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Gov. Lee signs Forever Homes Act into law
Published April 25, 2023; 2:38 p.m.


Legislation to accelerate child placement, support foster and adoptive families


CHATTANOOGA, TN -- The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) marked the legislative passage of the Lee administration’s Forever Homes Act surrounded by adoptive and foster parents and community partners, Monday.

gov bill lee signs forever home act
Signing ceremony; image courtesy of DCS

“We have an obligation to ensure that Tennessee children have a loving, permanent home, and the Forever Homes Act is an additional step that will provide critical support to foster and adoptive families and accelerate child placement,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I commend Commissioner Margie Quin and the General Assembly for partnering to serve Tennessee children and families.”

The Forever Homes Act will provide support to foster and adoptive families and accelerate child placement, namely allowing for a judicial waiver to speed adoption finalization from six to three months if a court sees fit, providing foster parents with a respite period of up to six months without losing their standing as a foster home, and extending care services for expectant mothers.

“As an adoptive parent, these supports for Tennessee families would have been music to my ears,” said DCS Commissioner Margie Quin. “I appreciate Governor Lee’s leadership to steward key budget and legislative priorities to serve Tennessee’s vulnerable children and benefit foster and adoptive families.”

DCS offers an incentive to families who adopt children from foster care by providing finical assistance for childcare through the age of 12. This assistance includes current and recent adoptions. Families can learn more about the program and fill out an application by visiting www.tn.gov/dcs/child-care-assistance-program.

The legislation (SB270/HB318) passed with bipartisan support and was sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin) and Representative Iris Rudder (R-Winchester).

Speaker Pro Tempore Ferrell Haile said “This bill is a step in the right direction towards making adoption and foster care easier, quicker, and cheaper so that we can increase the number of adoptive and foster care families in our state. As pro-life lawmakers, it is imperative we protect the lives of not only the unborn but also of children beyond the point of birth. This bill does that by removing barriers to adoption and foster care so that more children can be placed in loving homes. I was proud to work with Gov. Lee and my colleagues to pass this legislation and look forward to continuing to work on these issues.”

Leader Lamberth’s stated “Growing up in a safe and nurturing home is key to every child’s success,” Lamberth said. “This legislation advances efficiencies to expedite the process of placing children with loving and supportive families that will create better outcomes for their future. The General Assembly will continue to take aggressive steps to make Tennessee a national leader when it comes to protecting children as well as the most adoption-friendly state in the nation.”




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