Principles of Service

  1. Law
  2. Tennessee Code
  3. Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
  4. General Provisions
  5. Policies, Values, and Principles
  6. Principles of Service

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The following service principles are fundamental to carrying out the department's responsibilities:

  1. Stable service systems that provide flexibility, advocacy, effective communication, targeted outcomes, continuous evaluation, and improvement based on best practice and research;
  2. Early identification of needs and the inclusion of both prevention and early intervention services and supports;
  3. Timely response to the needs, rights and desires of those served;
  4. Treating service recipients and families with dignity and respect;
  5. Protection of service recipients from abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
  6. Accurate and responsible accountability for the use of public resources;
  7. Ongoing education and skills development of the workforce; and
  8. Cultural competence of persons providing service.


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