ICPC State Pages

Tennessee Home Studies (Adoption/Foster Care/Kinship/Parent/Relative)

Types of Home Studies

Tennessee conducts the following types of home studies:

• Relative Care
• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Parent Care
• Foster- Adopt
• Adoption
• Other

Tennessee designates staff in each county/region to conduct home studies and/or process interstate placements:

• Yes

Tennessee considers a home study as current/valid for:

• Public: 2 years
• Private: 1 year

Private Contract Services - Home Study

As the Sending State, Tennessee will pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:

• Yes

As the Receiving State, Tennessee will permit a Sending state to pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:

• Yes

As the Receiving State, Tennessee will accept/update a home study that was not originally conducted by the receiving state or a private contractor acting on behalf of the Receiving State:

• Will update

Adoptive Home Study

Home study for adoption conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• No

Prospective adoptive parents permitted to pay for a pre-adoptive home study:

• Private Adoptions: Yes
• Independent Adoptions: Yes

DCPS contracts for Purchase of Services with private agencies in other states:

• Yes

Foster Care Home Study

Home study for foster care conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Parent Home Study

If child has been removed from the parent, Tennessee requires a home study evaluation before reunification:

• Interstate Placements only--either court jurisdiction only or children in the custody of the public child-welfare agency.   

Non-Custodial Parents: Placements with non-custodial parents are not covered under the ICPC if:

Proof of Paternity is required:

• Yes: Paternity Results.

Relative/Kinship Home Study

Home study for relatives conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• No

Define Relative:

• Relative:  In Tennessee utilized as relative/kin.  This relationship is one that is either identified as direct blood/marital relative or relationship to the child/family prior to the custodial episode. Relatives are required to become approved foster parents within 120 days of placement. 

Relatives must be licensed:

• No

Proof of Paternity is required:

• Yes : Paternity Results.

Tennessee considers the following types and degrees of relation as relative placements. Individuals related in the 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree and 4th degree (You may need to refer to your state's consanguinity chart or state statute to determine relations or relative status.):

• 1st Degree (mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter)
• 2nd Degree (grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin)
• 3rd Degree (great grandmother, great grandfather, great aunt, great uncle, grand-niece, grand nephew, second cousin)
• 4th Degree (great, great-grandmother, great, great-grandfather, great, great aunt, great, great aunt, great, great uncle, great grand-niece, great grand nephew, third cousin)
• Godmother, Godfather
• Other

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

Tennessee performs priority placements:

• Yes

A court ordered Priority 7 conducted if the child is in a DCF shelter or foster home for substantial period of time.

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Public

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of educational training):

• Other: 75 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• Other: 75 days

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Private

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):

• 30 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• 30 days

Tennessee determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:

• Date verified between Receiving/Sending States
• Date stamped in the ICPC Office.

Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study

Criminal Record Checks

Tennessee requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

• Foster Care
• Relative Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Foster-Adopt
• Adoption
• Parent
• Other, specified below

Guardianship pursuant to Fostering Connections and Court-jurisdiction only. Parent and Relative Regulation #7 studies in addition to those “expedited” studies” defined under specific Border agreements.

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Tennessee requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks (Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR))

Wait Time for Criminal Records Results

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: 48-72 hours

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 4-7 days
• Local/County: 4-7 days