Dear Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee Member,

We urge you to vote YES on HB0347, a critical piece of legislation that will ensure Tennessee families are not unjustly separated due to conditions of poverty.

Currently, Tennessee law fails to distinguish between poverty-related hardship and actual child neglect, leading to unnecessary and traumatic family separations. Studies show that over 60% of child welfare cases nationwide involve poverty-related concerns, not abuse (Children’s Bureau, 2021). Instead of providing support, families struggling with housing, food insecurity, or medical care face the threat of losing their children simply because they are poor.

This bill clarifies the definition of neglect so that lack of financial resources alone cannot be used as a basis for removing a child from their home. This change will:

• Keep families together by preventing wrongful removals that cause lifelong trauma.
• Ensure resources go where they are needed most.
• Reduce racial disparities in child welfare, as Black and low-income families are disproportionately targeted for poverty-related removals.

Tennessee values the importance of family. Research shows that children thrive when they remain with their families, and unnecessary separation leads to long-term harm, including worse educational and economic outcomes. Keeping families together whenever possible aligns with our state’s commitment to family values.

We urge you to stand with Tennessee families and vote YES on HB0347. Thank you for your time and consideration.