Tennessee foster care

To Records Management Division, Charles W. (Chuck) Brown:

Under the Tennessee Open Records Act, §10-7-503 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to obtain, via email, copies of public records pertaining to the child welfare facilities listed below:

Norris Academy, 101 First Quality Road, Andersonville, TN 37705

For these facilities, I am requesting access to all following documents prepared on any date between 01.01.2017 and 08.20.2020:

All Tennessee Department of Children’s Services complaint investigations and special investigation reports for the listed facility.
All plans of correction submitted to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services by the management of the listed facility or a representative of Sequel Youth and Family Services.
All licensing surveys completed by the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
Emails or memoranda that explicitly mention the facility from or to the Deputy Commissioner, Office of Child Safety (Dimple Dudley), Interim Deputy Commissioner, Juvenile Justice (David McGriff) and whoever enforces the regulations for each facility.

I would also like to request a waiver of all fees as the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of the state of Tennessee’s connection to the above facilities. I am a journalist and this report is focused on understanding the best and safest practices when working with children. It will help to inform the public on these practices.

If the requested records cannot be emailed to me due to the volume of records identified in response to my request, please advise me of the actual cost of copying all records onto a CD or floppy disk.

However, if there are unavoidable fees, I am willing to pay any reasonable expenses associated with this request, however, as the purpose of the requested disclosure is in full conformity with the statutory requirements for a waiver of fees in the event that there are fees, please inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. Please also include an explanation of why I was not granted the fee waivers and/or reductions

The statute requires a response in a reasonable time period. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

Kent Hoover