A recent story in Tennessee Lookout details ongoing challenges for kids in the state’s custody.
The story notes that while there have been some improvements in recent years, some troubling issues persist.
Specifically:
For many children now in state custody, however, the audit paints a disquieting picture.
Between March 3 and Sept. 5, 172 children spent at least one night in an office building because no appropriate foster home or treatment facility was available.
In northeast Tennessee, children spent an average of 18 days housed in government offices during the same six-month period. One child spent 104 days in an office.
An additional 1,134 children were placed in transitional housing such as churches or short-term shelters, averaging nine to 12 nights per child. The audit noted one child spent more than two months in transitional housing.
While the state is building several new facilities and has taken steps to address staffing issues (by raising pay and reducing caseloads), kids are still sometimes caught in a system unable to provide adequate care.
I’m reminded that all of this is happening against the backdrop of a state that moved quickly to provide $500 million for a football stadium in Nashville.
Our Governor and legislative leaders are also ramping up plans to spend more than $1 billion funneling taxpayer dollars to private schools.
I wrote about this in 2022 - and, the problems are still happening.
