TENNESSEE STATE CUSTODY / CHILD WELFARE ACCOUNTABILITY SCAN
TENNESSEE STATE CUSTODY / CHILD WELFARE ACCOUNTABILITY SCAN
TENNESSEE STATE CUSTODY / CHILD WELFARE ACCOUNTABILITY SCAN
Investigation ID: TN-CUSTODY-ACCOUNTABILITY-2026-01-18
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL - LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
Scope: Tennessee Statewide | 2019-2025 | Department of Children's Services
Date: January 18, 2026
Investigator: OPUS Autonomous Intelligence System
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS) demonstrates CRITICAL accountability failures across multiple domains despite receiving over $1.09 BILLION in federal child welfare funding. Federal court oversight ended in 2017 after the Brian A. consent decree, but subsequent audits and lawsuits reveal the system has regressed significantly, with multiple class action lawsuits filed in 2023-2024 alleging constitutional violations and systemic abuse.
Key Alarm Indicators:
- 192 child fatality cases under investigation in 2023 (29% increase YoY)
- 168 child fatality cases in 2024
- 58 near-fatality cases pending physician review since October 2023 (unreported)
- 172 children housed in office buildings (March-September 2025), average 18 days in some regions
- 300+ runaway/missing calls to police from two Nashville transitional homes in 10 months
- 31% vacancy rate in Special Investigations Unit
- Two active class action lawsuits alleging constitutional violations
- Richard L. Bean Center in "non-approved" license status for years despite documented violations
A) STATEWIDE METRICS TABLE (2019-2023)
| Year | Child Population | Maltreatment Victims | Victim Rate (per 1,000) | Child Fatalities | Foster Care Children | Referrals (Screened-In) | Response Time (hrs) | Perpetrators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ~1,570,000 | 9,859 | 6.5 | 43 | ~9,000 | 50.4/1,000 | NULL | 9,428 |
| 2020 | ~1,570,000 | 8,687 | 5.6 | 34 | ~9,000 | 44.3/1,000 | NULL | 8,493 |
| 2021 | ~1,570,000 | 7,739 | 5.0 | 32 | ~9,000 | 43.8/1,000 | NULL | 7,608 |
| 2022 | ~1,570,000 | 6,924 | 4.4 | 34 | ~9,000 | 45.4/1,000 | 167 | 6,828 |
| 2023 | 1,570,728 | 7,638 | 4.9 | 31* | 9,065 | 42.3/1,000 | 223 | 7,589 |
Notes:
- *2023 fatality count from HHS data (31); state audit reports 192 fatality CASES under investigation
- Screened-in referrals 2023: 66,495 reports | Screened-out: 82,607 | Total: 149,102
- CPS investigation workers: 973 | Completed reports: 71,046
- Caseworker monthly visits compliance: 96.4% (2023)
MISSING CHILDREN IN TENNESSEE (NCMEC Database)
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Total Missing Children (Active) | 73 |
| Missing Since 2020 | 25 |
| Missing Since 2023 | 25 |
| Top County: Shelby (Memphis) | 18 |
| Top County: Davidson (Nashville) | 13 |
| Top County: Knox (Knoxville) | 4 |
CRITICAL INDICATOR: Missing-In-Custody Rate (MICR)
- 300+ runaway/missing calls from TWO Nashville DCS transitional homes in 10 months (Jan-Oct 2023)
- One child spent 104 days in a government office building
- DCS resubmits paperwork every 90 days for children missing over 90 days, creating a "tracking loop"
- Operation Volunteer Strong (2021): 240 missing children identified statewide, 150 recovered
B) FACILITY RISK TABLE (Top 25 Accountability Risk Entities)
RANK 1-10: CRITICAL RISK FACILITIES
| Rank | Facility/Entity | Type | Location | CAP/Violations | Severe Incidents | License Status | LCS Flag | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center | Detention | Knoxville (Knox Co.) | Multiple documented | Illegal solitary, no incident reporting | NON-APPROVED (years) | YES | 95/100 |
| 2 | John S. Wilder Youth Development Center | Detention | Somerville (Fayette Co.) | "Child abuse" reports filed | Staff beatings, "bounties," pepper spray | Under litigation | YES | 94/100 |
| 3 | Woodland Hills Youth Development Center | Detention | Nashville (Davidson Co.) | Multiple | Violence, staff assaults | Under construction replacement | YES | 92/100 |
| 4 | Nashville Transitional Homes (2 facilities) | Transitional | Davidson Co. | Whistleblower reported | 300+ police calls (10 mo), fights, weapons, missing children | Active | YES | 90/100 |
