Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody
Project Description:
The University of Tennessee Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody was established to serve as a referral center for children in or at risk of state custody in West Tennessee. The UT Center of Excellence (COE) is part of a statewide system of referral centers dedicated to increasing behavioral and physical health services to children in or at risk of state custody by providing both consultative and direct services. Expertise and staff from existing UT College of Medicine programs, such as the Boling Center and the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, contribute to the day-to-day functioning of the UT COE. The staff includes a variety of health service providers, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and pediatricians.
Referrals are made primarily from Department of Children?s Services (DCS) and Children?s Community Services Agency (CCSA) case managers, although referrals can be initiated through other sources. Referral questions may include mental health, physical health, developmental, medication, or placement issues. Care Plans are developed based on thorough reviews of records alone or in conjunction with face-to-face clinical evaluations and include specific treatment and placement recommendations. The UT COE staff also provides consultation to health providers regarding children with complex needs and assists in coordination of their care. Barriers to accessing services are also identified so that systemic efforts to address these barriers can be made. Training case managers and educating other health service providers on various topics related to working with children and families is another component of the program.
Keyword(s):
children at risk for DD, mental health, state custody
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities, Quality of Life
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County, Mulit-County, State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
