MINUTES - University of Tennessee



Joint Task Force on Children’s Justice/Child Sexual Abuse

VIDEO CONFERENCE Meeting Minutes

June 11, 2020 – 10:00 AM

Attendees

Allen, Sandra

Alexander, Denise

Beckham, Pierce

Beneke, Bonnie

Bevans, Rebecca

Boshears, Marlene

Bottoms, Delaine

Carter, Bobby

Cooper, Tim

Davis, Kristen

Dixon, Matthew

Ebert, Jon

Etheridge, Stephanie

Farrar, Lynne

Graham, Ryan

Hargrow, Craig

Harper, Dawn

Hart-Curry, Marjahna

Johnson, Anthony

Karnes, Lanis

Keoph, Marie

Knowles, Catherine

Koslick, Amy

Lowen, Deborah

Maifair, Sammi

McGee, Melissa

Meise, Michael

Murphy, William

Miner, Thomas

Page, Jacque

Palmer, Mary

Perales, Marymer

Randolph, LaShonda

Reed, Kamrie

Seeman, Larry

Sinback, Kathyrn

Smith, Rae Anne

Stallworth, Virginia

Stamps, Marcus

Talley, Jackie

Vawter, Lindsey (Stackens-Anderson proxy)

Wade, Pat

Wyatt, Verna

Wilkerson, Jason

Wyatt, Verna

UT Staff

Alley, Rory

Frierson, Stephanie

Hadjiharalambous, Sissie

Lawal, Toni

Regrets

Cobb, Dana

Gentry, Annette

Paisley, Lori

Miller, Stacy

Snodgrass, Carla

Stackens-Anderson, Tina (military leave)

Welcome

President Lynne Farrar thanked everyone for participating in the video conference meeting. Roll call was conducted via WebEx sign in and chat.

Roots of Resiliency

JTF member Jon Ebert of Vanderbilt shared information about a project between DCS and Vanderbilt – the Roots of Resiliency, a weekly webinar series offered by Vanderbilt Center of Excellence and other experts in the field of parenting, mental health, and wellness. Some of the topics covered this year were as followed:

• Baby Proofing the Pandemic: Understanding how Young Children Manage Stress

• Adolescents and Coping with COVID-19

• Assessing Mental Health During the Pandemic

• Grieving Losses: Big and Small

• Mindfulness

• Tools to Navigate Conflict

Ebert reported that all of the series are open to the public; and that the series for the week of June 15 is on “Coping with Worry, Fear, and Anxiety in a Time of Pandemic.”

Ebert also noted that the audience thus far have included social workers (705), parents/caregivers (618), mental health (389), education (540), foster parents (261), and DCS (649). Some court staff have participated in the training as well.

Second Look Commission Report Presentation

Craig Hargrow, JTF member, TCCY Deputy Director, and Second Look Commission Director delivered a presentation on the latest Second Look Commission Report findings and recommendations. The Commission is required by state law to review an appropriate sampling of cases involving a second or subsequent incident of severe child abuse in order to provide recommendations and findings to the General Assembly regarding whether or not severe child abuse cases are handled in a manner that provides adequate protection to the children of this state.

Prior to the meeting, JTF members received a copy of Hargrow’s power point presentation. Each slide was covered. He also noted some of the progress DCS has made:

• There has been training opportunities for the specialized drug teams’ staff related to addiction and substance abuse.

• There has been substantial improvement made in monitoring case notes entries into TFACTS.

• The research about bonding and attachment to improve child safety has been implemented in child protection casework. 

Some of the recommendations included, but were not limited to the following:

• DCS and law enforcement need to do more work identifying, locating, and involving nonresident fathers.

• DCS need to further educate the public about Tennessee’s mandatory reporting requirements, including non-traditional groups such as property owners.

• Child abuse prevention stakeholders and behavioral health specialists need to ensure caregivers with drug and alcohol use issues are receiving evidence-based assessments and following the recommendations.

