Every day a child is in custody is a day of childhood lost.

We are excited by the opportunity to introduce you to the FOCUS Team, which is a collaboration of the Department of Children’s Services and Harmony Adoptions.  As you’re well aware, more than 300 of Tennessee’s children have no promise of a forever family.   We recognize and applaud the tremendous level of persistence and dedication you put forth daily as you seek to bring about permanency for children amidst challenging and seemingly insurmountable situations.  The FOCUS Team is specifically designed to compliment the efforts you have already put forth in working with children and their families.  Our charge is to help the Department and Provider Agencies bring resolution to the uncertainty of tomorrow for these children. 

The FOCUS Team is comprised of highly skilled professionals who are to assist and compliment your efforts in achieving permanency for the children under your care – those comprising the team include, but may not be limited to, representatives of the following:

• Central Office
• Regional DCS Adoption Unit
• Adoption Support And Preservation
• Partners for Recruitment

You, the provider, are an essential component of this team for no one understands the unique strengths and needs presented by a child under your care better than you.  Without the vital relationships and indispensable knowledge that you have, permanency may never be reached.

FOCUS teams across the state meet twice each month to develop and implement strategies aimed at child-specific recruiting and cultivating vital connections already in place with one goal in mind:  to help each child find family.  It is the shared vision and partnership of all involved that will ultimately produce successful results. 

We welcome you to the FOCUS Team and look forward to working along side you in complimenting your efforts to achieve permanency for children in your care. Please contact Stephanie Cannon at 865-982-5225 for a schedule of children to be discussed.

On behalf of those children and families you serve, thank you for your continued dedication.

Michael Yates
Project Director

Lisa Norris
Permanency Unit Project Manager