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Juvenile Court grant for Safe Babies Court approved; program will serve infants and toddlers
Summary
The commissioners approved a three-year, $585,000 state grant to create a Safe Babies Court program via the Juvenile Court to serve infants and toddlers at risk of entering Department of Children’s Services custody.
The Shelby County Board of County Commissioners approved a state grant contract on Aug. 25 to implement and operate a Safe Babies Court program administered through Juvenile Court. The contract is with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for $585,000 covering the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028.
Why it matters: The program is aimed at infants and toddlers at risk of or in Department of Children’s Services custody and provides coordinated, trauma-informed supports for families early in a child’s life. County leaders said the program supplements dependent-and-neglect dockets with services tailored to very young children.
Details from the discussion: - The judge and Juvenile Court staff explained the Safe Babies Court is designed to link families to community services and provide sustained case coordination for children age 0–3 and their families; services may include housing assistance and other community supports. - The court will target families with young children at risk and said attorneys in dependency cases will also benefit from the program’s resources.
Outcome: The resolution passed on roll call (12 ayes recorded). Juvenile Court will accept the state grant, appropriate the funds and implement the Safe Babies Court program per the contract.
Ending: The court and county will begin implementation with state funding; county staff indicated the program will start with limited caseloads and expand as data and supports permit.
