News and Music Discovery
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Tennessee DCS to Improve Abuse Investigator Training

The Department of Children's Services is reorganizing following problems that led to former Commissioner Kate O’Day’s resignation.

One of the biggest changes includes teaming with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to better train child abuse investigators.

Interim Commissioner Jim Henry says district attorneys sometimes are unwilling to prosecute a case because of problems with the investigation. Henry also says DCS is moving forward with a new process for reviewing child deaths that officials hope will be a "gold standard" for the nation.

DCS came under fire last year for not knowing how many children had died while in its custody or after an investigation of possible abuse or neglect.

Whitney grew up listening to Car Talk to and from her family’s beach vacation each year, but it wasn’t until a friend introduced her to This American Life that radio really grabbed her attention. She is a recent graduate from Union University in Jackson, Tenn., where she studied journalism. When she’s not at WKMS, you can find her working on her backyard compost pile and garden, getting lost on her bicycle or crocheting one massive blanket.
Related Content