Child Welfare/Domestic Violence Partnership Program
The Child Welfare/Domestic Violence Partnership Program is a multidisciplinary approach between the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and community-based agencies for the prevention of domestic violence and the use of domestic violence-informed interventions with survivors and their families.
The state of Tennessee, through the Office of Criminal Justice Programs and in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, has implemented a Child Welfare/Domestic Violence Partnership Program. The purpose of the SWORPS Child Welfare/Domestic Violence Training and Technical Assistance Program is the provision of the coaching, training, and technical assistance needed statewide to facilitate cross agency collaboration and learning and to promote the use of trauma-informed, evidence-based, and best practice when working with children and adults at the intersection of domestic violence and child welfare.
Coaching
- Supporting direct service professionals and their supervisors in the application of trauma-informed, evidence-based practice.
- Attending, observing, and providing feedback on case staffing and Child and Family team meetings
Training
- Providing local and statewide training on topics related to families at the intersection of domestic violence and child welfare
- Providing local and statewide training on healthy brain development in children and youth, trauma-responsive practice, strengthening families (risk and protective factors), and Safe and Together© concepts, among other topics
Technical Assistance
- Facilitate collaboration among the Office of Criminal Justice Programs, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and participating domestic violence agencies statewide.
- Hold monthly meetings for Child Welfare/Domestic Violence Liaisons to facilitate peer sharing and support.
- Hold regular office hours for individual Liaisons to address individual needs, resolve issues, and facilitate connections.
- Create feedback loops for monitoring and maintaining model fidelity, gathering and analyzing data, and making recommendations for improvement at the agency, county, system, and/or statewide level.
