The main DCS Tennessee phone number for reporting child abuse or neglect is 1-877-237-0004, answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year. For general administrative questions, the Department of Children’s Services central office in Nashville is at (615) 741-9701. If you need to file a complaint about how DCS handled a case, call Customer Relations at 1-800-861-1935.
Child Abuse Reporting Hotline
The statewide child abuse hotline, 1-877-237-0004, is the number most callers actually need. Trained intake specialists staff the line 24/7, 365 days a year.1Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Report Child Abuse They walk you through a set of questions to decide whether what you’re describing meets the legal threshold for a formal investigation.
Tennessee is an “everyone reports” state. State law requires any person who has reason to believe a child is being harmed by abuse or neglect to report it immediately.2Justia. Tennessee Code 37-1-403 – Reporting of Brutality, Abuse, Neglect or Child Sexual Abuse The duty is not limited to teachers, doctors, or other professionals. You can also report by contacting your local DCS office or by calling the sheriff or police chief where the child lives.
Tennessee law protects good-faith reporters from civil and criminal liability, and it presumes reporters acted in good faith unless someone proves otherwise.3Justia. Tennessee Code 37-1-410 – Immunity From Civil or Criminal Liability
Online Reporting Portal
If the situation doesn’t need immediate police response, you can file a report online at apps.tn.gov/carat.1Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Report Child Abuse Online submissions are monitored around the clock and reviewed against the same intake standards as phone calls. Filing online also creates a formal record of exactly what you reported and when.
What to Have Ready Before You Call
Specific details make the intake go faster and give investigators a stronger starting point. Try to have:
- The child’s full name, approximate age, and where they can be found (home address, school, or other location).
- Names, addresses, and phone numbers for the parents or guardians.
- A factual description of what you saw, heard, or were told. “The child had bruises on both arms and said a parent did it” is more useful than “I think the child is being abused.”
- The name and relationship of the person you believe caused the harm, if you know it.
You don’t need all of this to make a report. A report with a child’s school and first name is better than no report at all.
Anonymous and Confidential Reports
You have the right to make a report either confidentially or anonymously.4Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Frequently Asked Questions – Reporting Abuse Confidential means your identity is recorded but not shared with the family under investigation. Anonymous means you never give your name. Either way, the intake specialist accepts the report and evaluates it on its merits.
Leaving your contact information does help: cases with an identified reporter tend to move faster because investigators can call back for clarification instead of working from an incomplete picture.
Central Office and Customer Relations
The DCS central office in Nashville handles statewide policy and administration. Reach it at (615) 741-9701 or by email at DCS.Custsrv@tn.gov. The mailing address is 315 Deaderick Street, UBS Tower, 10th Floor, Nashville, TN 37238.5Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Contact Us
To file a complaint about how DCS handled your case, or to raise concerns about agency conduct, call Customer Relations at 1-800-861-1935.6Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Customer Relations
There is also an independent review option outside DCS. The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth runs an Ombudsman Program that reviews complaints involving children in state custody, kinship care, and foster parent issues. The TCCY Ombudsman number is (615) 532-1589.7Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. TCCY Ombudsman for Children and Families
Regional Offices for Active Cases
If you already have an open case with DCS, your ongoing contact should be your assigned caseworker at the regional office, not the abuse hotline. The hotline is for new reports. Your caseworker handles status updates, visit scheduling, and questions about court-ordered requirements.
Tennessee splits child welfare operations into six regions: West, Mid-West, Mid-State, Tennessee Valley, East, and Northeast.8Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. DCS Regional Map If you don’t know which region covers your county, the DCS site at tn.gov/dcs has a regional map with contact details for each office.
Foster Care and Adoption
If you want to become a foster parent or adopt a child through DCS, start at the foster care page on tn.gov/dcs, where you can fill out an interest form or find your regional foster care team’s number.9Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Foster Care These inquiries should not go through the abuse hotline, which needs to stay open for emergency reports.
Foster care and adoption involve training, home studies, and background checks. The regional office serving your county coordinates all of it, so that office is your main point of contact.
Youth Aging Out of DCS Custody
Young adults between 18 and 21 who were in DCS custody at age 18 can access transition services. What’s available depends on the situation:10Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Independent Living Services
- Still finishing high school or a GED: continued foster care placement or an independent living allowance, case management, and life skills instruction.
- Enrolled in college or vocational training: everything above plus an Education and Training Voucher worth up to $5,000 per year.
- Unable to attend school due to serious health issues: foster care placement, case management, and life skills support.
Youth Villages LifeSet also serves young adults emancipated from state custody at or after their 18th birthday. None of these services are automatic. The young adult or their former caseworker needs to start the process through the DCS regional office.