Department of Children’s Services Wins “Golden Sneakers” Award

The 2019 “Golden Sneakers” Award was presented to the Rutherford County Department of Children’s Services. They came out in full force to the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children on Friday, April 26, 2019, with 79 walkers wearing DCS T-shirts and comfy tennis shoes, and won the coveted “Golden Sneakers” award and most important–bragging rights.

The runner ups for the “Golden Sneakers” award were Middle Tennessee Electric with 49 walkers and Amazon with 42 walkers.

The Hometown Heroes Walk for Children concluded Child Abuse Prevention Month events and highlighted the important work that every day heroes like Department of Children’s Services case managers do to help child abuse and child sexual abuse victims.

“The Department of Children’s Services brought 79 walkers to the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children to show our community their commitment to the coordinated multidisciplinary response of the Child Protective Investigative Team,” said Department of Children’s Services Office of Child Safety Investigation Coordinator Christina Moody.

The employees of the Rutherford County Department of Children’s Services work as a team with the Child Advocacy Center, Murfreesboro Police Department, Smyrna Police Department, La Vergne Police Department, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Our Kids Center, the Guidance Center, and the District Attorney’s Office to respond as a multidisciplinary team to child abuse cases, aggressively prosecute offenders, and help children and families heal from the trauma of the abuse.

“The Department of Children’s Services teams work their hearts out every day to keep children safe in our community,” said Department of Children’s Services Team Leader Taminko Amuzu.

The Department of Children Services is responsible for providing case management services to children under the State’s supervision, in State custody, or at risk of State custody and their families. They strive to ensure Tennessee’s children and youth are safe, healthy and back on track for success.

“The Child Advocacy Center is grateful to Department of Children’s Services and all of the Hometown Heroes on the Child Protective Investigative Team. They make a difference every day in children’s lives,” said Child Advocacy Center director Sharon De Boer.

Since 2016, four Department of Children’s Services employees have been honored with Hometown Heroes Awards: Dierdre C. Lackey, Christina Moody, Shannon Romans, and Matthew F. Wright. The 2019 General William C. Whitesell Award was presented on April 1 to Department of Children’s Services employee Venessa Hyer.

To report child abuse in the State of Tennessee, please call the Department of Children’s Services at 877-237-0004. This will activate the assistance of the Hometown Heroes on the Child Protective Investigative Team.