New Audit Finds Issues With DCS
A new audit by the state of Tennessee is putting a spotlight on The Department of Children’s Services…or DCS, and it is not a bright light. A recent 200 page audit was released by the Tennessee Comptroller’s office, and it found some serious issues within DCS.
For instance, the audit found that the agency failed to complete essential tasks, such as conducting initial face-to-face visits with alleged child victims to ensure their safety; notifying Child Protective Investigative Team members of new allegations involving sexual or severe abuse; they did not substaniation decisions in a timely manner; DCS also failed to complete safety assessments within required timeframes; and the department had not publicly disclosed any information regarding child near fatalities on its website in over two years. The last being in October 2023. The comptrollers’ report stated that at the time of their review, “all 58 preliminary near-fatality cases from October 2023 through May 2025 remained pending physician review.”
The Department of Children’s Services released a statement on Tuesday responding to the Comptroller report. That statement said in part…
“The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services has faced numerous, long-standing challenges. Governor Lee asked us to find answers, some that are difficult but necessary, to promote healthier childhoods, stronger families, and improved life skills development. While challenges remain, substantial progress has occurred. Turning a ship with more than 3,800 employees does not happen overnight. It takes time. It takes effort. It takes commitment.”
You can see the complete report here: