Source: https://www.childrensrights.org/class_action/tennessee/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 00:59:11+00:00

Document:
Brian A., a 9-year-old boy, was one of eight named plaintiffs at the time the case was filed. Brian had spent the prior seven months in a dangerous and overcrowded emergency shelter in Memphis. He was housed there with older boys accused of violent crimes and sexual assaults, and without basic mental health treatment, case work services or appropriate schooling – because DCS had nowhere else to place him.
On April 11, 2016 a federal judge ruled that Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services (DCS) had reached all of the mandated milestones to overhaul its foster care system. The state now enters a yearlong hold period, during which it must sustain its performance on every measure—the final step before requesting an end to court oversight.
In 2000, Children’s Rights, along with a team of local counsel in Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis, brought this legal reform campaign against Tennessee’s then-Governor Donald Sundquist and then-Commissioner George Hattaway of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) in their official capacities. The suit was filed on behalf of a class of all children in foster care who are or will be in the custody of DCS, alleging defendants’ systemic failure to protect Tennessee’s most vulnerable children and to provide them with legally required services. The suit also brought a claim on behalf of African-American children in foster care, asserting failures to provide protection and services and the harmful impact on children of color. The parties settled the case in 2001 and the court approved a settlement agreement that aimed at vastly improving the infrastructure at DCS and outcomes for children.
DCS has dramatically reduced its historical over-reliance on non-family institutional placements (known as congregate care) for children in foster care, which has resulted in the safe placement of thousands of children in family homes. The percentage of Tennessee children in foster care placed with families has risen and has been maintained at approximately 88 percent. The use of grossly inadequate emergency shelters and large orphanage-style institutions has ended.
DCS now consistently places between 87 and 90 percent of children within 75 miles of home or within their home region, according to the annual TAC report issued in July 2015.
DCS has lowered caseloads considerably: between 97 and 99 percent of caseworkers had caseloads in compliance with the consent decree from July 2014 to April 2015, according to the July 2015 annual TAC report.
DCS has expanded the independent living services and programming provided to older youth in care, and the number of young adults receiving extended foster care has seen an uptick.
Placement stability for children in foster care has vastly improved, with over 92 percent of children having had two or fewer placements in the previous 12 months in custody, according to the July 2015 annual TAC report.
DCS is consistently providing more and faster permanent adoptive homes for children in foster care.
DCS has instituted strong oversight protocols to monitor the administration of psychotropic medication to foster children, according to the February 2016 TAC report.
A new child death review process, informed by national best practice standards, has been implemented to increase transparency and oversight around child deaths and to allow the learning necessary to help prevent such tragedies.
The state has fixed numerous problems in its child welfare information system, TFACTS, and has expanded its reporting and data-tracking capabilities, as discussed in the April 2016 TAC supplemental report.
Full text of the federal complaint filed by Children’s Rights and co-counsel against the state of Tennessee.
Motion of contempt filed against defendents for their failure to implement court-ordered reforms.
Initial report issued by the TAC on Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services’ (DCS) compliance with the requirements of the Brian A. v. Bredesen settlement agreement.
Report by the TAC on DCS progress under the Brian A. v. Bredesen settlement agreement based on a review of children’s case files.
Periodic monitoring report by the TAC on DCS compliance with the Brian A. v. Bredesen settlement agreement.
Motion to extend the period of court monitoring and implement other modifications to the Brian A. settlement agreement.
Motion asking federal judge to block implementation of a new Tennessee law aimed at pressuring local judges to reduce the number of children they commit to foster care regardless of individual circumstances, endangering children’s safety.
Report by the Technical Assistance Committee on DCS progress in implementing the comprehensive child welfare reforms required under the Brian A. settlement.
Legal brief filed in support of Children’s Rights’ move to block Tennessee law unconstitutionally interfering with children’s juvenile court hearings by the official organization for all state juvenile and family court judges.
New motion on behalf of five children recently removed from their homes on allegations of neglect, asking a federal judge to block implementation of a new Tennessee law aimed at pressuring local judges to reduce the number of children they commit to foster care regardless of individual circumstances, endangering children’s safety.
New motion seeking a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of a Tennessee law interfering with juvenile court hearings and endangering children’s safety.
Federal court order denying Tennessee officials’ motion to dismiss Children’s Rights’ motion seeking a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of a Tennessee law interfering with juvenile court hearings and endangering children’s safety.
Periodic monitoring report (and appendices) by the TAC on DCS compliance with the Brian A. v. Bredesen settlement agreement.
Periodic monitoring report (and appendices) by the TAC on DCS compliance with the Brian A. v. Haslam settlement agreement.
Full text of the modified settlement agreement and exit plan between Children’s Rights and Tennessee officials.
Periodic monitoring report by the TAC on DCS compliance with the Brian A. v. Haslam settlement agreement.
The first in a series of three reports by the TAC on DCS compliance with the Brian A. v. Haslam settlement agreement.
The second in a series of three reports by the TAC on DCS compliance with the Brian A. v. Haslam settlement agreement.
The third in a series of three reports by the TAC on DCS compliance with the Brian A. v. Haslam settlement agreement.

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