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Open Line has a new home!

Open Line is now housed on the DCS website. Please follow the link below to visit the new location. You can also update any bookmarks you may have saved with this link.

https://www.tn.gov/dcs/blog/open-line.html

For information on preventing child sexual abuse, please visit https://author.tn.gov/content/tn/dcs/program-areas/prevention/child-sexual-abuse-prevention.ht...

Learn how you can help prevent child sexual abuse. Please watch the video above and then share it with your friends, family and community. It’s up to all of us to keep Tennessee children safe. https://www.tn.gov/dcs/program-areas/prevention/child-sexual-abuse-prevention.html

Send in your nominations for #DCSontheJob

Each month, DCS recognizes a deserving staff member by highlighting them on social media with #DCSontheJob. If you know a co-worker who deserves recognition, send their name, email address, region, title and the reason they should be recognized to [email protected].

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY is Saturday, June 5. Rachel Jones, Administrative Services Assistant II with DCS Human Resources, is personally sharing some of her sustainability tips as we start to go back into the office:

For most people sustainability starts in the kitchen, but I’m going to tell you how you can start small and go green even in your office space. As many of us return to our offices from quarantine we’re bombarded with gloves, disposable masks, disinfectant wipes, and other PPE to keep our spaces safe and clean. Not only are there ways to keep your space safe without disposables, there are also lots of non-disposable and sustainable swaps we can make at work in general.

TIP #1: Pause before you print. This one is probably the most recognized green office initiative around, but it still warrants discussing. When you’re making the decision to print something out, ask yourself, “Could I do what I need to without printing?” If the answer is yes, then you’ve saved yourself steps to the printer and trees to the shredder. Not to mention the waste that comes from toner, cartridges, and other print-related supplies. Consider using e-signatures, automatic conversion to PDF, online fillable forms, and e-mailed memos to avoid the excess waste in your office. *Bonus Tip: You can even reduce your waste of non-recyclable sticky notes by using the notes function of your computer. Those notes don’t fly off in the breeze either!

JUNE IS "GREAT OUTDOORS MONTH"! We know exercise provides many mental and physical health benefits. What if a simple change in location could greatly increase those benefits? It can! Boost your mood, save money and skip the gym. Head to the great outdoors instead. Visit one of the many Tennessee Greenways and Trails or Tennessee State Parks. We want to see you move more outdoors in recognition of Great Outdoors Month! Please share your photos (with permission) to [email protected]. Read more about the benefits of outdoor exercise HERE.

TWO LIVE WORKOUTS THIS TUESDAY!

RESISTANCE BANDS: Grab your resistance band and join us for a total body workout. We will be using a long resistance band, not a loop resistance band, for this workout. **Join us on Tuesday, June 8 at 9 - 9:15 AM Central HERE.**

CARDIO & CORE CIRCUIT: Ready for an activity break to help you feel energized and motivated? WFHTN will be leading a cardio & core circuit for ALL fitness levels. **Join us on Tuesday, June 8 at 9:30 - 9:45 AM Central HERE.**

JOIN 'YOGA FOR ALL' IN JUNE! Join fellow state employees for a 15-minute live virtual seated yoga class each Wednesday at 12:30-12:45 Central (1:30-1:45 Eastern) that is suitable for beginners & relaxing for all fitness levels. No special equipment or attire is needed - just a chair! **Download your calendar appointment for every Wednesday in June HERE.**

NATIONAL HERBS & SPICES DAY IS THURSDAY, JUNE 10. Share the most unique or your favorite herb/spice you have at home to this Google Form. We also welcome pictures to [email protected].

DON'T FORGET ABOUT DCS' FRIDAY FITNESS BREAKS! Join your colleagues every Friday in June from 11-11:15 AM Central for chance to get fit. (Click THIS LINK to join.)

2021 Walk Me Home for Foster Care is coming up! The Tennessee Foster Adoptive Care Association (TFACA) raises grant money for TN foster children through the Walk Me Home Run/Walk. On Saturday, June 12th take a walk or jog through your neighborhood or any place you feel safe and post photos of your walk/run on our Facebook page. Please register to walk/run virtually or donate at: https://secure.frontstream.com/walk-me-home-tn-2021

During National Foster Care Month, DCS Family Service Workers talk about their experiences serving children and teens in foster care and their families.

