Number of young people under the age of 20 years who are committed to state custody during a given state fiscal year . Rate is per 1,000 population of the same age.• Bledsoe County 1.9• Bradley County 3.8• Coffee County 5.2• Franklin County 7.0• Grundy County 3.3• Hamilton County 2.7• Marion County 3.0• Meigs County 2.2• McMinn County 7.1• Polk County 3• Rhea County 3.9• Sequatchie County 4.8Percent of children in foster care placed in state-supervised kinship care• United States 26• Alabama 12• Georgia 4• Tennessee 8Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Tennessee ranks third lowest nationally in placing children in the foster system with other family members, with only 8 percent of foster children placed with a relative, according to a national report released Wednesday.
Alabama and Georgia had only slightly better numbers, with 12 and 14 percent placed, still only about half the national average of 26 percent, the Annie E. Casey Foundation reported.
“It has been a challenge for Tennessee,” said Ira Lustbader, associate director for Children’s Rights, a national watchdog group dedicated to reforming government child welfare services.
“There are some bright spots in the state, but it varies widely from region to region. This isn’t rocket science; you have to hold the regions accountable.”