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The Tennessee Highway Patrol is stepping up seat belt and DUI enforcement over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.More >> The Tennessee Highway Patrol is stepping up seat belt and DUI enforcement over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.More >> Hunters have through Monday to comment to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency on hunting regulations for the next seasons.More >> Hunters have through Monday to comment to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency on hunting regulations for the next seasons.More >> Roger Welchel, 54, died Thursday night after crashing his vehicle in South Knoxville.More >> Roger Welchel, 54, died Thursday night after crashing his vehicle in South Knoxville.More >> A University of Tennessee administrator told her boss she was experiencing a hostile work environment in the days before she was fired.More >> A University of Tennessee administrator told her boss she was experiencing a hostile work environment in the days before she was fired.More >> Police in Sevierville are partnering with retailers to crack down on shoplifters. In January, the Sevierville Police Department formed a team called ALERT.More >> Police in Sevierville are partnering with retailers to crack down on shoplifters. In January, the Sevierville Police Department formed a team called ALERT.More >> The search for a violent sex offender with an outstanding warrant for his arrest is over.More >> The search for a violent sex offender with an outstanding warrant for his arrest is over.More >> Members of The Boy Scouts of America are now speaking out about Thursday's historic vote to end the ban on openly gay members.More >> Members of The Boy Scouts of America are now speaking out about Thursday's historic vote to end the ban on openly gay members.More >> Two people were killed and another two hospitalized after a shooter opened fire in a Grainger County business.More >> Two people were killed and another two hospitalized after a shooter opened fire in a Grainger County business.More >> Knoxville residents might have to change the dial if they want to hear their favorite stations.More >> Knoxville residents might have to change the dial if they want to hear their favorite stations.More >> The University of Tennessee was granted the right to purchase three homes in Fort Sanders to build a new academic building, but the move has preservationists concerned.More >> The University of Tennessee was granted the right to purchase three homes in Fort Sanders to build a new academic building, but the move has preservationists concerned.More >>
NASHVILLE (AP) - After a decade in which fewer and fewer children were in state custody, the trend has reversed.
The state Department of Children's Services is having some success at growing its network of foster homes for abused and neglected children, but the need is growing faster.
The Tennessean reports one of the state's largest private providers is Youth Villages. They collected demographic data on the type of person who makes a good foster parent and recruited through a massive radio campaign, and later through TV.
Youth Villages soon saw a 25% increase in inquiries.
DCS is trying to take tactics that work and present them to other regions.
The various reforms have helped DCS increase its supply of foster homes by more than 1,000 in the past two years.
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