About
What We Do
Every 10 seconds, there is a report of child abuse or neglect. Often, these children will then have repeated interactions with the judicial system. Safe Baby Courts are the key to ensuring those interactions are compassionate, collaborative, and, above all, put the child's long-term needs first.
Hamilton County Safe Baby Court (HCSBC) seeks to offer evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment, judicial supervision, and accountability within a problem-solving court focused on individualized interventions for participants. HCSBC is committed to ensuring the most efficient use of court and community resources and the most effective solutions that will promote long-term stability for families.
Our Approach
By providing both judicial oversight and supportive services, Safe Baby Court aims to address underlying issues such as substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health concerns that may be negatively impacting the well-being of children and their families. This innovative model brings together legal professionals, social workers, mental health providers, and other experts to collaborate on individualized treatment plans tailored to each family's unique circumstances.
By offering a coordinated system of care that addresses the root causes of family dysfunction, Safe Baby Court promotes lasting positive outcomes for those involved. Through regular monitoring and support services, this program helps families build healthier relationships and create a stable environment for children to thrive.
Our Mission
Our mission, through a cooperative community approach, is to provide universal support to caregivers, to thrive in their roles as parents, and to achieve lasting safety, permanency, and well-being for Tennessee infants, toddlers, and families.
Following the Zero to Three initiative, the overarching goals of Hamilton County Safe Baby Court are as follows.
Reduce the length of time to permanency for children specifically ages zero to three, who are involved in the child welfare system.
1
Reduce the risk for future maltreatment of children within the child welfare system.
2
Reduce short-term and long-term effects of trauma for children ages zero to three, taking consideration for a young child’s brain development.
3
Promote public safety and awareness, and increase personal, familial, and social accountability for families.
4
Increase effective interaction and use of resources within the community, along with local and state-level agencies.
5
On January 1, 2018, the Tennessee Safe Baby Court was initiated after the Tennessee General Assembly recognized the critical need for child and family programs state-wide to help reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect. Legislation also recognized the importance of minimizing childhood trauma in young children and promoting stability for children and families across the state
In Tennessee, there are currently fifteen Safe Baby Courts that focus on children ages birth through three years. These courts have their roots in the Tennessee Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Initiative which began in 2010 and continued for several years. Safe Baby Court is unique in that it especially focuses on community involvement in reestablishing familial support for our infants and toddlers.