Image Credit: tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
The Tennessee Joint Operations subcommittee voted this week to extend the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, even after Governor Bill Lee’s office supported a bill that would have dissolved it.
The Commission was established by the Legislature, consisting of an executive director and 21 members appointed by the governor. Their job is to work with state agencies, juvenile courts, child advocacy groups, and other organizations to find ways to improve foster care in Tennessee. They also provide oversight to the Department of Children’s Services.
Despite their work to fix what some consider to be a crisis in the state’s foster care system, a bill presented by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27) and House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44) would have dissolved the group.
Many feel that the push for dissolution came as a form a retaliation after the Commission released their State of the Child report. The report noted that “Tennessee struggles with foster care instability at a level not seen in the rest of the country.” From 2016-2020, Tennessee showed the highest rate of foster care instability in the United States.
Both Johnson and the Governor’s office stated that resources would not be taken from agencies but instead, “all of the responsibilities of that group are being distributed to other parts of the government.”
While some legislators argued about the expenses involved or a lack of transparency within the group, others noted that the Commission provided important information that was effective in helping make much needed changes within the Department of Children’s Services.
The recent vote will extend the Commission for another four years, allowing them to continue to work towards improvement in Tennessee’s foster care system.
