[For postponed repeal effective 1/1/2025, see T.C.A. 37-1-910]

(a) The general assembly recognizes that a critical need exists in this state for child and family programs to reduce the incidence of child abuse, neglect, and endangerment, minimize the effects of childhood trauma on small children, and provide stability to parents and children within the state. It is the intent of the general assembly by this part to create an initiative to facilitate the implementation of new and the continuation of existing zero to three court programs.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 37-1-902

  • Child: means :
    (A) A person under eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 37-1-102
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Juvenile court: means the general sessions court in all counties of this state, except in those counties and municipalities in which special juvenile courts are provided by law, and "judge" means judge of the juvenile court. See Tennessee Code 37-1-102
  • safe baby court: means any court program created within this state that seeks to accomplish the goals stated in subsection (b) and that is established by a judge with jurisdiction over juvenile court matters. See Tennessee Code 37-1-902
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) The goals of the zero to three court programs created under this part include the following:

(1) To reduce time to permanency of children thirty-six (36) months of age or younger by surrounding at-risk families with support services;
(2) To reduce incidences of repeat maltreatment among children thirty-six (36) months of age or younger;
(3) To reduce the long-term and short-term effects of traumatic experiences occurring when a child is thirty-six (36) months of age or younger on a child’s brain development;
(4) To promote public safety through these reductions;
(5) To increase the personal, familial, and societal accountability of families; and
(6) To promote effective interaction and the use of resources among both public and private state and local child and family service agencies, state and local mental health agencies, and community agencies. It is the intent of the general assembly that in appropriate circumstances vetted, trained, and approved safe baby court volunteers be utilized to the fullest extent possible.
(c) As used in this part, “zero to three court program” and “safe baby court” means any court program created within this state that seeks to accomplish the goals stated in subsection (b) and that is established by a judge with jurisdiction over juvenile court matters. Except as provided in § 37-1-906, a safe baby court has the same powers as the court that created it.
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