Youth In or at Risk of State Custody. Ms. Rolando has served as the representative to the Council on Children’s Mental Health, Tennessee Autism Summit Team, Infant Mental Health Initiative and the Tennessee Integrated Court Screening and Referral Project and among many other posts in Tennessee state government. In this podcast, Ms. Rolando discusses Adverse Childhood Experiences, Building Strong Brains and ways that DCS partners with many organizations to promote resilient communities.

The Impact of Domestic Violence on Child Welfare Cases Nov 06, 2019

Show notes

In this DCS Talks, Colt Marcengill and Anna Richmond, LAPSW discuss domestic violence in child welfare work and how the Safe and Together model impacts the families we serve . The Safe and Together model works to keep children safe and together with the non-offending parent to minimize additional trauma. The mission of Safe and Together is to create, nurture and sustain a global network of domestic violence-informed child welfare professionals, communities and systems.

Together, Anna and Colt have over twenty-five years of experience in child welfare and domestic violence including: educating and coaching child welfare professionals on issues related to violence against women and children, direct-practice experience with survivors of trauma and interpersonal violence and work with adolescents impacted by violence. Anna and Colt are certified trainers in the Safe and Together model.

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