Office of Managed Care

The Behavioral Centers of Excellence (COE)

Children in foster care or otherwise in state custody are highly likely to have special health care needs, including behavioral health and developmental needs. The Tennessee COE system is designed to support the Department of Children Services (DCS) in integrating placement, family, health and developmental needs into a comprehensive, coordinated care plan based on the child and family’s unique needs. The COEs serve children both in state custody and at risk of state custody.

The three regional COEs are located at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities in Memphis, at the College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, East Tennessee State University in Johnson City and at the Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Each COE is intended to serve the surrounding region. Regional COE Contact are listed here.

Referrals are made primarily through the Health Units of DCS and Community Services Agency (CSA). In addition to DCS Health Units, referrals can be initiated though other sources, such as pediatricians, family practitioners, mental health service providers, and juvenile courts, who have concerns about a child in, or at risk of, state custody. Referrals might be made

• When problems are complex and there are diagnostic and mental health concerns.
• When there are conflicting diagnoses among health service providers.
• When a comprehensive review of the child’s history (behavior, treatment, placement) would assist in determining child’s current needs.
• When an evaluation or examination would add information needed for placement and treatment recommendations.
• When there is concern about a developmental delay
• When there is concern about psychoactive medications

Once a case is completed, recommendations are communicated to the Health Unit, as well as directly to the case manager, to assist in coordination of care. Follow up consultations are often arranged through the Health Unit. The COEs also work at providing a basis for medical necessity in accessing service from TennCare Partners Behavioral Health Organizations (BHOs).

The COEs also provide extensive consultation to pediatricians, psychiatrists and other health care providers, as well as participate in case conferences with health care providers and others with an interest in a child’s welfare. Finally, COEs provide training to DCS and CSA case managers and to other community providers and agencies with the intent of improving the knowledge and skills of those serving children in, or at risk of, state custody and their families.