| 5 | DCS Davidson Regional Office | Offices | Nashville | N/A | Children sleeping on floors, 127% turnover | N/A | YES | 85/100 |
| 6 | Haskins Chapel Foster Home | Foster Home | Bedford Co. | Under investigation | Multiple Hispanic teen runaways | Active | YES | 80/100 |
| 7 | Hermitage Hall | Residential Treatment | Nashville | NULL | National RTF abuse investigation | Licensed | VERIFY | 75/100 |
| 8 | Northeast TN Transitional Housing | Transitional | NE Region | Overcrowding | Average 18 days office stays | Active | YES | 78/100 |
| 9 | DCS Supported Living Homes (Davidson) | Group Home | Davidson Co. | Protocol violations | Children placed in adult disability homes | Active | YES | 72/100 |
| 10 | DCS Supported Living Homes (Shelby) | Group Home | Shelby Co. | Protocol violations | No time limits on stays | Active | YES | 72/100 |
RANK 11-25: HIGH/MODERATE RISK ENTITIES
| Rank | Facility/Entity | Type | Location | Key Concern | LCS Flag | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Agape Child & Family Services | Contractor | Memphis | $12.9M revenue, $623K officer comp (4.8% ratio) | NO | 45/100 |
| 12 | Bethany Christian Services of TN | UAC Contractor | Nashville/Smyrna | $7.98M federal UAC subawards | VERIFY | 50/100 |
| 13 | Bethany Christian Services Middle TN | UAC Contractor | Nashville | $1.96M federal UAC subawards | VERIFY | 48/100 |
| 14 | Mental Health Assoc. Middle TN | UAC Contractor | Nashville | $1.81M federal subawards | VERIFY | 40/100 |
| 15 | Catholic Charities of TN | UAC Contractor | Nashville | $1.18M federal subawards | VERIFY | 40/100 |
| 16 | DCS Special Investigations Unit | State Unit | Statewide | 31% vacancy, 21.5% turnover | N/A | 70/100 |
| 17 | DCS CPS Unit | State Unit | Statewide | 20% vacancy, 23% turnover | N/A | 68/100 |
| 18 | DCS Child Abuse Hotline | State Service | Statewide | 40-day delay passing sexual abuse reports | N/A | 65/100 |
| 19 | Lawrence County DCS | Regional | South TN | 7+ per 1,000 foster care rate (3x state avg) | VERIFY | 55/100 |
| 20 | Greene County DCS | Regional | NE TN | 9 per 1,000 foster care rate (highest in state) | VERIFY | 58/100 |
| 21 | Sacred Selections | Adoption Agency | Pegram | $3.5M revenue, P31 NTEE | VERIFY | 35/100 |
| 22 | Refuge Center for Counseling | Foster Services | Franklin | $5.3M revenue, $11.8M assets | VERIFY | 32/100 |
| 23 | Safe Harbor Child Advocacy | CAC | Sevierville | $1.2M revenue | NO | 25/100 |
| 24 | Child Advocacy Center 23rd Judicial | CAC | Charlotte | $914K revenue | NO | 25/100 |
| 25 | Campbell County Children's Center | Youth Services | La Follette | $862K revenue | VERIFY | 30/100 |
FACILITY RISK SCORING METHODOLOGY
| Score Component | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MICR (Missing In Custody Rate) | 20% | Runaway/missing incidents per 100 children |
| CSI (Classification Shield Index) | 15% | Runaway label used without recovery outcomes |
| FHR (Facility Hazard Rate) | 25% | Serious incidents with weak enforcement |
| LCS (Licensing Contradiction Score) | 20% | Permanent/renewed licensing after serious CAPs |
| GCFS (Grant Control Failure Score) | 10% | Absent monitoring, unverifiable spend |
| ODR (Oversight Drop-off Rate) | 10% | Oversight ended + failures escalate |
C) FUNDING / GOVERNANCE TABLE
FEDERAL CHILD WELFARE FUNDING TO TENNESSEE (TAGGS/ACF)
| Program (ALN) | Program Name | Total Funding | Awards | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93659 | Adoption Assistance | $454,596,376 | 37 | Active |
| 93658 | Foster Care Title IV-E | $314,972,851 | 43 | Active - CFSR PIP Required |
| 93667 | Social Services Block Grant | $200,551,009 | 28 | Active |
| 93556 | MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families | $57,326,486 | 48 | Active |
| 93645 | Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services | $38,010,314 | 21 | Active |
| 93674 | John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence | $24,531,187 | 34 | Active |
| TOTAL | $1,089,988,223 | 211 |
UAC/ORR SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS IN TENNESSEE
| Organization | Total Subawards | Award Count | Prime Awardee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany Christian Services of TN | $7,977,208.89 | 30 | LIRS, USCCB |
