TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jun 29, 2026

Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, has filed 14 federal civil rights complaints against the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights, alleging widespread violations involving the treatment of children with disabilities and foster care practices across multiple Tennessee counties. WSMV reports that the complaints allege disability discrimination, retaliation against parents and foster parents who reported misconduct, falsified case records, improper removals of children, sexual assault in DCS-certified placements and national origin discrimination. Behn is requesting a federal investigation, a halt to active termination of parental rights proceedings, a compliance plan for children with disabilities, anti-retaliation protections and ongoing federal oversight. DCS did not commented on the filings according to the news station.