TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Nov 18, 2022

Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) Commissioner Margie Quin is seeking $156 million in new funding, including $15.8 million for caseworker salary increases, the Tennessean reports. In her department’s budget request, Quin noted that nearly half of all new caseworkers quit within their first year. Quin called the turnover rate "horrific" as the department faces a challenge of correcting years of systemic staffing woes and increased numbers of children in state foster care. "It is no secret that DCS has failed to hire and retain staff, and as a result has seen unusually high caseload averages throughout the state, especially in hard-hit staffing areas like Davidson County," Quin told Gov. Bill Lee and his budget staff.