CELEBRATE NATIONAL SAY SOMETHING NICE DAY! Come back from the holiday weekend in a big way by passing along a genuine compliment or say something nice to a co-worker on Tuesday, June 1. (You can check out these tips for inspiration.) And if you don’t mind sharing your compliment, send it to along to [email protected].

WE'RE SHINING A LIGHT ON Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s disease is the 5th leading cause of death for people 65 and older. So this June, the DCS Wellness Council invites you to challenge your mind with this fun word search:

Nature and the Outdoors (You can play online OR download this word search.) Let us know how you did by sharing your completed word search with us at [email protected].

LIVESTREAMED STRETCHES. Want to relieve your body aches and take a moment to de-stress? Join WFHTN for a LIVEstreamed Workout on Thursday, June 3 from 1-1:15 p.m. Central. (Click THIS LINK to join.)

DON'T FORGET ABOUT DCS' FRIDAY FITNESS BREAKS! Join your colleagues every Friday in June from 11-11:15 AM Central for chance to get fit. (Click THIS LINK to join.)

IN NEED OF NEW RECIPES? The WFHTN Team adds to their library of curated healthy recipes each month. Here are some of the latest healthy recipes we've added:

Homemade Strawberry Popsicles

Healthy Burger Bowls with Special Sauce

BBQ Chicken & Roasted Sweet Potato Bowls

Easy, Healthy Shrimp Pad Thai

TBI Launches “KidKit”

When a child goes missing, every second matters. So does having the right kind of information.

On #NationalMissingChildrensDay, our friends at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation launched #TNKidKit - a resource to help parents and guardians document key details about the children in their care, just in case an emergency should arise.

Caregivers can visit this page to get started: https://www.tn.gov/tbi/tennessees-missing-children/tn-kidkit.html

Welcome back! The Northeast Region is celebrating their staff returning to the office. Each county office in the region will receive a week-long welcome back bash. Isaiah 117 House joined the celebration by providing breakfast this week. The Northeast Employee Recognition Appreciation Group sponsored this initiative for their offices to promote positivity and thankfulness for all the staff does.

Helen Rodgers Honored with Governor’s Excellence in Service Award

We are delighted to congratulate Helen Rodgers, DCS Senior Associate Counsel for being honored with Gov. Bill Lee’s Excellence in Service Award. Helen was nominated by Douglas Dimond, DCS General Counsel, who said “Ms. Rodgers joined this agency fresh out of law school, with no background in child welfare law, let alone child welfare as a whole. In seven short years, she has mastered not only the law, but also the various program areas that make up DCS, becoming the go-to expert for areas as diverse as public records, federal requirements, contracts, facility and contract monitoring, legislation, and any number of other program segments. In the process, she has earned the respect and goodwill of colleagues at all levels, up to and including the Commissioner. In the past year, the Commissioner has designated Ms. Rodgers to guide this agency's compliance with the most important federal legislation of the past twenty-five years, and Ms. Rodgers is doing so with her usual intelligence, grace, and thoroughness.” Congratulations, Helen! The Department of Children’s Services is lucky to have you on our team.

Kristie Monds Appointed Northeast Regional Administrator

Kristie Monds has been appointed to the position of Northeast Regional Administrator effective June 1, 2021. For the last 23 years, she has worked in every program administered by the Department and she is therefore uniquely qualified to collaborate and partner in each arena. She has experience on the county and regional levels. During her time with DCS, she has managed foster care, non-custodial, child protective services, and juvenile justice cases as a Team Leader/Team Coordinator. For the past eight years, she has had the opportunity to supervise multiple program areas and multiple counties as Team Coordinator, most recently primarily overseeing child protective services. She regularly participates in statewide workgroups, trainings, and statewide initiatives. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She has graduated LEAD Tennessee, The Commissioners Leadership Academy, and EDGE.

