Two years is a long time for a child.
Lost teeth, first days of school, learning to ride a bike — countless milestones are reached when a girl grows from 5 years old to 7, or a boy from 3 to 5.
That’s partly why federal laws urge states to move children in their custody quickly from foster care to a permanent home. A quick end to the limbo of state custody is critical for a child’s well-being, federal agencies say.
But the Tennessee Valley has one of the worst records for timely adoptions in the state. In the 2013-2014 fiscal year, only 24 percent of the region’s adoptions were finalized within two years of the date the child entered state custody, according to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
ADOPTIONS WITHIN 24 MONTHS OF ENTERING STATE CUSTODY*
Upper Cumberland: 65.7 percent East: 55.5 percent Mid-Cumberland: 55.4 percent Knox: 54.1 percent Northwest: 50 percent Southwest: 37.4 percent Davidson: 36.7 percent Northeast: 36.1 percent Smoky Mountain: 36.1 percent Shelby: 33.8 percent Tennessee Valley: 24 percent South Central: 20.8 percent * Descending order, by region Source: Tennessee Department of Children’s Services NUMBER OF ADOPTIONS FINALIZED BY REGION, 2013- 2014 FISCAL YEAR Knox: 181 Smoky Mountain: 170 Upper Cumberland: 132 Northeast: 129 East: 123 Mid-Cumberland: 117 Tennessee Valley: 81 Southwest: 77 Shelby: 67 Davidson: 51 Northwest: 20 South Central: 17 Source: Department of Children’s Services