February 2022 Open Line
Team Support
Feb. 25, 2025
Team Support is a trauma-informed, supportive, team-centered group of Central Office volunteers who provide compassionate support to employees in light of tragic events. Team Support is deployed following an unexpected child death on an open case or death of an employee. Team Support may also be accessed for other tragedies or traumatic occurrences at the request of the region.
Support efforts can include phone calls, emails, handwritten notes, help accessing EAP services, or other requests. Please refer to Protocol for Employee and Team Support after Child/Youth or Employee Death, Supplemental to DCS Policy: 20.27, Child Death-Near Death Rapid Response for more detailed information.
Our volunteers really want staff to feel supported and to know others are thinking of them during these difficult times. They have a passion for this, and really care about the health of our employees.
Please meet some of these awesome volunteers pictured above. (not pictured: Tim Cooper, Crystal Harvey, Tracy Hetzel, Julie Rotella, Patty Slade, and Myra Winters).
We wanted to share our Team Support Year in Review for 2021 and give a huge thank you to our volunteers!
- Responded to 83 situations
- Areas of outreach included: Central Office JJ, Davidson, East, Knox, Mid-Cumberland, Northeast, Northwest, Shelby, Smoky, South Central, Southwest, Tennessee Valley, Upper Cumberland, and Wilder
- Responses were made for the following reasons: Death of Employee, Death of Custodial and Non-custodial child with open cases, Preliminary Near-Death of Custodial and Non-custodial child with open cases, and other situations including: low staffing, difficult cases, house fire, employee with terminal illness, death of foster parent, helping flood victims, & staff appreciation
- Support was provided to approximately 517+ staff in the following ways: E-mails to staff, Employee Assistance Program, Optum, and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing resources, scheduling On-site EAP debriefings, Handwritten cards, candy and snacks, donation toward a meal for a team, appreciation gifts, donations to flood victims, Cover office front desk for 3 days, assist with memorial in Open Line, and more.
- Staff Appreciation included: Goody baskets/bags for Davidson CPS, South Central CPS, and 4 Northeast offices; appreciation cards and Christmas cards for Wilder; candy to Tullahoma office in South Central, and prizes for Davidson staff appreciation.
- Team Support Resource project January-February 2021: All regional leaders received a personal email from their Team Support volunteers including Covid-19 resources and Optum information which was to be sent to all staff.
February 2022 Employees of the Month
- Central Office: Barbara Maners
- Juvenile Justice: Brandon Bell
- Knox: Sonnia Davis
- Northwest: Jae Cole
- Smoky (posthumously): Jessica Dillon
- Shelby: Keshaun Scott
- TN Valley: Heather Hancock
- Upper Cumberland: Christie Gregory
- Wilder YDC: Kenji Bufford
- South Central: Bill Bryson
- Smoky/OCS: Emily Fuller
Feb. 25, 2022
- WEEKLY WELLNESS TIP: You may not be able to fully prevent an illness this season, but here are things you can do to keep your immune system healthy!
- MARCH MARKS NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH! During this month of March, everyone is invited to learn more about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits! Start by sharing your most flavorful recipe(s) in honor of this year's National Nutrition Month (March) theme - “Celebrate a World of Flavors”. Submit your food photos and recipes to dcswellness.council@tn.gov for a chance to win a wellness prize!
Feb. 18, 2022
- WEEKLY WELLNESS TIP: Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths. The term “self-care” doesn’t have to mean expensive spa treatments or meditation retreats to Bali. Our friends at Sanvello (an app that is available to you at no extra cost as part of our Employee Assistance Program benefits), asked a mental health coach to talk about self-care myths and how we can get it right.
- MAKE A HEART-HEALTHY MENU WITH US! Plan a one-week heart-healthy menu with us in honor of American Heart Month. Use these these heart-healthy recipes and share YOUR menu to dcswellness.council@tn.gov . (Here’s a weekly calendar that can help.) You may just be one of the lucky five participants to win a wellness prize from WFHTN!
- WALK WITH US THIS WEEK! Get ready to virtually walk it out with WFHTN in their Livestream Walking Workout with Lindsey! on Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 1 - 1:15 p.m. Central! (Equipment Needed: None; come dressed in your best pink and red, if desired.) Grab a complete calendar of this week’s FREE workplace wellness events in February HERE.
Meredith Worsham is the New Director of Permanency
Feb. 11, 2022
It is my pleasure to announce Meredith Worsham as the new Child Programs Director of Permanency.
Meredith, who has a Bachelor of Social Work degree from University of Tennessee at Martin, has worked for the agency for 13 years. She began her career at DCS as a foster care case manager and promoted to a team leader serving in Foster Care, CPS, and a specialized Court Liaison team. She came to Central Office in February 2020 as a Program Monitor for the Provider Monitor and Evaluation Team and promoted into the Program Coordinator position managing Foster Home Quality Team.
