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A Look Inside SWORPS-Joint Task Force on Children’s Justice and Child Sexual Abuse

The Joint Task Force on Children’s Justice and Child Sexual Abuse (JTF), a multi-disciplinary group of child welfare professionals, develop a plan and implement recommendations for improving the prevention, investigation, prosecution, judicial handling, and treatment of cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation, and other forms of severe child abuse and neglect.

JTF Impact

  • Created a “What Happens in Dependency Abuse and Neglect Cases in Juvenile Court” booklet to help child welfare and justice professionals prepare children for appearing in court.
  • Developed a Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minor (CSEM) document for child welfare clinicians – the document looks at current practice for therapeutic interventions for serving youth who have been sex trafficked.
  • Developed an Erin’s Law guide to help Tennessee public schools, childcare agencies and other organizations that serve children and youth with resources for providing age-appropriate instruction related to child sexual abuse. 
  • Developed a Child Protection Investigative Team (CPIT) manual, which focuses on issues related to multi-disciplinary teams’ coordination and response to severe child abuse and neglect cases and in addressing the child protection needs of their communities.

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Citizen Review Panels (CRPs)

The CRPs assist state and local child protection systems in their response to addressing community needs and in improving the child protection service (CPS) system. The panels do this through evaluation, public outreach, and advocacy.

CRPs Impact

  • Developed the online training session on Tennessee’s mandatory child abuse reporting law.
    • Addressed the issue of long waiting periods for calls to the Child Abuse Hotline (CAH) that had been reported by schools; this resulted in the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) implementing a CAH number for dedicated use by school personnel.
    • Assessed gaps in services for youth aging out of care; this resulted in the panels developing a comprehensive handbook to empower Tennessee youth in their transition from foster care.
    • Collaborate with DCS and other child protection agencies yearly to host events related to promoting child safety and improving the foster care program.

Program Staff

The SWORPS team is responsible for managing and coordinating activities for JTF and CAPTA/CRP projects, including developing annual and biennial reports. 

Toni Lawal is the Statewide Program Coordinator; Heather Nielsen is the Administrative Assistant.

Click here for more information about the program. https://children.sworpswebapp.sworps.utk.edu/