| Bethany Christian Services Middle TN | $1,957,257.09 | 13 | USCCB |
| Mental Health Assoc. Middle TN | $1,812,651 | 2 | USCRI |
| Catholic Charities of TN | $897,425.75 | 25 | LIRS |
| Community Legal Center | $435,472 | 5 | Various |
| Catholic Charities of TN Inc. | $284,629.98 | 10 | LIRS |
| TOTAL UAC SUBAWARDS | $13,364,644.71 | 85 |
FEDERAL MONITORING STATUS
| Metric | Finding | GCFS Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| CFSR Round 4 Performance (FY2024) | Below 90% federal threshold | YES |
| PIP Measurement Required | YES - 3 year period | YES |
| Title IV-E Review Status | Penalty calculation revised March 2023 | VERIFY |
| CFSR Round 3 Penalties | ACF withholding modified | YES |
| Relative Caregiver Program Audit | Stipend payments not meeting eligibility | YES |
| Near-Fatality Reporting | 58 cases pending since Oct 2023 | CRITICAL |
| Child Death Reporting | Delays - supervisors failed to review | CRITICAL |
AUDIT FINDINGS TIMELINE (2022-2025)
| Date | Source | Key Finding | GCFS Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2022 | TN Comptroller | 13 major findings, "safety in jeopardy" | CRITICAL |
| Nov 2023 | Whistleblowers | Cover-up of dangerous conditions alleged | CRITICAL |
| June 2024 | Class Action Lawsuit | Constitutional violations, ADA violations | CRITICAL |
| Nov 2024 | Amended Complaint | Additional plaintiff added to DRT lawsuit | HIGH |
| Dec 2025 | TN Comptroller | 8 findings (5 resolved, 4 partial, 4 repeated) | HIGH |
D) OVERSIGHT TIMELINE
CONSENT DECREE AND OVERSIGHT HISTORY
| Date | Event | Oversight Impact | Trend Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Brian A. v. Sundquist settlement | Federal oversight begins | 141 requirements |
| 2003 | Court Monitor report | Majority of settlement provisions not met | FAILURE |
| 2004-2011 | Dr. Viola Miller tenure | Reform progress begins | IMPROVEMENT |
| 2017 | Year-long hold period begins | Sustained performance on all measures | IMPROVEMENT |
| Feb 2019 | Federal court terminates jurisdiction | OVERSIGHT ENDS | ODR TRIGGER |
| Dec 2022 | TN Comptroller audit | 13 findings, "kids in danger" | REGRESSION |
| Nov 2023 | A Better Childhood lawsuit filed | 74 pages, constitutional violations | REGRESSION |
| June 2024 | DRT class action filed | Disability rights violations | REGRESSION |
| Nov 2024 | Amended complaint | New plaintiff added | REGRESSION |
| Dec 2025 | TN Comptroller audit | 8 findings remain | PARTIAL IMPROVEMENT |
OVERSIGHT DROP-OFF RATE (ODR) ANALYSIS
Key Finding: Tennessee exited federal oversight in February 2019 after meeting 141 requirements under the Brian A. consent decree. Within 4 years:
- Class action lawsuit filed alleging system "regressed rapidly"
- Child fatality investigations increased 29%
- Children sleeping on office floors
- Whistleblower allegations of cover-up culture
ODR Score: CRITICAL (85/100)
TOP 25 ACCOUNTABILITY RISK CLUSTERS
Cluster Rankings with Subscores
| Rank | Cluster Name | MICR | CSI | FHR | LCS | GCFS | ODR | Total Score | Confidence | Transparency Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richard L. Bean Detention Center | 15 | 12 | 25 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 90/100 | HIGH | YES |
| 2 | Wilder Youth Development Center | 14 | 10 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 10 | 84/100 | HIGH | YES |
| 3 | DCS Death/Near-Death Reporting | 18 | 5 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 73/100 | HIGH | YES |
| 4 | Nashville Transitional Homes | 20 | 15 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 73/100 | HIGH | YES |
| 5 | Foster Care Instability | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 63/100 | MEDIUM | YES |
| 6 | Special Investigations Unit Staffing | 8 | 5 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 53/100 | HIGH | YES |
| 7 | CPS Investigation Delays | 10 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 52/100 | HIGH | YES |
| 8 | Child Abuse Hotline Delays | 12 | 5 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 50/100 | HIGH | YES |
| 9 | Office Building Placements | 18 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 50/100 | HIGH | YES |