She is well versed in expectations for permanency time frames, and as a CFSR reviewer and regional trainer, she has an expertise in case work standards that represent best practice in child welfare.
Meredith has an excellent work ethic, a strong commitment to the agency, and an array of experience and knowledge that has prepared her for this role. I believe she is an asset to the agency and will make an excellent addition to the Child Programs team.
- Lindsay Coleman, Executive Director of Child Programs
Jane Shaw Hayes
Feb. 11, 2022
Jane Battle Shaw Hayes, age 51, a resident of Brownsville, TN, passed away Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, at her residence. Graveside Funeral Services will be private.
Jane Battle Shaw Hayes was born on January 6, 1971 to Battle and Helen Jane Shaw in Brownsville, TN. She graduated from Haywood High School and Union University with a degree in social work and criminal justice.
After college, Jane began her career at Wilder Youth Development Center in Somerville, beginning as a counselor and ending as a much-loved Superintendent. Jane was a vibrant person with many friends and colleagues who appreciated her dedication, fairness, honesty, intelligence, and ability to connect with all who met her.
She leaves behind her husband, Charles Warren Hayes, and her son, John Kase Hayes, as well as her father, C. Battle Shaw, Jr. and her sister, Beth Shaw Tripp. Jane was preceded in death by her beautiful mother, Helen Jane Whitehurst Shaw, her uncle, Lynn Jackson Shaw, and her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Battle Shaw, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. William E. Whitehurst, Sr.
Memorials may be made to the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf, 7901 Poplar Ave., Germantown, TN 38138 or Zion United Methodist Church, c/o Nancy West, 738 Sulphur Springs Rd., Brownsville, TN 38012.
All arrangements and services are under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN.
A memorial service in Jane's memory, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 at 1 pm. In the Wilder Youth Development Center Commissary.
Feb. 11, 2022
WEEKLY WELLNESS TIP: There are many ways to show love to others and ourselves. Self-love looks different for everyone. It can include things like talking to/about yourself in a loving way, setting healthy boundaries, listening to your body, prioritizing yourself and more. What’s a way you’ll show yourself love today? Here are ideas from the WFHTN team!
ARE YOU A CHOCOHOLIC? 🍫 Chocolate can absolutely be a part of an overall healthy diet! Let’s see just how much you know in our “Chocolate IQ Quiz” – you may just be one of the lucky five participants to win a wellness prize from WFHTN!
TAKE ON SOME TRIVIA THIS WEEK!
Monday, Feb. 14 - Yoga for All (with Sophia) from 12-12:15 p.m. Central
Tuesday, Feb. 15 - Trivia Break with Morgan from 12 - 12:15 p.m. Central
Wednesday, Feb. 16
- DHS Fitness Break from 11-11:10 a.m. Central
- Yoga for All from 12-12:15 p.m. Central
Thursday, Feb. 17 - DCS Fitness Break from 11-11:15 a.m. Central
Friday, Feb. 18 - Yoga: Core&More from 12:15-12:45 p.m. Central
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS + ATTACHMENT THEORY (provided by ParTNers Health & Wellness Center): February 17, Noon - 1 p.m. CT. Join Amy Jackson, LCSW, MPH, for a Lunch & Learn about what is and isn’t part of a healthy relationship, and learn more about how your past experiences might shape your current relationship health. Grab the link to save this event to your calendar HERE!
February 4, 2022
WEEKLY WELLNESS TIP: Sanvello is an on-demand mobile app to help with stress, anxiety and depression. The premium app version is available through your EAP benefits at no extra cost! In their latest newsletter, Sanvello recently shared their best + simplest winter pick-me-ups. Catch what you missed HERE.
HAPPY WEAR RED DAY! Join the DCS Wellness Council in wearing RED today, Friday, Feb. 4 for National Wear Red Day to show-off your support for heart health. Please share your photo(s) to dcswellness.council@tn.gov to be entered in to win a wellness prize!
WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK. WFHTN offers a variety of live events completely complimentary to state employees. Try
without any commitment! Just pop in, see if it interests you and stay if you want to give it a try! You don’t need a webcam or anything
special. Just attend and engage with us!
- Monday, Feb. 7 - Yoga for All (with Sophia) from 12-12:15 p.m. Central
- Tuesday, Feb. 8 - Virtual Cardio & Strength Workout with Kayla from 9:30-9:45 a.m. Central
- Wednesday, Feb. 9 DHS Fitness Break from 11-11:10 a.m. Central Yoga for All from 12-12:15 p.m. Central
- Thursday, Feb. 10 - DCS Fitness Break from 11-11:15 a.m. Central
- Friday, Feb. 11 - Yoga: Core&More from 12:15-12:45 p.m. Central