TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Aug 2, 2021

A total of seven kids in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) spent the night in office space at the Davy Crockett Tower in downtown Nashville on July 16, Tennessee Lookout reports. One child had no pillow, sheets, blanket or mattress according to a video obtained by the paper. Also visible: trash and at least one dirty diaper on the floor near the children. A caseworker said DCS has failed to provide enough back-up options as the pandemic has impacted the willingness of foster parents to take in children. “Being unable to find a placement was an ongoing problem before the pandemic,” the caseworker said. “It’s gotten much worse. The number of kids sleeping in offices has never been this bad.” DCS responded, saying it is “not a violation of policy for children to stay in DCS offices during the nighttime hours until an appropriate placement is found.”