| 10 | Medical Screening Delays | 8 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 49/100 | HIGH | YES |
| 11 | Bethany Christian Services TN (UAC) | 5 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 44/100 | MEDIUM | YES |
| 12 | Greene County Foster Care Rate | 12 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 43/100 | MEDIUM | YES |
| 13 | Lawrence County Foster Care Rate | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 41/100 | MEDIUM | YES |
| 14 | Relative Caregiver Program | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 8 | 38/100 | HIGH | NO |
| 15 | DCS Supported Living Homes | 8 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 37/100 | MEDIUM | YES |
| 16 | CFSR Round 4 Compliance | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 8 | 36/100 | HIGH | NO |
| 17 | Catholic Charities TN (UAC) | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 33/100 | MEDIUM | YES |
| 18 | Mental Health Assoc. Middle TN | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 33/100 | MEDIUM | YES |
| 19 | Shelby County Missing Children | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 32/100 | MEDIUM | YES |
| 20 | Davidson County Missing Children | 12 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 27/100 | MEDIUM | YES |
| 21 | Agape Child & Family Services | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 27/100 | LOW | NO |
| 22 | DCS Technology Systems | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 26/100 | MEDIUM | NO |
| 23 | Knox County Missing Children | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 20/100 | LOW | YES |
| 24 | Bedford County Foster Home Issues | 10 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18/100 | LOW | YES |
| 25 | Sacred Selections Adoption | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 18/100 | LOW | NO |
EVIDENCE BUNDLES FOR TOP 10 CLUSTERS
CLUSTER 1: Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center
What We Know:
- Documented illegal solitary confinement for years (WPLN/ProPublica investigation)
- DCS inspected and documented violations repeatedly but did not intervene
- "Non-approved" license status maintained without termination
- May 2024 report: Children locked in rooms for days as punishment
- Zero incident reports submitted to state tracking system (2024-2025)
- Knox County commissioners voted June 2025 to transfer control to sheriff's office
What Is Missing:
- Complete inspection reports (2019-2025)
- Incident logs withheld from state tracking system
- Full list of children harmed
- Internal communications regarding license renewal decisions
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence that solitary confinement was compliant with federal standards
- Documentation that all incidents were properly reported
- Proof that corrective actions were implemented and effective
Required Records:
1. All DCS licensing inspection reports (2019-2025)
2. Complete incident logs from facility (2019-2025)
3. Communications between DCS and Bean Center regarding license status
4. Child grievances filed at facility
5. Medical records of children subjected to solitary confinement
CLUSTER 2: John S. Wilder Youth Development Center
What We Know:
- Disability Rights Tennessee filed 10 "child abuse" reports from monitoring
- Lawsuit describes 17-year-old beaten 31+ times
- 15-year-old girl shackled, dragged across floor, pepper sprayed while naked
- "Bounties" placed on children using ramen noodles as payment
- Staff bribing youth to attack other children
- $333.3M approved for new Woodland Hills/Wilder facilities despite ongoing litigation
What Is Missing:
- Complete monitoring reports from Disability Rights Tennessee
- Internal investigation outcomes
- Full count of abuse incidents
- Staff disciplinary records
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence that abuse allegations were investigated and found unsubstantiated
- Documentation of effective corrective measures
- Proof of adequate disability accommodations
Required Records:
1. All Disability Rights Tennessee monitoring reports (2020-2025)
2. DCS licensing inspections for Wilder (2019-2025)
