Foster care was never meant to be a permanent or long-term solution. It was designed as a temporary support for families in crisis until they could be reunited or find a permanent home.
Most people know the foster care system exists and that children in it need support, but few see what actually happens to a child once they enter the system.
In Tennessee, nearly 9,000 children are in foster care at any given moment. Here's how that journey generally unfolds in Tennessee, from removal through to a permanent outcome.
A Judge Steps In
In Tennessee, bringing a child into state custody requires a judge's approval, and the intake process typically happens in a courtroom following the judge's decision.
This process normally occurs when a family is in crisis or facing hardship, and the child is deemed unsafe to remain in the home. At this hearing, the court gives temporary custody to the Department of Children’s Services (DCS).
While this part of the process can appear very standard and routine, for a child it can be the beginning of one of the most stressful and uncertain times of their life.
Preliminary Hearings & Placement
Once a child is taken into custody, things begin to move very quickly. A preliminary hearing must happen within 72 hours. In Tennessee, DCS will first try to place the child with approved relatives or close family connections within 30 days.
Throughout, the goal is to keep children in a family setting, close to their community, and — whenever possible — to keep all siblings together. However, when that isn't an option, the child will enter the foster care system.
At this stage, a child arrives at a new place, often with very few belongings. This is where organizations like My Bag My Story step in to help.
What happens to the child next?
Tennessee works hard to keep the disruption as small as possible. Every move is meant to reduce trauma. But every move is still a move.
Within 30 days of entering care, DCS holds an initial Child and Family Team Meeting. Parents, caseworkers, the child, and others important in the child’s life all meet together.
From this meeting, a permanency plan is created. This plan lists the goals, responsibilities, and steps for everyone involved. It becomes a legal document, reviewed by the court, and clearly states what the family must do for the child to return home.
The goal is almost always reunification
Many people don’t realize that the main goal is to reunite children with their families. If that can’t happen, the plan moves toward another permanent solution.
According to Every Child TN, reunification can be a long and complex process, sometimes taking months or even years. There are set timeframes, but the process includes court hearings, case reviews, and other steps that can extend the timeline.
Sometimes, even with everyone’s best efforts, a child cannot safely return home. In those cases, the plan focuses on finding another permanent solution. No matter what, every child deserves a stable, safe, and lasting home.
Notably, about 80% of children adopted from foster care are adopted by the families who have already been fostering them.
The Children Between Every Step
It’s easy to overlook the personal side of this process. Behind each step, a child is packing up and starting over—facing a new home, a new school, and new people at the dinner table.
And who are these children in foster care?
As of 2023 reporting, teenagers represent the largest group of foster children in Tennessee, making up 43%. Children ages 5 to 12 account for about 30%, while kids under 4 are the smallest group at 27%.
Finding homes for infants and toddlers is usually not difficult, as many foster families want to care for younger children. But for teens, agencies often have a harder time. It can take longer to find a placement, and those placements may not last.
Many foster children in Tennessee move often. In 2023, 60% of kids in the system had lived in three or more homes. This level of instability is higher in Tennessee than the national average.
In the midst of these transitions, My Bag My Story is there to offer support.
The Takeaway
You may not be able to shorten a child's journey through the foster care system. But you can change how they carry it. Understanding the journey is the first step.
That's the whole idea behind My Bag My Story. When we replace the trash bags a child has to carry to their next home with a brand new backpack or duffle bag, we are doing what we can to help change their story.
You, too, can help lighten the load of foster care. Learn how at MyBagMyStory.com.