On September 28, 2023, the U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published a rule granting title IV-E agencies flexibility to respect the unique circumstances of kin caregivers. This optional rule would allow states and tribes to streamline their licensing or approval foster home processes for kin thereby increasing the number of children safely cared for by people who know and love them.
In 2024, Tennessee submitted and had approved an amended title IV-E plan to adopt licensing/approval standards for relative or kinship foster family homes that differ from the standards used for non-relative foster family homes. Tennessee's kin-specific standards, forms and/or analysis can be found here:
TN Dept. of Children's Services Admin. Policies & Procedures 16.20: Custodial Relative/Kinship Foster Home Approval
TN Dept. of Children's Services Admin. Policies & Procedures 16.4: Foster Home Selection and Approval
TN Dept. of Children's Services Admin. Policies & Procedures 16.9: Required Foster Parent In-Service Training
TN Dept. of Children's Services 16.9 Attachment: Required Training Chart for Foster Parents
TN Dept. of Children's Services Relative/Kinship Home Study Form