TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Dec 30, 2025

An audit from Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower's office has identified flaws in the way the state Department of Human Services (DHS) investigates complaints against child care centers, potentially placing children at risk, according to the Tennessee Lookout. Approximately 6,000 allegations of child abuse, neglect and financial exploitation are made annually against child care providers, which DHS must investigate. The comptroller's report found that some of these investigations lacked required documentation, including proof that inspectors visited the childcare center, incomplete “action plans” holding child care operators responsible for improvements, and misclassified forms. The report also found that some investigations were not initiated or concluded in the legally required timeframe. DHS Commissioner Clarence Carter acknowledged the ongoing problems and pledged to “strengthen our processes to ensure our investigation process is timely and properly documented at DHS.”