The plan resulted from initiatives dating from 1987 and focusing on interagency coordination, reductions in child placements in care, simplifying contracting procedures, and obtaining access to Federal funds the State was eligible to receive. The plan created the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth to provide information and advocacy for planning, improving, and coordinating State, regional, and local policies, programs, and services for children and youth. The plan has not achieved its goal of reducing the number of children in State care, although improvements appear to have occurred in the appropriateness of placements and in management. The amount of Federal and nongovernmental funding has increased by almost $100 million. Recommended further improvements include increased collaboration and communication, joint training, reasonable efforts to prevent out-of-home placement, compliance with case management and case review responsibilities outlined in policy, improved case records, improved case management, and better assessment tools and information systems. Figure