Following Hargrow’s presentation, Judge Meise asked if the Commission could conduct a data analysis for abuse by types of maltreatment.

DCS Updates

Amy Koslick, DCS OCS Director of Investigations, provided the following update:

• CPS Redesign: This initiative, rolled out on January 13, 2020 in Shelby County, is seeing a shift in referrals due to COVID-19. Referrals to the triage team are decreasing while referrals to the drug team are increasing – the triage team is providing assistance with drug-exposed cases. Additional, the county is seeing an increase in sex abuse referrals.

In addition, DCS is piloting the CPS redesign in the Upper Cumberland region. DCS OCS and regional staff have begun work around educating staff and providers about the redesign.

Rebecca Bevans, DCS OCS Director of Training, provided training updates.

• Updated Mandated Reporter Online Training is now on the DCS homepage, making it easy for users to navigate. The training is also available on YouTube. For groups interested in DCS coming to their agency to provide the training, there is an online form on the website for persons to complete.

• Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Committee reviewed 5% of child sex abuse cases in 2019 (approximately 300) and looked at how non-offending parents/caregivers and CPIT partners are being engaged. The Committee is also looking at emerging trends and research in child sex abuse.

• Fireside Chats, offered each month by DCS OCS Pierce Beckham, are informal discussions with guests about child welfare. For more information, please contact Mr. Beckham at pierce.beckham@.

• Domestic Violence, the partnership between DCS and liaisons in Madison, Hamilton, and Knox counties to reduce domestic violence in Tennessee, is working closely with OCS on how to identify, respond to, and work with non-offending parents. OCS is assessing data collection at DCS and working towards strengthening policy and protocols around domestic violence cases, including developing a “stand alone” allegation and work aid for domestic violence.

• Families First Prevention Service Act workgroups are focusing on strengthening non-custodial cases and are working with Chapin Hall for the prevention plan. Also, Provider Readiness Assessment Surveys were sent to all prevention providers, and conversations are occurring with the Department of Health around existing evidence-based home visiting programs in the state.

Approval of the Meeting Minutes for December 5, 2019 and March 19, 2020

Vice President Pat Wade asked if any members had corrections or comments for the December 5, 2019 JTF and March 19, 2020 Meeting Minutes. None voiced; minutes approved in the present form.

Other Business

JTF member and Memphis Child Advocacy Center executive director Virginia Stallworth reported that Darkness to Light released their Fiscal Year 2019 Impact Report, which featured DCS and the Memphis Child Advocacy Center in their list of top training organizations. The list was compiled based on the number of people who were trained by each organization in fiscal year 2019.

Breakout Meetings

Before the Committees’ breakout meeting sessions, President Farrar reminded the Chairs to submit their minutes to Toni Lawal by June 18.

Committees Minutes

The Committee chairs or designee minutes included the following:

• CPIT: The Committee discussed the following:

o Advanced Interviewing Training: This is part of sex abuse workshop delivered by detectives and is offered in each grand region. COVID-19 has created challenges for the trainings and DCS will resume in person trainings when it is safe to do so. Also, it was noted that CACs are working with the National CAC to coordinate trainings across the state for CPIT partners including advanced trainings for forensic interviewers. The Committee also addressed a concern related to medical exams involving SANE nurses and the medical community regarding the understanding of roles and who should be providing the exam. Additional concerns include the need for best practice in the field, and role clarification within the medical community that is unbiased.

o Child Death Training: There is a large section on death and grief in the training opened to all CPIT members. The grief and trauma section covers information for staff and families.

o TN Public Safety Network (TPSN) Training Opportunities: The Critical Incident Stress Management training was canceled due to the COVID-19.pandemic. TPSN was going to provide critical incident strategic debriefings; however, the contract for this service has been table due to budget constraints. There was also discussion about submitting the curricula to the Committee, as this training is critical for agencies and persons whose work involve child death and sexual abuse. In addition, there was discussion about resiliency – for instance, the focus should not be just on child death, noting that other severe forms of abuse can trigger the need for debriefings.