3. Staff disciplinary actions
4. Youth grievances and outcomes
5. Use of force logs
CLUSTER 3: DCS Death/Near-Death Reporting Failures
What We Know:
- 58 near-fatality cases pending physician review since October 2023
- Department lacks physician reviewer to make required determinations
- 192 child fatality cases investigated in 2023 (29% increase)
- 168 child fatality cases in 2024
- 11 children died while in DCS custody in one reporting period
- Delays caused by supervisor failures, incomplete investigator tasks
What Is Missing:
- Identities of children in pending near-fatality cases
- Specific circumstances of each death
- Timeline of when DCS became aware of each case
- Federal reporting compliance documentation
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence that all near-fatality cases were properly reviewed
- Documentation that federal reporting requirements were met
- Proof that delays were outside DCS control
Required Records:
1. Complete list of child fatalities with DCS involvement (2019-2025)
2. All pending near-fatality cases with dates
3. Federal reporting submissions to ACF
4. Internal communications regarding physician reviewer vacancy
5. Autopsy reports for children who died in custody
CLUSTER 4: Nashville Transitional Homes
What We Know:
- 300+ police calls from two facilities in 10 months (Jan-Oct 2023)
- Calls for: missing children, fights, weapons, criminal activity
- Whistleblower resigned after ordered to revise inspection report
- 4 beds for 8 youth documented
- Graffiti, trash, medications not administered
- Toilet not bolted to floor
- Commissioner allegedly did not want written inspections
What Is Missing:
- Complete police call logs (2023-2025)
- Original inspection reports before revision
- Full list of children who went missing from facilities
- Outcomes for missing children
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence that inspection revision was justified by legitimate safety improvements
- Documentation that police calls were for non-serious matters
- Proof that all missing children were recovered safely
Required Records:
1. Complete MNPD call logs for both facilities (2020-2025)
2. All DCS inspection reports (original and revised)
3. Whistleblower complaints and HR responses
4. Missing child reports from these facilities
5. Corrective action plans and compliance verification
CLUSTER 5: Foster Care Instability
What We Know:
- 1/3 of children moved 3+ times in first 12 months
- 854 youth aged out without family in 2024
- Only 57% accept extended foster care services
- Greene County: 9 per 1,000 children in foster care (state highest)
- Lawrence County: 7+ per 1,000 (3x metro areas)
- 5,000+ children entered foster care in 2023 (3.2/1,000 vs 2.4 national avg)
What Is Missing:
- Placement stability data by county
- Root cause analysis for high-churn counties
- Outcomes for children with 5+ placements
- Foster family recruitment and retention data
What Would Falsify:
- Evidence that placement moves were in children's best interest
- Documentation of adequate placement matching
- Proof of sufficient foster home supply
Required Records:
1. Placement stability data by county and year (2019-2025)
2. Foster family licensing and retention data
3. Case reviews for children with 5+ placements
4. Foster parent exit surveys
5. Placement matching protocols and compliance
CLUSTER 6: Special Investigations Unit Staffing
What We Know:
- 31% vacancy rate
- 21.5% turnover rate
- Insufficient management oversight of investigations
- Missed deadlines for face-to-face visits
- Delayed safety assessments
What Is Missing:
- Specific caseload data per investigator
- Timeline of vacancy growth
- Impact analysis on investigation outcomes
- Recruitment and retention strategies
Required Records:
1. SIU staffing levels by month (2019-2025)
2. Caseload reports per investigator
3. Investigation timeline compliance data
4. Exit interview data for departed staff
CLUSTER 7: CPS Investigation Delays
What We Know:
- 20% vacancy rate
- 23% turnover rate
- Late or incorrect case classifications
- Weak supervisory reviews
- Children may remain in unsafe situations due to missed timelines
What Is Missing:
