Memphis/West Walk Me Home Event

The Memphis/West WALK ME HOME event was held on Saturday August 20, 2011.  The event raised approximately $5,000 for Foster & Adoptive children/youth. The event was sponsored by Nike of West TN, Cathedral of Faith and several other Memphis Organizations. Although the day was hot the walk was a tremendous success.  Thank you to all those who volunteered and assisted in making the walk the success it was. 

Click here for the slide show

O’Day likes Juvenile Court model

Tennessee Department of Children Services Commissioner Kate O’Day toured Bradley County Juvenile Court on Tuesday.

Many partner leaders from Camelot Care Centers, Bradley County Schools and Valley Hospital attended to explain the role they play in the Behavioral Unit.

“Our vision for the state is that these kinds of solutions need to be located in communities. The state can’t do everything. Even the Juvenile Court can’t do everything. It’s the community coming together,” O’Day said. “This is a wonderful example of putting those ideals into practice.”

The commissioner hopes to use the Bradley County Juvenile Court as a model to show the direction she wants the DCS department to go. O’Day said she wanted those at DCS to have a sense of being a part of something bigger and connecting with the community.

Read more: Cleveland Daily Banner - Oâ

AP: More on the outage

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A spokeswoman for the Nashville Electric Service says power outages to about 20 downtown buildings - including the state Capitol - are the result of a work crew accidentally cutting underground cables.


Story continues here: 
http://goo.gl/olJ7I

Downtown Nashville power outage affects DCS

From General Services:

The Department of General Services has confirmed that the NES power outage affecting downtown buildings will not be repaired until after close of business Thursday.  The Commissioner of Human Resources has declared the following buildings to be uninhabitable as of 1:45 pm. today.  The state uninhabitable building policy will be in effect and employees may be dismissed under appropriate administrative leave codes. 

Andrew Jackson

Rachel Jackson

Tennessee Tower

Legislative Plaza

War Memorial

Supreme Court

Library and Archives

We currently anticipate these buildings will be open on Friday, August 5.  

Sincerely,

Department of General Services.

What that means for the DCS employees and visitors in the Andrew Jackson building. 

• Check with your supervisor about what to do regarding your duties in the meantime.
• Check back here at the WWU for updates.
• Remember: You can subscribe to the department's Twitter feed or Facebook page to get your updates.

The handy links for those are at the right side of the WWU.

Stay cool,

The WWU Staff

Guidance for Grandparents in Murfreesboro

The Daily News Journal had this brief item about a class for grandparents raising grandchildren.

Click here for more information about the August 14 session: http://goo.gl/PRiqd

Crib safety guidelines impact foster parents

Recently a new drop down crib ban was brought to light. 

If you are a resource or kinship parent please check your present baby furniture for the banned items. 

If you do have a crib that can no longer be used please contact the manufacturer for a repair kit. 

If you google:  Drop Down Crib Repair Kits it will link you to several manufacturers sites, many of the repair kits are free or at minimal cost. 

Please do not attempt to fix the drop down problem with homemade devices, use the kit provided by the company or dispose of the unsafe crib. 

 Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission page here.

AP: US, Russia agree on rules for safer adoptions

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Russia ended an ugly dispute over the abuse of adopted Russian children on Wednesday, with Washington signing an agreement that will increase oversight of adopting families to curtail possible maltreatment.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signed the accord in a ceremony in Washington.


Continue here on CBS News.