TN Dept of Children's Services - Shelby County -

Child Protective Services

Mission and Vision

The Office of Child Safety and its

investigators train for and carry out
the work of investigations, and they
often coordinate their work with law
enforcement, child advocacy centers
and prosecutors. The Special
Investigations Unit investigates
allegations of abuse and neglect in
third-party settings, such as schools,
day cares or foster homes.

This division also supports the

preservation of families.
Principles, Philosophy and Guidelines
In Tennessee, we use the
Multiple Response System,
Provides emergency and ongoing services towhich abused and/or
takes into account that
neglected children, teens, their families. Services
not all include
situations require the
investigation of reported abuse and/or neglect;
samereferrals
type of to
response. Sometimes children
community resources for diagnostic and counseling services;
intensive, short-term case management in high are at
riskextreme
casesrisk
to and need the
immediate intervention of
reduce risk and to help prevent removal of children from their
investigators. Sometimes
families. Names of persons calling in referrals are confidential.
though, families are struggling
Anyone with knowledge of child abuse is required by law
to raise their to and need
children
report it. the help and services of DCS and
other community organizations.

Reference
www.tn.gov/youth/childsafety.htm