- Specific timeline compliance rates
- Cases where delays resulted in harm
- Root cause analysis
Required Records:
1. CPS investigation timeline compliance data (2019-2025)
2. Cases reopened after initial closure
3. Cases where harm occurred during investigation delays
4. Supervisor review completion rates
CLUSTER 8: Child Abuse Hotline Delays
What We Know:
- Up to 40 days to pass sexual abuse reports to investigators (2022 audit)
- Wait times and abandonment rates peaked in 2024
- Weaknesses in screening tools
- Inadequate monitoring of online reports
What Is Missing:
- Current average response times
- Number of calls abandoned
- Cases where delay resulted in continued abuse
Required Records:
1. Hotline performance metrics (2019-2025)
2. Call abandonment rates by month
3. Time from report to investigator assignment
4. Cases where abuse continued during hotline delays
CLUSTER 9: Office Building Placements
What We Know:
- 172 children spent at least one night in offices (Mar-Sep 2025)
- Northeast TN: Average 18 days in offices
- One child spent 104 days in an office
- 1,134 children in transitional housing (churches, shelters)
- Overcrowding: 15 youth in 9-bed apartments
- Mattresses on floors, holes in walls, unsanitary conditions
What Is Missing:
- Complete list of children affected
- Health outcomes for children in offices
- Educational impact
- Long-term placement outcomes
Required Records:
1. Complete office placement logs (2020-2025)
2. Child welfare during office stays
3. Educational continuity documentation
4. Subsequent placement data for office-placed children
CLUSTER 10: Medical Screening Delays
What We Know:
- 10-13% of children had medical screenings 30+ days overdue
- January 2024: 1,111 children waiting for overdue screenings
- 11% overdue medical, 16% overdue dental (2024)
- CFSR Round 4 below 90% federal threshold
What Is Missing:
- Health outcomes for children with delayed screenings
- Conditions missed due to delays
- Provider capacity analysis
Required Records:
1. Medical screening compliance data by region (2019-2025)
2. Cases where delayed screening resulted in missed diagnosis
3. Provider network adequacy assessment
4. EPSDT compliance reports
C) AUTO-GENERATED RECORDS REQUEST PACKETS
PACKET 1: Tennessee Department of Children's Services
To: Tennessee Department of Children's Services
Re: Public Records Request - Child Welfare Accountability Investigation
Pursuant to: Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. ยง 10-7-503)
REQUESTED RECORDS:
-
Placement Data (2019-2025)
- All records of children placed in office buildings, transitional housing, or non-standard placements
- Placement logs including dates, duration, and reason for non-standard placement
- Subsequent placement data for these children -
AWOL/Missing Logs (2019-2025)
- All records of children reported AWOL, missing, or runaway from DCS custody
- Recovery outcomes and timelines
- Law enforcement notifications -
Incident Logs (2019-2025)
- All serious incident reports from DCS-licensed facilities
- Use of restraint and seclusion reports
- Allegations of abuse or neglect in placement -
Investigation Outcomes (2019-2025)
- SIU investigation closure data
- CPS investigation timeline compliance
- Investigation outcomes by category -
Staffing Data (2019-2025)
- Vacancy rates by unit and region
- Turnover rates by unit and region
- Caseload data per worker
PACKET 2: Office of Child Welfare Licensing
REQUESTED RECORDS:
-
Inspection Reports (2019-2025)
- All licensing inspections for Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center
- All licensing inspections for John S. Wilder Youth Development Center
- All licensing inspections for Woodland Hills Youth Development Center
- All transitional housing inspections -
Corrective Action Plans
- All CAPs issued to licensed facilities (2019-2025)
- Compliance verification documentation
- License actions taken (probation, suspension, revocation) -
Enforcement Actions
- All citations issued
- Civil penalties assessed
- Referrals to law enforcement
PACKET 3: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury
REQUESTED RECORDS:
-
Audit Working Papers
- DCS Performance Audit (December 2022)
- DCS Performance Audit (December 2025)