Other discussions related to this matter included the following:

o Many of the professionals that are involved in the actual case are not part of the CPIT teams (Medical examiners, EMS).

o Social distancing due to COVID-19 has limited the ability to work through issues. Prior to the pandemic, the CPIT staffing has been a mechanism to work through issues and find a resolution to conflict.

o Law enforcement has peer support that includes dispatchers as they also hear through the radio. Smaller agencies have brought in outside law enforcement.

o Incident rate is different across the state, which builds a different level of resiliency due to volume. There is a need for guidance in areas that do not experience a large number of cases.

The Committee also assessed progress made from the 2018 CJA Three-Year Assessment such as the following:

o Adult Best Practices on Medical is already in the works; a basis to align practices throughout a person’s life from child, through adolescence to adult.

o Pediatric and Adolescent Practices to Present.

o TBI is putting together Best Practices for Law Enforcement for Human Trafficking.

o OCJP is working on Rules and Best Practices for Grants for Anti-Trafficking Agencies/Programs,

In addition, the Committee discussed how CPITs are functioning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

o Knox County is functioning with tele-work - the docket is being handled more expeditiously – the lack of travel for those that cover multiple counties has helped.

o Many rural counties are going back to in-person meetings; agency staff are reminding people to wear masks.

o Some team members have different restrictions due to secondary exposure.

o Shelby County has been utilizing Zoom for their meetings. The virtual meetings are going very well and the county has observed higher participation than in the past.

o Physical space in CACs is an issue especially for large areas – suggesting that teams might want to consider continued use of technology even when the restrictions are relaxed; yet noting that in-person meetings are still important, as they tend to be more focused and productive.

o CPIT members should incorporate the lessons learned on confidentiality into the Best Practices Guidelines.

• Court Improvement: Chair Kathy Sinback reported the meeting was conducted by Zoom. The Committee thanked Rae Anne Smith for setting up the Zoom meeting.  The meeting began with members discussing what they are looking forward to when social distancing is over. The Committee welcomed new members Judge Bobby Carter and Judge Michael Meise.  

The Committee then worked on the children’s book “What Happens in Juvenile Court—Dependency and Neglect Cases.”  The Committee reviewed the most recent draft of the book, which was developed at a Committee work session on May 11, 2020.  Prior to the May 11, 2020 work session, Craig Hargrow, Sammi Maifair, and Rae Anne Smith also worked on editing sections of the book. 

The Committee finished editing the book and developed the following action items: 

o Judge Carter is going to ask Chief Justice Bivins if he will be willing to sign the letter at the front of the booklet.

o Chair Kathy Sinback will draft the letter for Justice Bivins to sign. Stephanie Etheridge and her colleague Barbara from AOC will coordinate getting the letter to Chief Justice Bivins for signature.

o Chair Sinback, Rae Anne Smith, and Marlene Boshears will work on the “GAL” section and will make sure the definitions in the “Important Terms” section are consistent with the definitions in the body of the booklet. Boshear’s 12-year-old daughter, Emelyne, will review the book for plain language.

o Once the Committee finalize the wording, Stephanie will send the booklet to Barbara with AOC for formatting.

o Chair Sinback will work on securing youth artists to do the artwork for the booklet. The artists will do the art once the formatting has been done (filling in the blank spaces with art).

o Upon completion of the book, the Committee will present it to the Joint Task Force for adoption.

