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DCS reports out‑of‑state placements down markedly; proposes Morristown psychiatric residential project
Summary
DCS said out‑of‑state residential placements fell from 188 to 76 over the past year and described a proposal to renovate a Morristown hospital into a 96–124‑bed level‑3 psychiatric residential treatment facility (including about 12 medically fragile beds) to reduce future out‑of‑state placements.
Department of Children’s Services executives told the committee they have reduced out‑of‑state residential placements from 188 a year ago to 76 today and highlighted development projects to expand in‑state capacity.
"If you look back just a year, we had 188 young people in residential care outside of the state of Tennessee. As we sit here today, there are 76," Frank Mix, the department’s executive director of network development and provider relations, said.
DCS described a Morristown renovation project that would convert an abandoned hospital into a 96–124‑bed level‑3 psychiatric residential treatment facility, including roughly 12 medically fragile beds. Department leaders said that project could add significant in‑state capacity within about 12 months and help avoid out‑of‑state placements and hospital stays for medically fragile children.
Lawmakers welcomed the reduction in out‑of‑state placements and asked for timelines and procurement details; DCS staff said several projects are underway and that the Morristown proposal includes a provider‑submitted contract for renovation.