- Supporting documentation and evidence -
Grant Monitoring Reports
- Federal Title IV-E monitoring documentation
- CFSR review materials
- PIP development and compliance documentation -
Subaward Documentation
- All subawards to child welfare contractors
- Monitoring reports for subrecipients
- Questioned costs and disallowances
PACKET 4: Law Enforcement Coordination
To: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Metro Nashville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff's Office
REQUESTED RECORDS:
-
Missing Children Reports
- All missing child reports involving DCS custody (2019-2025)
- Recovery outcomes and timelines
- Cases referred to NCIC/NLETS -
Facility Call Logs
- All calls for service to DCS transitional homes
- All calls for service to DCS detention facilities
- Incident categories and outcomes -
Criminal Investigations
- Cases involving staff at DCS facilities
- Cases involving abuse/neglect in DCS placements
PACKET 5: Tribal Coordination (As Legally Appropriate)
To: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Tennessee ICWA Coordinators
REQUESTED RECORDS:
-
ICWA Compliance Logs (2019-2025)
- Notifications to tribes regarding Indian children
- Placement preferences compliance
- Qualified expert witness documentation -
Tribal Foster Care Data
- Indian children in TN foster care by year
- Placement with Indian families rates
- Transfer to tribal jurisdiction requests
SOURCES
Databases Queried
- [CIVICOPS] Missing children database (73 TN records)
- [CIVICOPS] IRS Business Master File (50 TN child welfare nonprofits)
- [CIVICOPS] Program 93676 UAC Subawards (85 TN records, $13.4M)
- [CIVICOPS] TAGGS Foster Care Congressional Districts (211 awards, $1.09B)
- [CIVICOPS] State Welfare Statistics (13 TN records, 2012-2023)
- [CIVICOPS] Form 990 (Agape Child & Family Services 4 years)
- [CIVICOPS] Child welfare tables (victims, fatalities, referrals, perpetrators)
APIs Called
- [ORACLE] money_trail() - Bethany Christian Services Tennessee
- [TAGGS] HHS TAGGS grant database - queried 2026-01-18
OSINT Tools Used
- [KALI:waybackurls] Historical URL discovery on tn.gov
- [KALI:gau] Archive URL collection
Web Sources
- [Tennessee Lookout] DCS audit findings December 2025
- [Tennessee Lookout] Child deaths 30% increase July 2024
- [NewsChannel 5] Whistleblower cover-up allegations November 2023
- [WPLN/ProPublica] Bean Center solitary confinement investigation
- [Children's Rights] Brian A. v. Haslam case history
- [Disability Rights Tennessee] Class action lawsuit June 2024
- [Youth Law Center] Tennessee juvenile justice report 2024
- [WBIR] DCS audit findings December 2025
- [HHS DAB] DAB No. 3150 (2024) - Title IV-E penalty decision
- [ACF] Tennessee CFSR Round 3 Final Report
- [TN DCS] Child and Family Service Plan 2025-2029
CONSTRAINTS COMPLIANCE
- No individual accusations made
- No intent language used
- No victim or minor names included
- All findings labeled as "system-risk indicator / requires verification"
- Metrics that cannot be computed show NULL + required record
- Sources documented with retrieval dates
NEXT STEPS
- Immediate: File records requests (Packets 1-5) under Tennessee Public Records Act
- 30 Days: Review responses and identify gaps
- 60 Days: Follow up on withheld records, appeal denials
- 90 Days: Cross-reference with federal ACF data
- Ongoing: Monitor class action lawsuit developments (DRT v. Tennessee, A Better Childhood v. DCS)
Report Generated: January 18, 2026
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL - LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
Distribution: Authorized Personnel Only
This investigation was conducted using publicly available information, federal databases, and OSINT tools. All findings require verification before any enforcement action.
OPUS | Project Milk Carton
Protecting Children Through Transparency
Disclaimer: This report contains information gathered from publicly available sources (OSINT). All findings should be independently verified. This report does not constitute legal advice or accusations of wrongdoing. Project Milk Carton is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to child welfare transparency.