Notification of resources and funding for relative caregivers — Distribution of information

Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-186, under General Provisions.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-186

(a) As used in this section, “relative caregiver” means a person within a first, second, or third degree of relationship to the parent or step-parent of a child who may be related through blood, marriage, or adoption.

(b) Any court that issues an order granting custody or guardianship of a child to a person who qualifies as a relative caregiver shall notify the relative caregiver that resources and funding for relative caregivers may be available through programs administered by the department.

(c) The department shall distribute information on available relative caregiver resources to the administrative office of the courts, and the administrative office of the courts shall distribute the information to each court within the state that issues orders regarding child custody or guardianship. For purposes of satisfying the requirements of this subsection (c), the distribution of resource information may be accomplished by electronic means.

(d) A court that issues an order granting custody or guardianship of a child to a person who qualifies as a relative caregiver shall not require the relative caregiver to provide the child with the child's own bedroom, unless there are specific safety or medical reasons that would make placement of the child with another child unsafe.