Case Study

Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS)

Working with Fred Simmens of Casey Family Programs (CFP) and the Philadelphia-based Center for Applied Research (CFAR), LTG has begun an innovative, project-based leadership program with Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS).

LTG has been working with DCS Commissioner Viola Miller and Deputy Commissioner Bonnie Hommrich and their team over the past several months to ensure that we develop an innovative and textured program for this large and varied state. A thorough needs assessment, followed by an exciting Open Space session held in Nashville, revealed both passion and a desire to expand leadership skills so that the children of Tennessee would benefit.

Dr. Clarice Bailey, who helped facilitate the Open Space with LTG partner Steve Burghardt and Kami Franklin, noted the high degree of collaboration between Human Resource staff and child welfare program leaders. "People in Tennessee show both motivation and engagement for working together. That's a sign of a collaborative culture."

A highlight of Tennessee's previous efforts is the statewide implementation of the DISC communications profile for all staff. Led by Deputy Commissioner Tom Riche and Director of Professional Development, Donna X. Johnson, over 700 staff now know where they are "D's, I's, S's, or C's." Such preparation has allowed LTG to work with Tennessee to deepen the use of this tool both with their teams and in family-to-family meetings that are at the core of their practice.

Likewise, work with CFAR has focused on their efforts toward project development through action learning and how the LTG training's skill set can be applied through these "on-the-ground" projects. Projects that focus on outcome-related measures of importance for the overall reduction of the numbers in child welfare — a critical result sought by CFP — are being developed over the coming months by action learning teams. Such teams, led by LTG training participants, are to become incubators of our leadership skill set and CFAR coaching. The teams will be reporting later this year on the results they expect to create. Stay tuned!