LOWE FINNEY

SENATOR 27TH SENATE DISTRICT

312 WAR MEMORIAL BUILDING NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37243 (615) 741-1810 (615) 253-0179 fax DISTRICT ADDRESS: 312 EAST LAFAYETTE STREET JACKSON, TENNESSEE 38301 (731) 424-0461 (731) 424-0562 fax

DOUGLAS HENRY
SENATOR 21st SENATE DISTRICT
321 WAR MEMORIAL BUILDING NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37243 (615) 741-3291

Tennessee State Senate

NASHVILLE

DISTRICT ADDRESS: 226 CAPITOL BOULEVARD NASHVILLE, TN 37219

June 4, 2013

Senator Rusty Crowe Chairman of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee Dear Chairman Crowe: As you recall, our committee heard from now-Commissioner Jim Henry of the Department of Childrens Services several times throughout the legislative session on his efforts t o bring the necessary corrective actions to a very troubled department. Commissioner Henry was kind enough to share an abundance of information with us and offered to make himself available to the committee, which we accepted until we adjourned a few weeks ago. Since session ended, new details continue to emerge about the performance of the Department of Childrens Services over the last three years. We are confident that you share with us a great concern for the children of Tennessee who are in the states custody and subject to the care and direction of the department. We are also confident that you also share with us a sense of relief that Commissioner Henry is filling the interim role. He promised the legislature and our constituents that he would not simply be a placeholder but that he would work to make the necessary improvements within the department before a permanent commissioner could be named by Governor Haslam. Having said all of that, we think that it is appropriate that we ask Commissioner Henry to join a special called meeting of the Health & General Welfare Committee to update the committee members on the improvements that have taken place and any new issues that have arisen since his last appearance before the committee. Please consider this letter a formal request that you convene the Senate Health & General Welfare Committee for a special called meeting to hear from Commissioner Henry. We know that the summer months are very busy for us, and we do not want to otherwise disrupt the work of your committee staff. Likewise, we know that the Commissioner is making several stops around the state to discuss various issues with DCS stakeholders, and we do not want to interrupt his schedule or his mission in finding ways to improve the department. However, we think a meeting, perhaps sometime after August 1st, would be appropriate,

sen.lowe.finney@capitol.tn.gov

Senator Rusty Crowe Chairman of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee Page 2

and we are hopeful that you will agree to have the meeting sometime as we have requested so that we can further learn from the Commissioner how we can help him make the Department of Childrens Services an effective state agency and, more importantly, a safe and helpful caregiver to the children of Tennessee. Please dont hesitate to let us know if our office can help in any way on this or any other matter. Very truly yours,

Senator Lowe Finney

Senator Douglas Henry Cc: Commissioner Jim Henry

sen.lowe.finney@capitol.tn.gov