Policy Resource
Tennessee Expands Safe Babies Court Team™ Approach
In 2017, Tennessee passed legislation to create the “Zero To Three Court Initiative” to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers and families involved in the child welfare system.
Nataliya Sdobnikova / Shutterstock
Tennessee is using ZERO TO THREE’s Safe Babies Court Team™ (SBCT) approach as the basis for the initiative, building off the success of two SBCT sites already operating in Nashville and Grundy County. SBCT is a community engagement and systems-change approach focused on improving how the courts, child welfare agencies, and related child-serving organizations work together, share information, and expedite services for young children in the child welfare system. The approach has been shown to decrease the amount of time children spend in foster care by up to a year, decrease the recurrence of maltreatment, and successfully connect children and families to needed services. Five of the new courts have already begun developing strategic plans for implementation. The remaining five are expected to start in early 2019. Tennessee is using Title IV-E funding to support the expansion. Learn more about the core components of the SBCT here.
Safe Babies Court Team Implementation Guide
Meet the needs of families whose infants and toddlers are in foster care
Read more about:
You might also be interested in
-
Article
Minnesota Public-Private Partnership Embraces Family, Friend and Neighbor Care
A strong public private partnership and focus on racial and health equity in Minnesota has allowed for expansion of an innovative approach to supporting family, friend and neighbor (FFN) providers ac…
-
Article
The new Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: Health Integration Prenatal-to-Three (ECCS) Program offers 20 grantees an opportunity to build/strengthen integrated maternal and early childhood system…
-
Webinar
Creating Meaningful Family Time for Young Children and Parents: A Judge’s and Attorney’s Role
Judges and attorneys play a crucial role in the advocacy of meaningful family time for parents and children who are separated due to child welfare involvement.
-
Webinar
Webinar: What’s in the American Rescue Plan Act for Infants, Toddlers, and their Families?
The federal American Rescue Plan Act provides critical and unprecedented opportunities for states to support infants and toddlers and their families.
Explore More Tennessee Focused Resources & Initiatives
-
Article
Tennessee Advances Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment
This article summarizes key themes from Tennessee's role in a convening of states and jurisdictions centered around improving state policies supporting Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health assess…
