Monday, May 23, 2011

Friday, May 13, 2011

DCS Shares the Load on Disaster Relief

For the past week, teams of Children’s Service staff members have been reaching out across East and West Tennessee, assisting those who have been affected by the spring storms and floods.

“Our people have really been hitting it hard,” said Colette Crawley-Martin, who coordinates DCS disaster response with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

Children’s Services staff members routinely pitch in when disaster strikes in Tennessee.

The DCS group specializes in community relations. They visit hard-hit areas, including neighborhoods and shelters, and make sure that storm and flood victims know the vast array of services that are available. “How to apply for disaster relief. How to get emergency food stamps. How to get mental health counseling. You name it. We can help them find it,” said Crawley-Martin.

They perform their community relations duties alongside FEMA representatives, and that work is coordinated by TEMA officials.

Currently, DCS workers are serving Tennesseans in upper and lower East Tennessee, where tornadoes recently touched down. In West Tennessee, they are working with those affected by high waters near the swollen Mississippi River and its tributaries. Right now, about 16 DCS staffers are on disaster duty, along with thousands of other local, state and federal employees, plus scores of relief groups.

“We’re in three parts of the state,” said Crawley-Martin, “and they really deserve some credit for pitching in.”

DCS Commissioner Kate O'Day on WATE-TV

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Don't Forget: It's Time to Lace Up for Walk Me Home!

Walk Me Home Event-Nashville

Dear DCS staff/ Administration and support staff:

The Fourth Annual WALK ME HOME event will held this year on May 14, 2011 from 8 am- 12 noon at Bi-Centennial Mall in downtown Nashville. This is a great family event; there will be local entertainment, kid activities, 3.1 mile walk, refreshments and much more.

We are encouraging you to form a team to support this wonderful Event.

You may know a Corporation, church, agency or other entity that would be willing to become a WALK ME HOME sponsor. If so please contact Odessa Krech at Central office 615-253-6906 or at email Odessa.krech@tn.gov , Anything you can do to get the word out about the Middle TN/Nashville WALK is greatly appreciated.

Please join us on May 14, 2011 with your team to WALK ME HOME.

Thank you for your dedication to our children and families.

Walk Me Home Nashville Information


Walk Me Home Nashville Registration Brochure

On Point: Pill Mills


"The drug abuse pipeline grabbing headlines this spring is not out of Afghanistan or Mexico, but out of pain clinics and doctors’ offices in sunny Florida.


Prescription drug abuse is sky-rocketing in the United States as accidental overdose deaths now exceed crack deaths in the 1980s. Pharmaceutical pain killers are now churned out of “pill mills”.

The hottest pipeline brings drugs from Florida into poor counties of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee. Oxycodone and its cousins are wreaking havoc.

Today, On Point: the pipeline and price of a pain killer epidemic.

– Tom Ashbrook

Video from our Irish friends



HT: A. Sullivan at Daily Dish