• Outreach and Awareness: Chair Sandra Allen thanked everyone for joining the virtual meeting. Chair Allen also thanked Lindsey Vawter of DHS child-care division, and proxy for Tina Stackens-Anderson for agreeing to share with the Committee a few of DHS implementations for the state’s child-care program amid the COVID-19 crisis.

o COVID-19 Essential Employee Child Care Payment Assistance Program: This program is designed to help support essential workers so they can stay on the job during the COVID-19 emergency. Through payment assistance and a network of temporary care locations, parents who work as essential employees can access child-care at no cost, during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency until mid-August. The program makes payments directly to the child-care provider.  Families can access this benefit at child-care programs licensed by DHS or regulated by the Department of Education and that are participating in the Child Care Certificate Program.

o Relief Grants for Middle TN Tornadoes and COVID-19: Relief grants were implemented for persons who lost income from the tornadoes in Middle TN in March as well as COVID-19. DHS contracted with YWCA and the Boys and Girls Club to provide services to school age children up to age 12. DHS partnered with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to make $18 million in new assistance available to help licensed child-care agencies that were impacted by the recent COVID-19 emergency and the March 3 tornado disaster.

o Tennessee Professional Archive of Learning (TNPAL): This resource empowers and supports child-care providers in their professional development. TNPAL also helps educators, directors, and other staff of child-care agencies licensed by DHS to meet their training requirements. TNPAL is funded through a contract with DHS and Tennessee State University Center of Excellence for Learning Science. Upon completion of the training, individuals’ TNPAL records will be updated to reflect details of the training, including topic and training hours.

Following Ms. Vawter’s presentation, Toni Lawal asked if mandated reporter training is required annually for all of DHS child-care providers. Vawter stated she was unsure if this was a requirement and would check DHS policy regarding this matter.

The Committee also discussed the following:

o Erin’s Law Survey: Rebecca Bevans reported that the survey developed to assess school staff, particularly principals, counselors, and teachers’ knowledge of Erin’s Law is on hold at the request of JTF member and Department of Education director Lori Paisley. Paisley reported to Toni Lawal via email that this is extremely complicated and stressful time for schools amid COVID-19 and suggested disseminating the survey to schools in late fall might be a better time.

o Updated Mandated Reporter Training: Rebecca Bevans reported the training is posted on DCS website, and will be refreshed as needed. Bevans also noted that the training includes a short test at the end of the training.

o Training for Pediatricians: There was much discussion on this agenda item as it relates to this Committee state and federal work focus. For example, one of the recommendations from the 2018 Three-Year Assessment was to strengthen relationships with pediatricians and hospitals. Toni Lawal reported that one of the pediatricians who serve on the JTF stated that pediatricians would likely be open to posting information in their offices on all forms of child abuse. Lawal also reported that in Tennessee, pediatricians are not required training on child abuse for continuing education; however, they are required to have 2 hours of controlled substance prescribing every 2 years. Additionally, pediatricians are required to have 40 hours of continuing education every 2 years.

In addition, Chair Allen shared with the Committee that work for addressing this concern began about 7 years ago. The Committee, in collaboration with then the Tennessee Center for Child Welfare, developed a draft FAQ for healthcare professionals, that was never distributed to groups identified needing to have the information such as pediatricians, children’s hospitals ER staff and social workers, and health clinics.

• Treatment: Jon Ebert reported the committee continued to discuss their goals and placed action steps on them, including addressed challenges as it relates to data.

o GOAL 1:  Explore current practice for therapeutic interventions for youth who have been sex trafficked.

Action Step: Draft will be sent to smaller subcommittee for discussion on July 9 at 3:00 pm.

o GOAL 2:  Children with Sexual Behavior Problems (CSBP) - DCS document that establishes appropriate language (labels), types of assessment, and treatment.

Action Step: Brief document 1-2 pages will be the focus of their next meeting.

The Committee also discussed the following:

Standards for who can provide evaluations (e.g. Psychosexual Evaluations).

o What are the elements of an appropriate evaluation? Considerations Document.

o Establishing high standards.

o Who has expertise in this state? What is the update on youth & registry? TBI update?

o Next committee meeting we need to recast the scope of this document.

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