Kristie will be replacing Sherri Lawson, who is retiring at the end of May. We wish Sherri a happy and relaxing retirement!

DCS PET PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS! Thank you to everyone who voted in DCS' first ever Pet Photo Contest. We had 385 votes come in! Congrats to our 2021 Pet Photo Contest Winners:

Best in Show - SAGE (Jacquie Shultz)

Best Senior - MAX (Laura Oneal)

Best Pack - Lyla and Kiki (Amy Spangler)

How to Use Resistance Bands for Strength Training. Resistance bands are great for strength training! WFHTN will guide you through some basic exercises for each major muscle group using just a resistance band on Tuesday, May 25 at 9-9:15 a.m. Central. (Click THIS LINK to join.)

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS WEBINAR. Join the next #4Mind4Body webinar on "Mental Health Matters" this Wednesday, May 26 at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT. This one-hour presentation for employees focuses on the impact of COVID-19 and social unrest. **Pre-registration required!**

JOIN 'YOGA FOR ALL' RIGHT AFTER! Join fellow state employees for a 15-minute live virtual seated yoga class each week that is suitable for beginners & relaxing for all fitness levels. No special equipment or attire is needed - just a chair!

WHEN: Wednesdays at 12:30-12:45 CDT/1:30-1:45 EDT

**Download your calendar appointment for every Wednesday in May HERE or June HERE.**

LIVESTREAMED OFFICE STRETCHES. Want to relieve your body aches and take a moment to de-stress? Join us for a LIVEstreamed Workout with Working for a Healthier Tennessee (WFHTN) at 1-1:15 p.m. Central. (Click THIS LINK to join.)

WELLNESS INCENTIVES (for state employees). For state employees enrolled in the state’s health plan, start your wellness program and earn cash incentives! In just three easy steps, you can improve your health and make some money. You can earn up to $250 per year or $500 per household. Here’s what to do:

Activate your account. Log on to www.myactivehealth.com/wellnesstn to get started.

Complete the health assessment. You can do it in online and it only takes about five minutes.

Complete your choice of activities to earn your cash incentives.

Click here for a printable 2021 Incentive Table that shows all of the ways enrolled state and higher education members/spouses can earn cash incentives and how to get started. Note: if you complete some activities toward the end of 2021, they may not be paid until 2022.

Your wellness program includes:

A health assessment

Coaching support (one on one personal coaching by phone, group coaching and online)

A personalized weight management program*

Support for chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, COPD and other conditions

Help with quitting tobacco

Biometric screenings*

Web portal and mobile app, allowing access to many other online resource

* Some programs are limited to enrolled state members (excludes state plan retirees). State employees not enrolled in the health plan have access to ActiveHealth’s web portal and mobile app.

HR Shoutout

We’d like to give a shoutout to some of our awesome DCS HR staff! Eight HR team members travelled from various regions to assist in Upper Cumberland on Thursday, May 13. They were able to complete an audit of 100% of the region’s personnel files in one day.

We really appreciate these ladies and all of their hard work!

Pictured (from left):

Sabrina Williams, TN Valley;

Sharita Parham, Central Office;

Sheila Scott, TN Valley;

Vanessa Jones, Upper Cumberland;

Latisha Lockett, Mid-Cumberland;

Alexandria James-Williams, Mid-Cumberland;

Summer VanOver, Mid-Cumberland;

Jodi Wright, East Grand

THANK YOU TEAM DCS! Thank you to everyone who participated in last week's "2021 Tournament" with WFHTN. While Team DCS did not claim a 2021 Wellness Warriors Award, we hope you’ll continue to join our DCS Wellness Council activities and events to help us win other wellness awards this fiscal year.

GET TO KNOW DELORA! We have been introducing all of the members of the DCS Wellness Council these last few weeks. This week, meet Delora Ruffin. Delora has been a DCS Wellness Council member from its start in 2013 (when former Governor Haslam announced the launch of Healthier Tennessee). Delora has been with DCS for 13 years. She enjoys rounding up participants for wellness events and allowing employees the opportunity to try healthy eating options. In her free time Delora enjoys exploring biking trails with her family, gardening, trying new healthy recipes that taste good, and creating natural hair products!

