Jim Henry was named interim DCS commissioner. Image courtesy TN Photo Services

The temporary head of the embattled Department of Children’s Service said at a legislative hearing he would turn things around, even with the title of “interim.”

Jim Henry was named to replace DCS Commissioner Kate O’Day, who resigned 24 hours before she was to testify about unreported child deaths.

“I promise you I will not be passive or a caretaker. I will attack these problems as they exist.”

Henry is also still the commissioner of the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, though he says he will devote more time to DCS.

He read from a prepared statement but also freely fielded questions from lawmakers and later from reporters.

While Henry was careful to commend his predecessor, he did question some decisions. This week DCS said it would charge news organizations $55,000 for copies of child records requested through a lawsuit.

“I haven’t looked at it, but quite frankly it just sounds a little high to me.”

Henry also said he planned to meet with child advocacy groups immediately. Commissioner O’Day was criticized for not being accessible.

IT Problems

Senator Bo Watson of Hamilton County says DCS has been plagued since its formation in 1996. In his words – “we have to be realists.”

“I would hope that moving forward that any of the brutal facts that surface up about how we solve these problems, that we focus on the execution of solving the problems and not just giving the public or the legislature or department a plan.”

Watson says IT issues are the top priority. A tracking system has had so many glitches that DCS can’t produce the most basic information about kids in state custody or who may be living in abusive households.

Henry says be believes the program – which cost the state $27 million – can still work.

“If it doesn’t, we’ll just have to start over.”

Henry was asked to produce a report on the problems at DCS and return for another hearing next month.

Haslam

Governor Bill Haslam says he did not ask Kate O’Day to step down, even though she was under fire for months. Haslam defended her for spotting ongoing problems with DCS’ computer system, TFACTS.

“Kate was the first person to identify that: she’s the first person that said ‘Hey, with TFACTS we have some major issues here.’ Kate made some real progress for the department. The fact that there’s criticism of somebody, that comes with the territory.”

The system first came online a few months before O’Day became commissioner two years ago. Haslam acknowledged last summer the glitchy software was setting back compliance with a court order, and costing the state money.

WPLN’s Daniel Potter contributed to this story.