Thomas W Coupé

I am a committed legal professional with a deep-seated focus on child welfare law, juvenile justice, and family law. Currently, I serve as the Administrator of the Child Welfare Division at the Juvenile Court of Memphis & Shelby County. In this role, I manage essential services concerning dependency, neglect, custody, and foster care, safeguarding the welfare of over 1,500 children in foster care. I also oversee legal teams, including the Office of Non-Custodial Advocate and the Office of Guardian ad Litem, which provide crucial support to children and families involved in the legal system. My previous positions include Court Improvement Attorney at the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts and Assistant General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. In these roles, I spearheaded legal research, policy development, and educational efforts to enhance child welfare systems. I have also represented the state in intricate cases related to the termination of parental rights and child abuse, while upholding procedural fairness as a Special Hearing Officer for TennCare disenrollment hearings. I am deeply passionate about promoting child welfare law through education, advocacy, and systemic reform. As a Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist and former State Coordinator for the National Association of Counsel for Children, I have conducted over 25 CLE sessions and engaged in numerous trainings on juvenile and family law topics, ensuring that professionals are equipped to advocate effectively for children and families in crisis. I am always eager to connect with professionals and organizations dedicated to enhancing legal services and outcomes for children and families within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.