LET'S GET PUNNY! Share your favorite food pun and submit HERE or send an email to [email protected]. (You just might see your pun featured on WFHTN’s social media!)

MIND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poor mental health can impact your work by making you: unable to perform your job well, unable to connect with co-workers, and unable to perform physical tasks. Learn more about why mental health is something everyone should care about by checking out this "Mind Your Mental Health" handout HERE.

HELPFUL Here4TN RESOURCES FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. All State of Tennessee employees have access to helpful resources, including:

The premium Sanvello app at no extra cost! With Sanvello, you’ll get access to daily mood tracking, coping tools, guided journeys, personalized progress and community support. The premium Sanvello app is available to you at no extra cost as part of your EAP benefits. Learn more at Here4TN.com

Here4TN confidential counseling at no cost. Get five counseling sessions, per problem, per year at Here4TN.com

How to Use Resistance Bands for Strength Training. Resistance bands are great for strength training! They're lightweight, portable, and low-cost. WFHTN will guide you through some basic exercises for each major muscle group using just a resistance band on Tuesday, May 18 at 9-9:15 a.m. Central. (Click THIS LINK to join.)

TUESDAY, MAY 18th LIVE Cardio & Strength Circuit. Ready for an activity break to help you feel energized and motivated? Join WFHTN on Tuesday, May 18 from 9:30-9:45a.m. Central/10:30-10:45a.m. Eastern. Attire Needed: Anything you can move in! (Click THIS LINK to join.)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19th YOGA FOR ALL. Join fellow state employees for a 15-minute live virtual seated yoga class each week that is suitable for beginners & relaxing for all fitness levels. No special equipment or attire is needed - just a chair! Every Wednesday at 12:30-12:45 CDT/1:30-1:45 EDT. (To add this session to your calendar, click THIS LINK.)

HOW TO BEAT FATIGUE & SLEEP BETTER. Not only is sleep important to our health, but not getting enough sleep can cause significant safety risks. This virtual session explores the importance of sleep, the sleep cycle, tips to overcome the barriers to a good night’s sleep and simple ways to develop good sleeping habits! Join this live webinar on Thursday, May 20 from 1-2 p.m. Central. (Link to register.)

Kim Garland Receives Distinguished Alumni Award from ETSU

Congratulations to Kim Garland for receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award and being inducted into the East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Services Hall of Fame. Kim received her Bachelor of Science and her Master of Social Work degrees from ETSU as well as served as an adjunct professor. Kim is an OCS Regional Director and oversees the CPS and specialized drug teams in the Northeast and Smoky regions. She was instrumental in the development and implementation of the initial Drug Exposed Infant Team in the eastern regions and later was a driving force as the specialized drug teams expanded across the state. She developed the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors policy and workgroups in east TN and served as a member of the Ballad Health workgroup addressing women’s addiction, treatment and recovery. Kim’s career with DCS has spanned over 19 years and this recognition for her contributions in child welfare and social work is an incredible honor.

https://www.etsu.edu/etsu-news/2021/04-april/ccrhs-awards.php

Jacquie Schultz Appointed CPS Director

Congratulations to Jacqueline (Jacquie) Schultz on her appointment to Child Protective Services Director. In her new role, Jacquie will oversee the CPS teams in the South Central region and also the statewide Special Investigation Teams. Jacquie possesses over 16 years of extensive experience with DCS serving on the county, regional and state level with successfully managing child protection teams. She most recently served as a Team Coordinator providing oversight to two (2) SIU teams and three (3) multi-regional specialized drug teams. She contributes regularly to policy creation, workgroups, training, statewide initiatives and works closely with statewide regional leaders, foster parents and private providers. She frequently collaborates with external partners such as district attorneys, child advocacy centers, law enforcement, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to oversee investigative assignments. Jacquie is hitting the ground running to work in collaboration with the South Central leadership team to implement the CPS Redesign and assume oversight for all the SIU teams.

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