Tenn. Code Ann. § 52-7-102: Departmental responsibilities

The department shall promote effective advocacy for services and supports for all children with an intellectual or developmental disability. The department's responsibilities for children include, but are not limited to:

(1) Promoting collaboration among caregivers and service providers and equitable involvement of caregivers in service plan development;

(2) Determining eligibility;

(3) Providing basic service standards;

(4) Facilitating the interdepartmental planning process for children through the statewide and regional planning and policy councils;

(5) Initiating meetings or other processes to develop local interagency agreements as needs and problems are identified by service providers, advocates, or families;

(6) Assisting children and their families to gain access to the system of services and supports;

(7) Defining and listing an array of services and supports; and

(8) Assisting youth who have been in the public system of care with transition to adult services.