The UTHSC Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody is part of a statewide network of five regional Centers of Excellence dedicated to improving behavioral and physical health services to children in or at risk of state custody by providing both consultative and direct services. Referral questions may include mental health, physical health, developmental, medication, or placement issues. We serve 21 counties in west Tennessee. The development of an individualized Care Plan for each child is a primary service of the COE. Following a thorough case review, clinical interview, medical exam, and/or more comprehensive evaluation, a Care Plan is developed by an inter-disciplinary team. The Care Plan includes specific treatment and placement recommendations. COE staff also provides training opportunities to Department of Children's Services (DCS) staff, caregivers, and mental health treatment providers.
The COEs provide training about trauma, ACES, and their impact on children using curriculums development by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN, www.nctsn.org). Training curriculums include the Child Welfare Trauma Training Toolkit, The Road to Recovery: Supporting Children with IDD who Have Experienced Trauma, and Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma: A Workshop for Resource Parents. Additionally, through the Best Practices Collaborative, the COEs disseminate evidence-based practices related to ACEs and childhood trauma to community providers. EBPs disseminated include Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT); Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC); Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT); Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP); and treatment for children with problematic sexual behavior.